Are Coffee Grounds Good for Cactus And Succulents?

Are Coffee Grounds Good for Cactus And Succulents?

Coffee grounds have about 2% nitrogen which is why they make great natural fertilizer and get thrown in different compost piles. Furthermore, they’re rich in magnesium and potassium. And you know that these three nutrients benefit your plant’s health. 

If your soil doesn’t have enough of these minerals, the leaves of your plants will begin to fade, and they won’t be able to grow properly.

Therefore, it’s very important to fertilize your cacti and succulents, especially if they grow in a small pot. After a while, your succulents will utilize the present macronutrients in the soil, so you will have to apply some extra nutrients. That’s why fertilizers exist! They keep plants happy, healthy, and thriving.

However, you don’t always have to buy fertilizers. Coffee grounds can also do the trick. Some people wonder if they’re too acidic for plants. The short answer is no, but let’s look into this a bit more.

Are Coffee Grounds Too Acidic for Plants?

We know what you’re thinking! Acid can’t be good for plants. However, that’s often wrong! Most plants actually thrive in slightly acidic conditions.

The truth hides in the pH levels. You see, tap water has a slightly alkaline pH of about 8. However, plants thrive in slightly acidic soil. They prefer a pH between 5.8 and 7. Thus, whenever you water your cacti or succulents, you’re pushing their limits.

That’s where coffee grounds come to play. They’re slightly acidic and can help rebalance the pH and get it back to the levels that your plants like.

According to online reports by succulent growers, they usually do well in mildly acidic soil. In fact, some people claim that their succulents both looked better and bloomed more often in this type of soil. Therefore, if you follow their path, your succulents will thrive too!

However, people claim that diluted coffee works better for potted plants than coffee grounds. So, let’s see if there’s any truth in their claims.

Should I Use Coffee Grounds Or Diluted Coffee?

So, we know that coffee grounds will do a great job in your garden. However, they won’t provide great results for potted plants because pots don’t have enough microbes hanging out in them to actually break down the coffee grounds into a form that your plants can utilize.

Now, if you brew your coffee grounds into coffee and dilute your coffee with some water, they will work much better than a chemical fertilizer! So, go ahead, brew a cup of coffee, then dilute it with water and feed your plants. If you brew 8 oz of coffee, dilute it with 8 oz of water.

As for the plants planted outside in your garden, you can directly add used coffee grounds onto the soil. As they break down, they will release nitrogen into the soil, which, as we already mentioned, is a crucial nutrient for succulents. They will also improve drainage and help aerate the ground.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t apply unbrewed coffee grounds as a fertilizer. They have a high caffeine content that will harm your plants, unlike brewed coffee grounds.

Pros and Cons of Using Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer

Coffee grounds provide a lot of benefits for cacti and succulents.

They can boost nutrients, better help the soil hold moisture, and even keep pests at bay. However, they also have some downsides. Let’s summarize the pros and cons of coffee grounds as fertilizer.

Pros

• They Improve Soil Quality

Coffee grounds add nitrogen and nutrients in a time-released form that won’t cause any damage, unlike a chemical fertilizer, while also rebalancing the pH levels.

• Coffee Grounds Attract Beneficial Microbes

These microbes can help your plants stay healthy. However, keep in mind that any compost you prepare with coffee grounds should also have nitrogen-rich material like leaves or straw to ensure it doesn’t end up destroying the helpful bugs while still attracting new ones.

• They Help Control Soil Contamination

Coffee grounds can keep some fungi that cause root rot at bay. Therefore, adding them to the soil mix will help keep it healthier and cleaner for longer.

Just make sure that they’re mixed into damp soil before adding any water on top. Soaking dry, unused coffee grounds in water could result in a chemical reaction and damage your soil.

• They’re A Natural Pesticide

Coffee has caffeine which keeps many insects at bay. Therefore, they act as a natural pesticide. The best part? You don’t have to use chemicals that can negatively affect the soil and environment.

Cons

• They can inhibit plant growth due to the high caffeine content.
• Coffee grounds can cause increased water retention resulting in root rot or other issues if not monitored properly.
• They have a high salt content resulting in issues such as root burn if you don’t water your plants often.
• Coffee grounds can change the pH levels of the soil, affecting other plants in your garden that like a more neutral environment.
• If mixed the wrong way, coffee grounds can cause nutrient deficiencies.