Coffee grounds are readily available in most households. And being a plant enthusiast, I always wondered if there is a way to use coffee grounds on my houseplants, including my spider plant. But do spider plants like coffee grounds? Is coffee ground good for them? Let’s find out!
Coffee grounds are good for spider plants if used in the form of compost, mulch, or liquid fertilizer. Avoid adding coffee grounds directly to your plant, as it can lead to problems like fungus, pests, and stunted growth. Adding a small amount in the form of compost or mulch can boost the soil’s acidity, promoting growth in spider plants.
Coffee grounds do work well for some plants, but for others, it can wreak havoc. You shouldn’t add to all of your plants. Do proper research and add it to the plant that prefers slightly acidic soil, such as spider plant.
Also, make sure you choose the right way to use the coffee ground on your plant. If done incorrectly, it can lead to poor growth and wilting of plants.
So, in this guide, we shall learn all about the benefits, hazards, and the right way to use coffee grounds to grow your spider plant healthy and bushy.
Are coffee grounds good for spider plants?
Coffee grounds are excellent for the healthy growth of spider plants. It is rich in nitrogen and other micronutrients needed by spider plants.
The ideal way to use coffee ground will be in the form of compost. When mixed with other organic matter, it can help attract beneficial microorganisms and earthworms that are beneficial for the plants.
These microorganism helps to break down organic matter releasing rich nutrients needed for the growth of the plant.
When coffee grounds are added to the compost mix, then it also boosts the nitrogen level of the mix. Alongside, it makes the mix slightly more acidic that is what the spider plant prefers.
However, make sure you add only a handful of compost to your spider plant in one feed. Too much compost can disbalance the soil that can hamper the growth of your plant.
Also read: Do indoor plants need fertilizer? Why?
How often should I put coffee grounds on my spider plants?
Coffee grounds can be used for every alternative feed if used correctly as compost, mulch, or liquid fertilizer.
For example: If you feed your snake plant once a month, you can use coffee ground-based fertilizer in the first month and then replace it with something else next month and feed it again in the following month.
But why can’t we choose to feed coffee ground-based fertilizer every single month?
That is because of two reasons:
- Coffee ground is rich in nitrogen but lacks other nutrients. Thus, feeding that only is not sufficient for the growth of your plant.
- Coffee ground is acidic. Thus, too much of it can alter the soil’s pH level and hamper the growth of your plant.
With that said, let us look at some popular ways you can repurpose coffee grounds for your houseplants.
Best way to use coffee ground on spider plant
Now that you have learned that coffee ground can be used to fertilize spider plant, you might be wondering if you can just toss in a handful of coffee ground directly into your planter.
Be aware! You must never do so. If you directly toss in the coffee ground, your plant will likely suffer from various problems. These include:
- Stunted growth
- Fungal growth
- Root rot
- Leaf burn
- Pest infestation
So, what is the best way you can use the coffee ground on your spider plant?
There are basically three ways you can use the coffee ground on your snake plant. These include:
- As a compost
- Mulch
- Liquid fertilizer
I know that might sound a little unusual to you. But bear with me for a while, and I shall take you into further details of the same.
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Compost
If you are amongst the one who loves natural fertilizers and prefers preparing your own compost, then coffee grounds are blessing in disguise for you.
Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen that can make your compost nutrient-rich. Just add 20% coffee ground to your kitchen or garden waste, and create your organically rich compost out of it.
An important part to keep in mind is not overloading a lot of coffee ground in the mix. Too much coffee can disbalance the acidity level of the compost.
Also, the coffee ground is rich in nitrogen only. Thus, too much of it will reduce the amount of other nutrients in the mix.
Let the compost get prepared as usual, and use it on your spider plants every 6-8 weeks. However, you must err on the side of caution while fertilizing.
If you end up overfertilizing your spider plant, it will impact the growth and may result in wilting as well.
Liquid fertilizer
Liquid fertilizer is an easy and quick way to fertilize your spider plant with. You can prepare your own liquid fertilizer with the help of coffee ground. Here are a few steps you can follow:
- Take a small pot, add a jug of water, and let it simmer.
- Once the water starts simmering, turn off the heat and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Add the coffee ground into the water and cover it for a while.
- Once cooled, you can transfer it into a jar or container to sit for a week or two.
- Use the water to fertilize your plant after a week or two.
It might sound a little overwhelming to hear, but this works like a charm for some houseplants.
When you let the coffee sit on the water for a few days, beneficial bacteria will start colonizing. The bacteria will start breaking coffee grounds releasing a lot of nutrients in the water.
As the water is rich in nutrients, it can boost your spider plant’s growth if used occasionally.
Mulch
Mulching is a common practice in outdoor gardening, but you can use it with most houseplants as well. Mulch is usually a mix of organic matter used to cover the soil.
Mulch helps preserve moisture in the soil, provide a balanced environment for bacteria and microorganisms to grow, and fertilize the soil.
You can prepare a mulch mix by mixing organic matter like straw, leaves, branches, wood chips, along with the coffee ground.
However, make sure you mix a handful of coffee ground to the mix as too much of it can alter the soil pH level and impact the microorganisms living in the soil.
Hazards to keep in mind while using coffee grounds in spider plants
Coffee grounds can be beneficial for the growth of our spider plant if used correctly. But if you overfertilize with the coffee ground or use it directly to top the soil, then it can be a disaster for your spider plant.
Most of these problems can be prevented by using it in an appropriate quantity and using it appropriately.
Fungal diseases
If you use coffee ground directly on the topsoil, it will likely result in fungal growth. The coffee ground will break down slowly, releasing nutrients in the soil, but in the meantime, it might attract fungus growth towards it.
You can prevent this problem by not using coffee ground directly on the topsoil and instead of making compost, mulch, or fertilizer out of it.
The fungal growth can affect the health of your spider plant resulting in poor growth. Thus, it is best to use coffee ground in the form of compost and liquid fertilizer only.
Attract pests
You might have read or heard that coffee helps deter bugs and pests away. However, that might not be true for all scenarios.
Yes, coffee grounds can help keep slugs and ants away, but the same doesn’t apply to houseflies and gnats.
In fact, adding a handful of coffee ground directly on the topsoil can attract gnats and other pests towards your spider plant.
Can inhibit growth of plants
Coffee grounds can be a growth inhibitor for some plants. This is not true in all cases, but several studies claim that young plants suffer from retarded growth when too much coffee ground is added to the soil.
You must avoid using coffee grounds while repotting or when your plant is new. However, there is no practical proof of it as I haven’t tried it myself.
You must always err on the side of caution while using something like this on our plant. We don’t want to shock our plants and harm them. So, be cautious and careful while using the same.
Also read: Why is my pothos dying?
Should I water my spider plant with leftover coffee?
You should never water your spider plant or any other houseplant with leftover coffee. I would strongly recommend avoiding it in the first place. There are many reasons for it:
- Coffee has concentrated caffeine in it, which can inhibit the growth of plants.
- If you start watering with coffee, then you will likely overwater your plant.
Do note that overwatering your plant or overfertilizing them with too much coffee ground can hamper your plant’s growth. So, it is best to avoid it altogether.
Final thought
Is coffee ground good for spider plant? Yes, the coffee ground is excellent for spider plants if used correctly and in the right quantity.
You must always ensure that you don’t use it directly on topsoil and instead mix it with compost, mulch or make a liquid fertilizer of it.
Source: Coffee grounds benefits, Field Evaluation of Coffee Grounds Application for Crop Growth, Effect of fresh and composted spent coffee grounds.