Do Lilies Like Coffee Grounds?
Coffee grounds are a popular fertilizer among flower gardening enthusiasts, especially when it comes to growing peace lilies indoors or in shaded outdoor areas. But do they actually benefit the plant, or is this more of an old wives’ tale that’s been passed around over time? The answer is yes – with some considerations – as this article will explain in detail.
Benefits of Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds have a high nutrient content and are therefore great for adding to potting soil due to their ability to create an ideal environment for plants like peace lilies to thrive. The acidity contained within the grounds helps lower the soil’s pH levels, which is ideal for many indoor plants, especially those that require acidic soil conditions such as magnolias, gardenias and azaleas.
They also act as a deterrent against indoor pests such as cats, because they find its aroma unpleasant and will stay away from it if possible! Finally, they can also help reverse leaf browning on peace lilies due to their natural anti-fungal properties.
Nutritional Content of Coffee Grounds
The nutritional content within the beans varies depending on what type of beans were used, but generally speaking there’s usually a good amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium present in them (the three main nutrients that plants need). They’re also rich in calcium and magnesium which are important secondary nutrients for healthy growth and development too!
pH Levels
Coffee is known for its acidity so it’s no surprise that it can help lower the pH levels in soil too! This is great news for plants requiring an acidic environment such as azaleas and gardenias as it helps create a more suitable living environment for them by balancing out their pH levels correctly. It also means that you won’t have to worry about getting your hands dirty with pH testing kits – simply add some used or fresh ground beans into your potting mix instead!
Keeping Pets Away
Cats have an aversion towards anything smelly or pungent so used or fresh ground beans are perfect if you want to keep them away from your prized Peace Lily plant! Sprinkle some around its base or mix some into your potting mix so that cats avoid it all together when they come near – it’s definitely worth considering if you have any feline friends in your household!
Reversing Leaf Browning
Leaf browning on Peace Lillies can occur due to a number of reasons such as over-watering or lack of sunlight etc., but adding some used or fresh ground beans into your potting mix can help reverse this process quickly! The natural anti-fungal properties present within them fight off any fungal diseases which could be causing this problem, making them a great addition if you’re looking for quick results!
Preparation of Soil
When preparing your soil with used or fresh ground beans, make sure you use quality material as this will ensure optimal results when added into your potting mix! To begin, add two parts compost (or organic matter) with one part perlite, vermiculite or sand before mixing all together thoroughly with either your hands or a shovel before finally adding in the ground beans – this should create an ideal medium which your Peace Lily will thrive in!
Application of Grounds
Once you’ve prepared your soil correctly by mixing together two parts compost (or organic matter) with one part perlite/vermiculite/sand then finally adding in the ground beans – it’s now time to apply them directly onto the soil surface around your Peace Lily’s base!
To do so simply scatter them evenly around its base before lightly pressing down with either your hands or a shovel so that they stick onto its roots firmly – this will ensure optimal absorption by providing easy access points directly onto its root system which will allow it access all those vital nutrients quickly!
Watering Considerations
When watering Peace Lillies after applying coffee grounds, always take into consideration their water needs first before anything else – remember that these plants require less water than most so don’t overwater them otherwise you’ll risk root rot & other fungal diseases!
Also keep an eye on their foliage & make sure they’re not getting too much direct sunlight either as this could cause leaf burn & other problems over time too– just make sure everything remains balanced & don’t forget about checking up on their nutrient requirements too once every few weeks just in case things get out of hand down below (in terms of pH levels).
Other Considerations
Always remember that while used/fresh ground beans may be beneficial to Peace Lillies when added into their potting mix–always take into consideration how much you actually add otherwise you’ll risk changing their nutrient requirements drastically & potentially harming their health over time–so always go slow & steady when applying these types of materials directly onto their root systems & never forget about checking up on them once every few weeks just in case things start going downhill rapidly down below (in terms of pH levels).
And lastly–if possible–try not to add too many fresh/used ground beans at once otherwise you’ll risk creating an overly acidic environment which could lead to stunted growth & other issues further down the line too–so always go slow & steady when applying these types of materials directly onto their root systems & never forget about checking up on them once every few weeks just in case things start going downhill rapidly down below (in terms of pH levels).
Conclusion
In conclusion, using either fresh or used ground beans can be highly beneficial when growing Peace Lillies indoors or outdoors due to their high nutrient content & ability to lower PH levels quickly without having to use any chemical fertilizers whatsoever–just make sure you apply them correctly & never forget about checking up on their nutrient requirements once every few weeks just in case things start going downhill rapidly down below (in terms of PH levels).
With regular care & maintenance–your Peace Lillies should be able to thrive even if you don’t use any additional fertilizers at all–just make sure everything remains balanced & don’t forget about checking up on their nutrient requirements once every few weeks just in case things start going downhill rapidly down below (in terms of PH levels)!