Which plants need coffee as fertilizer

Is coffee useful for plants? It is very good to take advantage of something as much as possible, in order to save and recycle, but sometimes we can wonder if we have gone too far with certain things. For example, with coffee.

If you've ever left some coffee in a container for too long, you may have been surprised at how quickly it can mold. And it is precisely for this reason that one might wonder which plants need coffee as fertilizer, because maybe there aren't any... or are they? Let's see.

Does coffee serve as fertilizer?

This is the first thing to find out. Coffee has an acidic pH -more or less around 4.5 and 5.0-, something that is extremely interesting for those who grow plants that need a low pH., such as azaleas, camellias, gardenias, and a long etcetera.

But as I said at the beginning, it is still something that over time can be filled with fungus or oomycetes, and these are microorganisms that can be very harmful to plants if they are pathogenic species, such as Phytophthora for example, that they are oomycetes that live in the soil.

How to use coffee to pay them?

If we wanted to use it as fertilizer, to really do it right, we would have to use the liquid coffee warm or cool (that is, we would have to prepare coffee, wait for it to cool down and discard the grounds), or pour the grounds directly on the ground (not on the pots).

Another option would be to mix a small amount of coffee powder -or the same grounds- with the substrate. But of course, it would not be a good idea to place the grounds directly on the substrate.

For which plants is coffee useful as fertilizer?

Since coffee is acidic, it can only be used as fertilizer for acidophilic plants, that is, for these for example:

Arces

The arces They are a type of tree or shrub that grows mainly in the forests of the northern hemisphere. The vast majority are deciduous, and many of them also develop in acidic soils., such is the case of the false banana (Acer pseudoplatanus), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), paper maple (Acer griseum), Acer, Acer platanoides, red maple (Acer), Etc.

Of the most common, Those who do not need coffee as fertilizer are these:

• country maple
• acer negundo
• acer opalus y Acer opalus subsp garnatense

For the simple reason that either they are not demanding, or they grow in clayey soils (that is, they have a pH of 7 or higher) as is the case with A. opalus subs granatense.

azalea and rhododendron

While the azalea falls within the botanical genus RhododendronBoth plants are sold in stores and nurseries under a different name. Azaleas are those shrubs that have leaves and small flowers, while rhododendrons are larger.. It must also be said that while the former tolerate temperatures between 30-35ºC quite well if they are in the shade and have water at their disposal, the rhododendrons cannot tolerate it, since they live in colder areas.

But yes, both one and the other need, yes or yes, to grow in acid soils, which is why fertilizing them with coffee from time to time can come in handy.

Camelia

La camellia It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that produces flowers about 4 centimeters in diameter., and very colorful colors. It is one of the most cultivated in pots, although when the garden soil is acidic, it is also very interesting to plant it there.

Does not support soils with a high pH, being able to kill the chlorotic leaves very quickly if you have one like this. For this reason, it does not hurt to occasionally add acid fertilizers such as this, and even coffee.

Citrus (lemon, orange, etc.)

The Citrus They are widely planted in almost any type of soil as long as it is fertile. The problem arises when they are kept in clayey soils, since the lack of manganese causes their leaves to turn yellow.. For example, this is something that happens a lot to lemon trees.

To avoid this, preventive measures must be taken, fertilizing them from time to time with specific fertilizers, or planting them in lands with a low pH.

Gardenia

La Gardenia It is another evergreen shrub characterized by producing beautiful flowers. These appear in spring-summer, are white, and smell wonderful. So it is not surprising that many of us get hold of one as soon as we see it in the nursery.

But you have to know that it is an acidophilic plant, that is, that cannot grow in soils whose pH is 7 or higher.

Hydrangea

La hydrangea it is a bush that blooms for several months a year. It has large, green leaves, with a serrated margin, and its flowers are grouped in rounded inflorescences, which measure about 5 centimeters in diameter more or less.

It is very easy to grow, as long as it is kept in acidic soils, otherwise it will lose its leaves and will not flower.

Magnolia

Trees and shrubs of the genus Magnolia They are also plants considered acidophilic. They have large leaves, which can be deciduous or evergreen. Y, what about its flowers? They are large, aromatic, and precious. They can measure up to 30 centimeters in diameter, and be white or pink.

Although they are slow growing, it is important to be clear that they need soils with a low pH. Thus, If they are planted in pots, they should be given a substrate for acidic plants. as this.

As you can see, coffee can be used as fertilizer for some plants.