Coffee & Plant Garden Guide - 15 Plants That Love Coffee
Key Takeaways
Many gardeners enjoy using their spent/used coffee grounds to bring benefits to their garden-growing efforts; however, plant needs can vary widely. Here, we’re diving into those differences individually by examining those plants which benefit from the addition of used coffee grounds, specifically.
- Coffee Use Garden Guide - detailing the use of spent/used coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer (and sometimes pest-deterrent) when growing the following plants:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Tomatoes
- Basil
- Parsley
- Cucumbers
- Broccoli
- Azaleas
- Roses
- Hydrangeas
- Begonias
- Magnolia trees
- Citrus trees
- Conclusion - closing reminders and tips
Many folks drink coffee to keep them awake, but adding the used grounds from your daily cup to your garden could actually perk up your plants as well!
Of course, just like people, plants have varying preferences.
No, we’re not talking cream and sugar additions or fancy foam toppers here, but there is an equally curious art to pleasing your plant’s “palate” when it comes to coffee.
Coffee contains nutrients like potassium and phosphorus as well as micronutrients like zinc, copper, and magnesium (1).
Even better, as your used coffee grounds break down in garden soil, they also release nitrogen (1).
The trick is knowing how much is too much, whether the grounds are better off as an on-top-of-the-soil enhancer or a compost component, if they deter pests, and likely the most important part of the coffee grounds and gardening dilemma - which plants soar after a few sips?
Okay, all coffee puns and jargon aside, we’re getting our mugs filled and our hands dirty today as we take a look at which plants prefer used coffee grounds and how this addition just might aid your gardening efforts.
Coffee Use Garden Guide - 15 Coffee-Loving Plants
Using spent/used coffee grounds in your garden isn’t a new concept.
The trouble is, this byproduct of your morning source of joy, comfort, happiness, and caffeine isn’t loved by every plant, shrub, flower, bush, or tree in your garden/yard.
And this makes total sense, right, because if you’ve been gardening long, you’ve likely noticed the delicate needs that tend to vary between fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc.
So, let’s take some time now to examine the individual needs of a variety of garden plants/trees as they pertain to coffee…
1- Strawberry Plants
Strawberries are one of summer’s simple pleasures.
But, they can be difficult to grow if your soil lacks the proper nutrients, not to mention the pests that also make it their life’s goal to thwart your efforts at growing the world’s best organic berries.
Your used coffee grounds may benefit your berry growing efforts, however, by providing nutrients and organic matter to the soil (2), something strawberry plants love (and need).
Typically, you want to include coffee grounds (no more than 20% of the total matter) in your compost, which enriches the soil as a whole, rather than adding the grounds by the scoop to your growing berry plants (1).
And, when it comes to those pests, coffee grounds have been known to keep slugs and other strawberry plant loving insects as bay when diluted in water (1-2% solution, or a 1:9 coffee grounds to water ratio) and used as a spray (3, 4).
2- Blueberries
Using coffee ground waste to boost blueberry growth is said to be a top-tier tip; however, this seems to be most beneficial when those grounds are used as a part of your compost first, enriching this source, then combining with soil to create a nutrient-rich matter for your blueberries to thrive in (5, 6).
Some sources also suggest adding a very small amount of used coffee grounds to the base of your blueberry plants in the spring as this may help the plants retain needed moisture (2).
And, if the addition of used grounds in your compost isn’t yielding desired results, pouring small amounts from your freshly brewed cup from time to time near your blueberry bushes could raise the acidity to where these fruit bushes thrive (7).
3- Carrots
Carrots are said to be phosphorus and potassium-loving plants; they also benefit from loose, well-draining soil, as compacted soil might just mean you’re harvesting misshapen or stunted root vegetables (6).
Just remember, carrots, like most plants, don’t love coffee as much as you do.
Where you can sip repeated cups, most plants prefer their java in moderation, so keep your compost composition to only 20% used coffee grounds and your water/coffee grounds solution application (mixture of used grounds and water) to a 1:9 coffee grounds to water ratio (6, 4).
4- Cabbage
Cabbage plants tend to need a soil with great moisture retention and an abundance of nutrients (6).
Using a compost mixture that’s been enriched with your daily coffee habit remnants (just those grounds, not the sugar, syrups, cream, or coffee itself), infuses soil with these needed nutrients while also improving the structure of the soil (6).
Especially during dry months, this helps your cabbage plants avoid undue stress with such an enriched, helpful base (6).
5- Tomatoes
Just like those cabbage and coffee ground benefits mentioned above, tomatoes also thrive in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil, and a coffee ground infused compost serves to fulfill these needs (2).
You may also wish to add a small amount of used coffee grounds to the soil around your young tomato plants for a boost of nitrogen as these plants begin their growth journey in the spring (2), but, while I’m truly not trying to overstate the issue, it’s widely advised to exercise caution when adding grounds directly to the soil or a plant, especially during young growth (7).
In other words, don’t go overboard with the application. It’s easy to think a single serving of grounds used to make a tasty cup of coffee could surely be dumped directly on the base of your plants, but this is generally considered too much, so stick to the rules we’ve noted throughout the sections above.
6- Basil
Soil enriched with used coffee grounds is said to benefit from the slow release of nitrogen (6).
And, basil is an herb that prefers this environment, with some finding this java-addition perfect for producing an abundance of fresh basil leaves throughout the season (2).
Bonus tip - planting basil near tomato plants is advised as the presence of this herb may keep away tomato hornworms (3), and if slugs remain an issue, you can always refer back to the slug-repelling solution you used for your strawberry plants.
7- Parsley
Like basil, parsley is a leafy herb, and its leaves often appreciate the presence of used coffee grounds for the structure and small amounts of nitrogen they potentially provide to/for the soil (2).
Since it’s not uncommon for snails and slugs to feast on parsley, the coffee ground and water solution we mentioned above may prove beneficial when growing parsley as well (3, 4).
8- Cucumbers
We may have caught you a little late in the season for this tip, but “mixing coffee grounds into the soil in the spring before planting out seedlings…may support healthy cucumber vine growth and fruit production” (2).
9- Broccoli
Broccoli plants have been known to respond well to the addition of used coffee grounds in compost as well as direct usage in the soil (2).
The nutrients specific to coffee grounds, specifically nitrogen, aid in supporting healthy leaf growth in broccoli plants, and since these amounts are typically low when used in soil, most recommend getting a spring start with their use directly in the soil, allowing these nutrients from your used coffee grounds to improve the soil structure and health prior to planting (2).
10- Azaleas
Typically, azaleas thrive in well-draining, acidic soil, and this is why you’ll commonly find these beauties growing under pine trees in the southern portion of the US (3); however, these flowering plants also grow well in other zones, even in areas where conifers aren’t as common.
So, if you’re lacking the spotted shade of a pine tree, consider using coffee grounds in your azalea planting soil to provide a slight touch of added acidity (3). You can even consider adding the remaining swig of plain brewed coffee to azalea soil from time to time, as this has a higher acidity which azaleas love (7), just avoid adding in the exact spot each and every time.
Additionally, azaleas have a shallow root system which requires a consistent level of moisture, and the addition of coffee grounds to the soil may help retain needed water for these plants (6).
11- Roses
The small amounts of nitrogen in used coffee grounds may prove to be a beneficial aid for your prized, organically grown roses as well, and most recommend adding these in the spring, just before growing season, to either the soil or your compost mix, to give your rose bushes a bit of a blooming aid (2) while also strengthening stem and leaf growth (6).
12- Hydrangeas
Some say adding compost infused with used coffee grounds is best for hydrangeas while others choose to lightly apply what they refer to as a “weak tea” to the soil, each of which infuses the soil with the nutrients needed by hydrangeas for abundant growth (6).
I have a garden friend who also uses coffee - not grounds, but freshly brewed coffee - to produce varying colors in her hydrangea blooms, as this method is said to turn the flowers bright blue.
Experts confirm this phenomenon, noting this change is due to the acidity of brewed coffee (7), just be sure to use sparingly and avoid pouring in the exact same spot each time.
13- Begonias
Applying a thin layer of used coffee grounds to the soil in the spring might help your begonias, as some say this practice helps them start strong (2).
This is likely due to the improvements in both soil structure and moisture retention, both of which aid in the health of a begonia (2).
14- Magnolia Trees
Magnolia trees come in different varieties, with some being deciduous and others being classified as evergreens (10).
If you have an evergreen variety magnolia tree, these are said to prefer a more acidic soil, making a soil or compost infused with used coffee ground goodness a potentially great option for optimal growth (10).
15- Citrus Trees
When it comes to growing fruit trees, the use of used coffee grounds here proves to be very mixed, with some trees like apple and cherry making experts scratch their heads due to unpredictable results (11).
However, citrus trees, particularly lemon, lime, and orange trees, seem to appreciate the slight boost in both nutrients and nitrogen that used grounds may add to soil.
“Commercial citrus growers in Florida have experimented with coffee ground amendments with promising results, especially in sandy soils that benefit from the additional organic matter” (11).
Conclusion
Hopefully we’ve all gained a little more appreciation for our daily cup(s) of coffee today, seeing the potential they bring to our gardens, whether we’re growing fruit, vegetables, herbs, or beautiful blooms.
However, we did mention a few tips, including some precautionary measures which we’d like to remind you of before we close things out.
First, using coffee grounds in your gardening endeavors isn’t an end all, be all.
In fact, using too much can cause more harm than good (4, 7).
This is likely why an extensive search on this topic could turn up some conflicting results.
Most often, this is due to the fact that growing food or flowers, etc. commonly involves a variety of factors which play into the overall success (or lack thereof) in your gardening endeavors.
So, be sure to remember the importance of maintaining balance in your compost pile, never allowing the addition of used coffee grounds to exceed 20% of the total amount of material/matter (1).
And, if you need to add used coffee grounds directly to your soil, be sure to use them sparingly, and mix them in thoroughly, allowing ample time between mixing and planting (4).
Additionally, don’t forget that you can incorporate used coffee grounds mixed in water (using only a 1:9 grounds to water ratio) to create a 1-2% solution which may serve as a slug deterrent (4).
Bonus tip - if you grow hostas, some say drenching the soil and leaves in this same solution also works to deter slugs (3).
FAQ
1- Can using coffee grounds replace the need for nitrogen altogether when gardening?
The amount of nitrogen in used coffee grounds isn’t a concentrated or substantial amount (7).
Some find it to be just enough when used accordingly in compost piles, helping to build a balanced soil for use in gardening (5), however, it’s important to remember that needs vary by plant (as we’ve seen today), location/zone, soil, etc. making usage individualized.
2- Do the coffee grounds have to be used, or can you use freshly ground coffee as well?
It is not advised to use freshly ground, or unused coffee grounds. Unused, the coffee contains too much caffeine and is commonly too acidic, which can burn roots and ultimately harm plants (8).
3- What if I don’t have a compost bin/pile, can I still use coffee grounds in gardening?
Yes. You can add used coffee grounds, sparingly, directly to your soil, just be sure to mix it thoroughly and allow ample time prior to planting (9).
Coffee grounds are commonly referred to as a fertilizer for soil, but if we’re getting technical, this isn’t exactly true. Instead, used coffee grounds help to amend or improve the structure of soil and compost, essentially making a good thing better for the health of some plants (9).
This is why you’ll find their use acceptable in both compost and directly in soil.
4- If using small amounts of brewed coffee to pour on or around acid-loving plants, does it have to be black coffee?
“Only use black, unflavored coffee on your plants. Coffee with milk, sugar, or any other additions is not suitable for plants and can even harm them, similar to sugar water” (12).
5- Can decaf coffee grounds be used in gardening too?
Yes. Decaf coffee contains the same nutrients as caffeinated coffee, so it can easily be used in gardening as detailed here today (13).
Disclaimer: Coffee contains caffeine and you should consult with a health care professional with any concerns you might have on the effects of coffee on your health and well being. Additionally, the way coffee is grown, low acid coffee, decaf coffee, as well as different roast types (light, medium, dark, etc.) can alter caffeine levels. If you have questions about the caffeine levels or pH levels of our coffee, please reach out to our support team for clarification. If you have any concerns with how our coffee, or any product will affect you or your health, consult with a health professional directly.
Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.
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