Kamila Součková
24. 1. 2025
clock
3 minutes
video
If you are a coffee lover and have orchids at home, you can kill two birds with one stone. Did you know that coffee can serve as a useful compost for these noble flowers?
The fact is that coffee grounds contain very beneficial substances for plants. But only if it decomposes well in the soil. Coffee lager is quite acidic and can harm plants if used incorrectly. Let’s see how to go about it right.
7 tips for caring for rhododendrons. Check out the nicely done video on YouTube.
Source: Youtube
What is coffee good for plants?
Ground coffee is a really rich source of nitrogen, not only potassium and phosphorus, thanks to which they bloom longer, but also other nutrients that plants need. Many gardeners consider it a good and cheap fertilizer. When coffee grounds are added to the soil, they release natural plant fertilizer as they decompose.
On the one hand, coffee grounds provide essential nutrients needed for orchid roots, on the other hand, they can damage some varieties of orchids due to their acidic properties. Especially when used in uncontrollable quantities. It follows that for orchids that grow in the substrate, coffee grounds are beneficial and desirable.
How to benefit the orchid with coffee?
Take some coffee log and let it dry. If you decide to use the one from the coffee you like to prepare at home with milk and sugar, omit both this time. Add to the soil where the orchid roots are growing. Add logra only in moderation. It is advisable to monitor the pH afterwards, the ideal level should be 5.5. If you find that the coffee grounds have made the soil too acidic, you can save the situation by adding lime.
Species of orchids
The most commonly cultivated orchids are the so-called epiphytic, or tropical. Let us explain – epiphytic orchids in nature do not grow in the soil, but attached to rocks and treetops. They use their roots to stay there. Higher places suit them because they offer significantly more light and air humidity.
On our market, they are available in transparent pots with bark, which give room for air circulation. It is this tropical species of orchids that is unable to break down the coffee grounds, because it does not mix with the soil, so there is no decomposition, which releases the already mentioned elements such as phosphorus and potassium.
The mixture may clog and prevent water from draining. And this whole mess can then cause root rot. So here, please be careful and avoid fertilizing with coffee grounds.
Source: www.homesandgardens.com, www.heavengables.com
