Do African Violets Like Coffee Grounds?
African violets do like coffee grounds.
Coffee can add acid to the soil, which some plants seem to thrive on, African violets being one of them. Keep reading to see how you can use this method for your African violets.
Why Should I Use Coffee Grounds?
- Your African violet is going to need fertilizer at some point, so why not give them an easy and free fertilizer?
- Coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to fertilize your African violets and if you’re a coffee drinker, you have a free fertilizer right in your kitchen that would normally be tossed in the trash. This would help you and the planet by keeping them out of the landfill.
- Another reason to use coffee grounds is for the nitrogen content, especially if your plant likes a nitrogen-rich soil, which is the case with African violets.
- If that’s not enough reason, coffee grounds will also repel insects.although you’re not like to get slugs and snails inside the house on your African violet plant, you may see ants inside and there’s some evidence that the coffee grounds may keep them at bay.
- In addition to that, this more earth friendly method will eliminate the need to use strong chemicals on your plant, which some people are trying to avoid. If you have the choice to use a harsh chemical or some coffee grounds (which are basically free), which would you choose?
- Coffee grounds also contain other essential minerals that will help your African violet grow and thrive such as, calcium, magnesium and potassium.
- You can even add eggshells to the grounds and add to the soil for some calcium and phosphorus.
When Should I Use Coffee Grounds?
You should use coffee grounds as a fertilizer, so it would be when you normally use one, perhaps a few times a month.
On the other hand, if you use black coffee to water your plants, African violets may like that too. Just be sure to dilute the coffee before watering with it, and don’t overwater.
Can I Use Any Coffee Grounds?
You should use any unflavored coffee grounds. I would steer clear of the coffee that comes with flavorings or the k-cups that already have sugar and dairy added to them.
Wondering whether your African Violets like to be crowded? Click here!
What if I Don’t Drink Coffee?
Coffee grounds are easy to come by if you drink coffee daily; however, what if you don’t? You could, of course, make some coffee and not drink it just to use the coffee grounds on your plant, and the coffee itself can also be used to water your plants.
If you don’t want to go to all that trouble, you could ask any friends or family who are coffee drinkers to save some grounds and maybe the coffee itself for you.
If you don’t know anyone who wants to do this, there is still another option. Go to a coffee shop and see if they will give you some of their leftover grounds. They would just throw them away anyway.
Also, consider convenience stores. They go through a lot of coffee as well and may be willing to part with their grounds if you ask them.
How to Fertilize African Violets With Coffee Grounds
If you’ve decided to use coffee grounds in your African violet plant, start slow.
Since they are relatively small plants, start with a couple of teaspoons of coffee grounds sprinkled on top of the soil.
You can also work them into the soil a bit if you like, but if they are being put there for more than just fertilizer but also a pest deterrent, you might just want to leave them on top of the soil.
It’s said that they may keep neighborhood cats away if you use them in the garden, so if you have a house cat that likes to interfere with your plants, this may help deter them.
If you want, you can dilute the coffee grounds by making a concoction of water and coffee out of them. Just add water to the grounds before you add them to your plant. This will lessen the chance that you will burn your plant with too much fertilizer, though that is most likely to happen with chemical fertilizers.
Wondering whether your African Violets like to be misted? Click here!
After the initial coffee fertilization, keep an eye on your plant to make sure it’s not getting too much acid. The signs are yellowing or browning of the leaves, and you may want to add more water to the mixture of coffee grounds and water.
Are There Any Other Gardening Uses for My Coffee Grounds?
If you have a compost bin, then you already know the answer to this question! Throw them in there along with the coffee filter, and you have a wonderful ingredient for your compost.
Of course, you will want to add some dry ingredients to the compost bin as well for a good balance. Some leaves and some newspapers should fix that and keep the compost bin from smelling bad.
If you compost with worms, coffee grounds are a favorite of theirs too. They will appreciate about a cup of grounds per week.
Once you have some finished compost, you can use this for your African violets. They love compost! Either add to an already potted plant or use it when you repot your plants.
Now that you know how to use your coffee grounds on your African violets, you can research your other house plants and see which ones might like a little extra acidity in their soil, and you can sprinkle a little in their pots too!
For example, blueberries and strawberries would love a little extra acidity from the grounds; however, tomatoes don’t like the coffee grounds, and you should make sure to keep them away from their area of the garden. Carrots and radishes would also love the grounds. Geraniums don’t like them, though. Make sure you know which plants would thrive and which would not before using coffee grounds.
Now you just need to make sure you have enough coffee grounds to go around, so drink up!
