If you’ve found your way to this page, it can only mean one thing. You’ve probably heard the rumor as well! Is there anything special about coffee grinds for succulents? We’ve tried and tested this strategy and are ready to share our findings with you.
When we first learned that coffee grounds for succulents may make them grow faster, we were blown away. It seemed strange. Is it true that coffee grounds are beneficial for succulents? We thought it seemed like an unusual choice of fertilizer, but we decided to give it a shot. This post will walk you through how to use coffee grinds for succulents and the best techniques for doing so.
Although you may have already read our blog titled “Are coffee grounds excellent for Christmas cactus?” a lot of people have asked if coffee can be used on all species of cactus and succulents.
So we’ve written this guide with the aim of providing you with all the information you need about putting coffee grinds on various succulents. We’ve even tried and tested this method of fertilizing on a variety of succulents, and the most effective ones are listed below.
Is it true that succulents enjoy coffee grounds?
This is most likely the first and most pressing concern on your mind. Is it true that succulents enjoy coffee grounds? Do both indoor and outdoor succulents appreciate coffee grounds?
An indoor plant’s upkeep and care differ significantly from that of an outside plant. The most important thing to understand is that until coffee grounds have been brewed and diluted in water, they will not work on potted plants. Succulents in pots lack the necessary bacteria to break down the grounds into a material that they can use. However, diluting in water first works well as a chemical fertilizer substitute.
We’ve established that coffee grounds are beneficial to succulents, but we haven’t addressed WHY succulents enjoy coffee grounds. Simply said, coffee is acidic, and succulents thrive in acidic soil.
Coffee grounds contain a variety of minerals, including 2% nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium – all of which are necessary for succulents to live and develop. If your plants don’t get enough of these nutrients, their leaves will turn light and yellow, which is something you don’t want to happen!
It ultimately boils down to pH levels in the end. The pH level of tap water is usually about 8. Succulents, on the other hand, prefer a slightly acidic pH range of 5.8–7.0. Using coffee grounds as a fertilizer will actually assist in bringing this level back into balance, which means they will flourish more, be healthier, and be more likely to grow.
Which houseplants prefer coffee grounds for succulent plants?
We’ve tried brewed coffee on a variety of succulents and cacti, and the Snake Plant (Sansevieria), Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata), and Christmas Cactus have shown to be the most successful (Schlumbergera). Because this isn’t an exhaustive list, try coffee grinds on any houseplant you have at home.
Sansevieria – Snake Plant
Because of its little upkeep, the snake plant is a favorite houseplant all around the world. It is a very easy plant to care for, but it doesn’t imply you can ignore it completely. A cup of cold-brewed coffee every now and again will keep it going. Sansevieria trifasciata prefers somewhat more acidic soil than typical houseplants, with a pH range of 4.5 to 7.0. The multi-colored, sword-shaped leaves of your snake plant will benefit from low to medium light and moderate hydration every now and then. The snake plant is one of the finest succulents for workplaces because of its capacity to survive in low light.
Crassula Ovata – Jade Plant
The Crassula Ovata plant is known as the jade plant, but it is also known as the fortunate plant, money plant, or money tree and is endemic to South Africa. Jade plants are one of the most frequent coffee drinkers, and watering them with cold-brewed coffee can help them maintain their full dark green color and strengthen their stems. This will keep your jade plant from shedding its leaves. Overwatering this houseplant is a typical cause of a dying jade plant, so ensure sure the soil is completely dry between waterings.
Schlumbergera – Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is one of our favorite seasonal plants, and it’s not to be confused with Easter or Thanksgiving cactus. Giving your holiday plant coffee grounds will encourage flowering over the holiday season and is one technique to help revive a dormant Christmas cactus! If you’re wondering why your Christmas cactus isn’t blooming, we’ve put up a list of helpful hints.
Suggestions for utilizing coffee grinds as a succulent fertilizer
We’ve now established that coffee grounds are beneficial to succulents. However, there are a few things to keep in mind — after all, you don’t want to give your succulent plant the shakes! The following are some of our best recommendations for utilizing coffee grinds with succulents:
Don’t overwater your plants
Because many succulents require different amounts of water at different times, we can’t provide you specific advice on how often you should water your succulent with coffee grinds. However, it is common knowledge that succulents do not require frequent watering; as a rule of thumb, I would begin by watering your succulents with coffee every two weeks and see how things go. Before rewatering your plants, give them a good bath and let the soil dry fully. Overwatering your succulent might cause it to become purple and attract pests such as mealybugs and fungus gnats.
Use just diluted black coffee
This, I believe, is self-explanatory. Milk, cream, sugar, and syrups are just a few of the things we like to put in our coffee as humans. However, for your indoor plants, you should stick to cold black coffee. I’d want to emphasize the term “cold” once again! If you create a new brew and pour it directly on your succulents, the roots will be burned and scalded, and your cherished plant will perish.
If you’re going to use coffee grounds on potted plants, make sure you dilute them first with water. If the plants are outdoors, you may use the coffee grounds as fertilizer in their natural state.
Make sure you know what kind of soil you’re working with
Succulents and cacti, as previously said, like somewhat acidic soil. Coffee grinds are also a fantastic technique to bring the pH levels back into balance. However, you must ensure that you are not currently utilizing soil with a high acidity level. If you’re caring for potted indoor plants, you’ll also want to make sure the soil you’re using is well-draining and allows the roots to breathe.
Conclusion
In this post, we’ve covered a variety of topics related to coffee grinds for succulents. Yes, coffee grounds are healthy for succulents, and you may achieve some great results using this approach instead of artificial fertilizers.
Although the snake plant, jade plant, and Christmas cactus are the three most common indoor houseplants that enjoy coffee grounds, this list is not exhaustive. These are only three succulent varieties that have worked for us!
We’re sure there are a variety of different houseplants that like a nice cup of coffee and will benefit from this approach of fertilizing. There’s no danger in experimenting with coffee grinds on any of your plants, whether they’re indoors or out! The most important thing to remember is not to over-water. So go about your normal watering regimen and test the water with a few coffee grinds.