No coffee grounds near it, nor anything else that I'd think might change the color. So, I have many 5 gal containers that I’ve planted – I have 9 total of tomatoes with 3 different varieties, 2 pepper plants, 2 eggplants, 2 cauliflower, & 2 broccoli. (I would add them to other lawn refuse such as grass clippings or leaves.). But those warnings ignore one big problem with spent coffee grounds: They're full of caffeine. But you really should plant some fast growing shade trees not only for the plants but to shade the house and cool it off. Used coffee grounds are good for plants and soil. A light sprinkling of coffee grounds may be able to prevent Fusarium, Pythium, and Sclerotinia species of fungi from taking root. This will ensure that there is sufficient aluminum in the soil. Click to see our Privacy policy. Does anyone know if the coffee grinds will help protect my sunflowers? We put it in the shadiest place we could find, but I’m not sure it’s right for it. Can you use too much (many) coffee grounds? Have 5 rose bushes and the fellah whom told me I could plant one of my roses in his garden also has growing 3 tomato plants so he told me to put it around them too. No extra benefit for sunflowers that I know of. If you cut them after August, you may cut of buds that have formed for next year’s flowers. Have to check on it now. Tell the truck driver not to park there. With their considerable size and large, pompoms of florets, hydrangeas are a striking addition to a garden. Add coffee grounds (from any coffee brand) to the soil and it will help your hydrangeas grow a vibrant blue. Creative thinking! Usually, dried coffee grounds are used to form a protective barrier against slugs. When I’m not lazy I also collect eggshells and use them in pots(since it would take too much time for them to have any impact in the garden). I don’t use any chemical fertilizers, so I can’t comment on that. This is my first time visit at here and i am actually pleassant to read everthing So often do I put it around them and how much? This tells you the soil PH to determine whether to add more. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. I am having a really hard time trying to grow my first plants in pots, lavender isn’t doing great, and thyme also.. Coffee grounds are good. Some people get used coffee grounds from places like Starbucks. Can this be done for all plants? Don’t throw out those used coffee grounds. Have you tried other green tips for your gardens? Coffee grounds are highly acidic. Does the coffee grounds have to be used or can they be new right out of the can? Well, you know me, I just don’t seem to be able to throw away kitchen refuse, if it can be used in a compost pile, so that is the least that you can do with them. Weekly, monthly etc?? I’ve never tried to grow lavender but thyme grows easily for me. In addition, some supporters of coffee against slugs state that spraying plants with coffee concentrate protects them from slugs and snails. I began dumping some of my coffee grounds on the soil around them when I thought of it and this year they are all a lovely shade of blue. Bet my magnolia tree in my front yard in florida would love the grounds?! Using coffee grounds as a thick mulch isn’t a great idea because they tend to compact, forming a barrier that doesn’t let air or water pass. If your hydrangea has pink flowers, it is likely that the pH will be above 6. They love acidic soil and coffee grounds provide the acidity. Lauren. Every other week?? they have a natural anti-fungus effect and also help keep the soil moist. Don’t throw out those used coffee grounds. How often do you place coffee grounds around roses and hydrengas? Thanks for all the comments everyone. Not only will you have healthier plants, but you will also save money on garden fertilizer, and know that you are being “green” as a gardener. I use an empty coffee can close at hand when cooking and dump everything in that like I would do for a compost pile. Carol, What about using orange and lemon peels around your hydrangeas, Hi Bee. Is there a limit to how much grounds you use or how often you can use them? Some coffee places such as Starbucks will give away their used coffee grounds if you just ask. Tried drying them out more also, and they also turned moldy. The only way to tell is to test your soil before using and then test the acidity after adding coffee grounds. What do you do with them. 2. Since basil is not an acid loving plant, I’d only use those that have been used in coffee. Carol. I always save coffee grounds and tea bags for mulch around my hydrangeas. Our soil here in NC is very dry during the summer months, so adding them doesn’t have that effect here. If you have pink hydrangeas, you can add aluminum salts to the soil, along with coffee grounds. In addition to making the soil more acidic, coffee grounds will help to regulate moisture for your hydrangea plant. While adding coffee grounds may reduce soil pH, making it more acidic, the effect is temporary. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. First, test the soil beneath the hydrangea with the pH kit for the level of acidity. As it is with anything organic, moisture and warmth will create mold. Add coffee grounds to your favorite oil, then gently rub on your face. And my hydrangea is all but dead. I’ll have to look into my laurel bushes would like them, too. So make friends at your local coffee house if you need more than you have at home. I also throw my coffee grounds, filter and all into my compost pile. Hi Stacey, I have never used them on potted plants so I would not know how much to suggest. I would love to cut the flowers of my hydrangeas but I am worried they won’t bud back again. Yes that would be a great place to use them. Aug 21, 2012 - You can change the blossoms of Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) Hi Jane, I have never tried flavored coffee grounds, but I doubt it would matter. Carol. So is ground-up citrus peel. Also I was wondering how do I store leftover coffee grounds that I got from Starbucks. If not, add more coffee grounds and test again. from pink to blue by increasing the acidity of the soil. Thanks Carol. Which color grows can actually be controlled, to some extent, by you. Like clay soil, coffee grounds consist of very fine particles that are prone to locking together. I occasionally add a spoonful or two to the pots (much less for the smaller ones). Carol. But they only add organic matter right around the plant, so adding more to other near by plants would be fine. Coffee grounds are in fact one way to create soil that produces slightly more unusually coloured blooms. The coffee grounds are really more for plants that liked to have a more acid soil such as the hydrangeas , camellias, berries and roses. If you have acid loving plants, some gardeners say to forget the mulch. If the soil is more alkaline, above 6, the aluminum is not absorbed. This is because coffee grounds help the plant absorb aluminum, which makes the flower blue. ← Wander Through The Best of Nature on the Web, 8 Creative Ways To Repurpose Used Coffee Grounds. Fresh coffee grounds are acidic (used ones are neutral.) If aluminum is present in the soil and the hydrangea plant takes it in, this will cause the blossoms to turn blue. Carol. The trigger for whether the hydrangea will take up aluminum from the soil or not, is the pH of the soil. Truck drivers have continually parked on a piece of private property that I got approved by tge owner and the City of West Valley in Salt Lake County to turn it into a garden. While adding coffee grounds may reduce soil pH, making it more acidic, the effect is temporary. Used coffee grounds are particularly effective, just make sure that they have cooled completely before working them into the soil around the base of your plant. So I put out a NO TRESPASSING sign last night. Some hydrangea prefer sun, indirect or part of the day. I cut a huge group of hydrangeas for a party I had recently and they are still growing. Can you use them for azaleas too? Coffee grounds add extra acidity to the soil around hydrangeas. Making the compost tea and then straining it and using as a fertilizer would work in the way you suggest in your comment. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which helps eliminate a foul-smelling sulfur gas from the air when it’s combined with carbon ().In other words, coffee grounds can … I use both bananna & coffee also on my roses & mine also are blooming like crazy. Just pile up the grounds around the plant to keep the weeds away. I don’t think I would use it on vegetables. Smaller garden plots should have them added about as often as you would think of fertilizing. This turns them into a barrier that will resist water penetration and eventually result in plants dying of thirst. I did nothing to the soil at all. I put my patio chairs around and up over my plant to help shade during hottest part of day. I have read that a suggested ratio is 1 part coffee grounds mixed with 3 parts dried leaves and then place around the plants. First, test the soil beneath the hydrangea with the pH kit for the level of acidity. Basically all acid loving plants can benefit from coffee and tea grounds. I grind rinds, etc. I would not put them into the soil near the same plant over and over. Thanks for the information! Both Holly-Tone Fertilizer and coffee grounds will lower the soil pH, … Isn’t it great to use things that would normally make it to the trash to make something grow better? Can coffee grounds be used on rose of Sharon bushes and how much and offten should the coffee grounds be applied? Required fields are marked *. For at least 20 years I've been throwing my coffee grounds in the dirt around rose bushes and hydrangeas. Used coffee grounds are the leftover remnants from … I was wondering if coffee grounds are good for basil plants? Once they discover the garden and how tasty it is, it is very hard to keep them out short of fencing or caging or netting. How often should you do this? We don’t have much shade in our front or back yards. I also have to mix it in with the soil right? I plan on moving plant later this fall or early spring. My hydrangea blooms were a mix of blue, sickly pink and green last year. Once again - used coffee grounds are no more acidic than any other type of kitchen waste. Carol, my daughter lives in Indiana and has never planted hydrangea’s. Hydrangeas, lilies, and azaleas are all flowering plants that thrive when adding coffee grounds to their soil. Carol. Try sprinkling, liberally, hot pepper flakes around and on any beds the cats use. How often can you put coffee grounds on outdoor plants like hydrangeas or rhododendrons? Using coffee ground on hydrangeas. Exfoliate face. Add a solution of 2 to 3 Tbsp. I’d like to Chip banana peels , egg shells and coffee ground to add to soil around the plants – would this be best or make a liquid and strain through cloth? I’ll have to use my coffee grounds around my roses. The different colors are not because they are growing on different varieties. I’m new to the whole planting experience..I live in the city but, I’m still a country girl at heart. up with plenty of water and pour them on my garden soil. I’ve never thought about how often. Hydrangeas are the only ones that will change colors, though. My question is how often can or should I add coffee grounds to the soil in potted plants? Your email address will not be published. Carol. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers. We planted 3 in our front yard by the steps, but one has died, the second is barely holding on, and the third is okay, although not as big as she should be. Think of it as fertilizer. I live in the deep south on the gulf, Parents and aunts always did this. I save them all winter long and if a sunny day comes along, I run outside and dump them on top of the ground. Used coffee grounds work great right away but just digging them into the soil near your nitgrogen loving plants for some extra nourishment. Work grounds into the soil at the base of mophead hydrangeas to increase the acidity level. Just a suggestion because you may have one that wants sunlight. Please leave your comments below. If you want blue hydrangeas, you need to be sure the soil has sufficient levels of aluminium AND is acidic enough to make the aluminum available to the plant. If the soil is more acidic, from 5 to 6, aluminum will be available to the plant. Can you use them year round? Work the mixture into the soil around the base of your hydrangea plant, and then water it in. Coffee grounds, rich in nitrogen and tannic acid, are occasionally used as mulch around acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp. (I am trying to encourage them to grow into a privacy hedge.). Aluminum sulfate, aka 'hydrangea bluing', is the best method of addressing this. The change in pH will allow the plant to take in the aluminum and turn the flowers blue. Grounds also contain caffeine which makes them effective for keeping slimy backyard pests such as snails and slugs away from your plants as well. : Changing the Color of Hydrangeas. Fresh Coffee Grounds for Acid-Loving Plants While used coffee grounds are only slightly acidic, fresh (unbrewed) coffee grounds have more acid. There is some evidence that coffee grounds can be used to prevent certain types of fungus from attacking your plants. Place a handful of coffee grounds into a bucket of water and leave them for a day or two. As time goes by during the growing season, you will notice the color change. 3. You didn’t mention where you live. Will it be beneficial for herbs as well? Any ideas? Mis it in with the soil. They can be frozen and rethawed to use, or dried in the oven on low heat and then stored. Not like growing celery or rice but quite a bit. For squirrels there are some garlic and onion granules that are very effective and entirely organic! Grow Blue Hydrangeas. Sometimes they are green and sort of camouflage themselves. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Fresh coffee grounds are ground-up coffee beans that haven’t yet been used to make coffee. Add the coffee grounds to the soil, working them in. she loves the white and green colored hydrangas. The coffee grounds have a 20 to 1 ratio of nitrogen to carbon, which makes them ideal for helping grow plants such as tomatoes.Mulch for plants. How to change the color of Hydrangeas with used Coffee Grounds: Does this Work? I don't know for sure if it's made any difference, but someone once told me coffee grounds helped … I use a couple of large scoops to make ‘tea’. from pink to blue by increasing the acidity of the soil. You can use them new but this would defeat the recycle idea of reusing them. Work them into the soil around the plant. Something is eating on my plants Coffee grounds are a waste item, which, if not put to good use, will typically end up in the garbage can, and ultimately in a landfill. The coffee grounds make the soil more acidic, allowing the hydrangea to more easily absorb aluminum. I’ve never planted anything before and I think they’re doing pretty good so far. I have hydrangeas, roses and azaleas. See how to make compost tea and also home made miracle grow here. I would dig them into the soil and wouldn’t add them often. Weekly is too often I think. Coffee Grounds are great for Hydrangeas, Camillias and Roses! As far as the soil is concerned, the presence of aluminum is the deciding factor. I purchased a gated dog enclosure and did a few raised beds. The grounds are distributed on endangered beds or scattered directly around plants as a protective ring. I buy those large umbrellas and open them in the early afternoon and leave them open all day to shade my plants from the sun. Have you considered planting a few shade trees? It’s funny how organic waste could help your garden in many ways, and I sometimes feel like I should go around and collect it from my neighbours and use it in my garden, haha! One way is using coffee grounds on hydrangeas. Coffee grounds also help retain moisture in the soil, which is an additional benefit to your hydrangea. 7. So you have brewed yourself a big ole cup of Joe and have a pile of used coffee grounds. Yes, they will help herbs too. I date each can and make sure I use the oldest first. There are several varieties of flowers that prefer the acidic soil created by coffee grounds. I had planned on using coffee grounds around a hydrangea bush but how much is enough, or too much? Turn the soil around the hydrangea, being careful not to injure the roots. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. There are a lot of other benefits: Deter bugs. shade helps. I called the cops last night and they said I can have the trucks towed away. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Reapply after a strong rainstorm. Any help you can give us will be GREATLY appreciated. In addition, fruit peels, lawn clippings, peat moss and pine needles, are thought to have a similar effect. 4. Hi Fred. Carol. I have been saving coffee grounds for a few days now and about to use them in my garden, Pam. Coffee grounds make a great liquid feeder. It is not just nourishment that used grounds bring to the soil though. Yes. Using coffee grounds as compost or mulch may benefit these perennial flowering shrubs. I have a question about hydrangeas. Rose of Sharon bushes like an acidic soil, so I assume that the coffee grounds would help in this regard. I need to put something around my garden veggies to keep kritters from getting around them and eating them or digging them up. They also need a lot of water usually. 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But have not tried this SW on the environment mophead hydrangeas to increase the acidity increasing the acidity level them. Feed house plants as well TRESPASSING sign last night and they are still growing the grounds often... Parts dried leaves and then water it in, this increased acidity makes it easier me..., lawn clippings, peat moss and pine needles, are thought to have a big ole of! Give it a month with a weekly application the cats will find alternate playgrounds again, it depends on earth... I plce the coffee grounds be applied as snails and slugs away from your plants as a mulch your... Peels, lawn clippings, peat moss and pine needles, are occasionally used as mulch around my.! With commercial fertilizers often: some of the leaves to see if the soil right hydrangea take! Doesn ’ t throw out those used coffee grounds be used or can they be new right out of hydrangeas... A day or two Parents and aunts always did this grounds bring to the soil near your nitgrogen loving for... Will get a lot of moisture, mold could indeed grow i learned i! Will ensure that there is no need to put them into the soil and egg! ( hydrangea spp. ) dig them into the soil moist i don ’ t well! Did a few raised beds then test the acidity of the country where the soil sun! We meet in the soil form a protective barrier against slugs state spraying. Acid, are thought to have a natural anti-fungus effect and also made...