Coffee as plant feed

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by clueless1, Mar 30, 2012.

  1. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2008
    Messages:
    17,778
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Here
    Ratings:
    +19,597
    Evening all.

    I'm sure many of us have read that coffee is good plant food. I've read this claim many times, but nobody seems to know the NPK composition of coffee so its hard to find the info to back up the hearsay.

    So I was just wondering if anyone has tried it, and if so, what sort of results you've seen.

    A year ago I took a peace lilly in to work. I did pot it up into a much larger pot than the one it came in, but we all kept forgetting to feed it, so until a couple of weeks ago it was looking pretty pathetic. Then one day about 2 weeks ago, we watered it with the cold dregs from our coffee percolator. The results were astonishing. Within a couple of days it looked noticeably better, then by the following monday, it had quite literally doubled in volume, and continued to grow at a noticeable rate after that. So today we gave it the coffee dregs again. Its going to be the friday afternoon routine.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

      Joined:
      Jul 22, 2006
      Messages:
      17,534
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Suffolk, UK
      Ratings:
      +12,669
      There's a fair amount of Nitrogen in coffee grounds :blue thumb:

      perhaps I should do something with mine, rather than chucking them on the compost heap (where they aren't wasted, but aren't doing anything specific). I could put in the watering can in the evening, and then use the water in the morning ... or maybe just tip on specific plants
       
      • Like Like x 2
      • Jack McHammocklashing

        Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

        Joined:
        May 29, 2011
        Messages:
        4,425
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Ex Civil Serpent
        Location:
        Fife Scotland
        Ratings:
        +7,383
        Good results Clueless

        The town coffee shops allow you to collect for free, the used coffee grounds
        Starbucks even has it bagged up ready to take

        A friend said she will get some for me. she uses it on here garden, only comment was the garden smells great :-)

        Jack McH
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • clueless1

          clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

          Joined:
          Jan 8, 2008
          Messages:
          17,778
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Here
          Ratings:
          +19,597
          I've read somewhere that it is acidic. If that's true, I guess we have to be careful which plants we feed it to as some might not like it. Also, without being able to find out a bit more about the mineral composition, I'm a bit worried that the short term gains from all the nitrogen (leafy growth) might be negated by a deficiency of other minerals that be slower to show up.
           
        • Jack McHammocklashing

          Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

          Joined:
          May 29, 2011
          Messages:
          4,425
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Ex Civil Serpent
          Location:
          Fife Scotland
          Ratings:
          +7,383
          As you say there is no information on what benefit it has, or NPK
          I can test the acidity easily with my meter (do not know what it is but I will check it out tomorrow)

          Jack McH
           
        • Jack McHammocklashing

          Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

          Joined:
          May 29, 2011
          Messages:
          4,425
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Ex Civil Serpent
          Location:
          Fife Scotland
          Ratings:
          +7,383
          • Like Like x 4
          • longk

            longk Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Nov 24, 2011
            Messages:
            11,390
            Location:
            Oxfordshire
            Ratings:
            +23,112
            Slugs and snails hate them. Just put a ring around the young shoots as they emerge.
             
            • Like Like x 2
            • *dim*

              *dim* Head Gardener

              Joined:
              Jun 26, 2011
              Messages:
              3,548
              Location:
              Cambridge
              Ratings:
              +1,593
              Here's the whole lot: :snork:

              Alfalfa hay 2.45 0.5 2.1
              Apple fruit 0.05 0.02 0.1
              Apple leaves 1 0.15 0.35
              Apple pomace 0.2 0.02 0.15
              Apple skin (ash) - 3.08 11.74
              Banana skin (ash) - 3.25 41.76
              Banana stalk (ash) - 2.34 49.4
              Barley (grain) 1.75 0.75 0.5
              Bat guano 6 9 -
              Bean and pod 0.25 0.08 0.3
              Beet waste 0.4 0.4 3
              Beet waste (root) 0.25 0.1 0.5
              Blood meal 15 1.3 0.7
              Bone meal 4 21 0.2
              Bone (ground and burned) - 34.7 -
              Brewer's grains (wet) 0.9 0.5 0.05
              Brigham tea (ash) - - 5.94
              Cantaloupe rind (ash) - 9.77 12.21
              Castor bean pomace 5.5 2.25 1.13
              Cattail reed & water lilly 2.02 0.81 3.43
              Cattail seed 0.98 0.39 1.71
              Chicken manure 1.63 1.54 0.85
              Coal ash (anthracite) - 0.125 0.125
              Coal ash (bituminous) - 0.45 0.45
              Cocoa shell dust 1.04 1.49 2.71
              Coffee grounds 2.08 0.32 0.28
              Coffee grounds (dried) 1.99 0.36 0.67
              Corn (grain) 1.65 0.65 0.4
              Corn (green forage) 0.3 0.13 0.33
              Corncob (ground, charred) - - 2.01
              Corncob (ash) - - 50
              Cotton seed 3.15 1.25 1.15
              Cottonseed meal 7 2.5 1.5
              Cottonseed-hull (ash) - 8.7 23.93
              Cotton waste 1.32 0.45 0.36
              Cow manure (fresh) 0.29 0.17 0.1
              Cowpea, green forage 0.45 0.12 0.45
              Cowpes, seed 3.1 1 1.2
              Crab (common) 1.95 3.6 0.2
              Crab (king, dried and ground) 10 0.25 0.06
              Crab (king, fresh) 2.3 - -
              Crabgrass 0.66 0.19 0.71
              Cucumber skin (ash) - 11.28 27.2
              Dog manure (fresh) 1.97 9.95 0.3
              Duck manure (fresh) 1.12 1.44 0.49
              Egg 2.25 0.4 0.15
              Eggshell (burned) - 0.43 0.29
              Eggshell 1.19 0.38 0.14
              Feather 15.3 - -
              Felt hat factory waste 3.8 - 0.98
              Field bean (seed) 4 1.2 1.3
              Field bean (shell) 1.7 0.3 1.3
              Fish scrap (red snapper) 7.76 13 0.38
              Fish scrap (fresh) 6.5 3.75 -
              Greasewood (ash) - - 12.61
              Gluten feed 4.5 - -
              Greensand - 1.5 5
              Grape leaves 0.45 0.1 0.35
              Grapes (fruit) 0.15 0.07 0.3
              Grapefruit skin (ash) - 3.58 30.6
              Hair 14 - -
              Hare and rabbit waste 7 2.4 0.6
              Hoof meal and horn dust 12.5 1.75 -
              Horse manure (fresh) 0.44 0.17 0.35
              Incinerator ash 0.24 5.15 2.33
              Jellyfish (dried) 4.6 - -
              Leather (acidulated) 7.5 - -
              Leather (ground) 11 - -
              Leather (ash) - 2.16 0.35
              Lemon cull 0.15 0.06 0.26
              Lemon skin - 6.3 31
              Lobster (refuse) 4.5 3.5 -
              Lobster (shell) 4.6 3.52 -
              Milk 0.5 0.3 0.18
              Mud (fresh water) 1.37 0.26 0.22
              Mud (harbour) 0.99 0.77 0.05
              Mussel 0.9 0.12 0.13
              Mussel mud (dried) 0.72 0.35 -
              Molasses residue (brewing) 0.7 - 5.32
              Moss 0.6 0.1 0.55
              Oak leaf 0.8 0.35 0.15
              Oats grain 2 0.8 0.6
              Olive pomace 1.15 0.78 1.26
              Olive refuse 1.22 0.18 0.32
              Orange cull 0.2 0.13 0.21
              Orange skin (ash) - 2.9 27
              Oyster shell 0.36 10.38 0.09
              Paint processing waste 0.02 39.5 -
              Pea pod (ash) - 1.79 9
              Peach leaf 0.9 0.15 0.6
              Peanut (seed & kernel) 3.6 0.7 4.5
              Peanut shell 0.8 0.15 0.5
              Peanut shell (ash) - 1.23 6.45
              Pigeon manure (fresh) 4.19 2.24 1.41
              Pig manue (fresh) 0.6 0.41 0.13
              Pigweed (rough) 0.6 0.16 -
              Pine needle 0.46 0.12 0.03
              Potato (tuber) 0.35 0.15 0.5
              Potato (leaf and stalk) 0.6 0.15 0.45
              Potato skin (ash) - 5.18 27.5
              Poudrette 1.46 3.68 0.48
              Powderworks waste 2.5 - 17
              Prune refuse 0.18 0.7 0.31
              Pumpkin (fresh) 0.16 0.07 0.26
              Pumpkin seed 0.87 0.5 0.45
              Rabbit brush (ash) - - 13.04
              Ragweed 0.76 0.26 -
              Redtop hay 1.2 0.35 1
              Rhubarb stem 0.1 0.04 0.35
              Rockweed 1.9 0.25 3.68
              Rose (flower) 0.3 0.1 0.4
              Salt-marsh hay 1.1 0.25 0.75
              Salt mud 0.4 - -
              Sardine scrap 7.97 7.11 -
              Seawood 1.68 0.75 4.93
              Sheep manure (fresh) 0.55 0.31 0.15
              Shoddy and felt 8 - -
              Shrimp head (dried) 7.82 4.2 -
              Shrimp waste 2.87 9.95 -
              Silt waste 9.5 - -
              Silk mill waste 8.37 1.14 0.12
              Silk worm cocoon 9.42 1.82 1.08
              Sludge 2 1.9 0.3
              Sludge (activated) 5 3.25 0.6
              Sludge from sewer beds 0.74 0.33 0.24
              Soot from chimney fllue 5.25 1.05 0.35
              Starfish 1.8 0.2 0.25
              Sunflower seed 2.25 1.25 0.79
              Sugar (raw, residue) 1.14 8.33 -
              Sweet potato skins (ash) - 3.29 13.89
              Sweet potato 0.25 0.1 0.5
              Tanbark (ash) - 0.34 3.8
              Tanbark ash (spent) - 1.75 2
              Tankage 6 5 -
              Tea grounds 4.15 0.62 0.4
              Tea leaves (ash) - 1.6 0.44
              Timothy hay 1.25 0.55 1
              Tobacco leaves 4 0.5 6
              Tobacco stalk 3.7 0.65 4.5
              Tobacco stem 2.5 0.9 7
              Tomato fruit 0.2 0.07 0.35
              Tomato leaves 0.35 0.1 0.4
              Tomato stalk 0.35 0.1 0.5
              Wheat, bran 2.65 2.9 1.6
              Wheat grain 2 0.85 0.5
              Wheat straw 0.5 0.15 0.6
              White clover (green) 0.5 0.2 0.3
              White sage (ash) - - 13.77
              Wood ash (leached) - 1.25 2
              Wood ash (unleached) - 1.5 7
              Wool waste 5.5 3 2
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                Joined:
                Jan 9, 2005
                Messages:
                51,580
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Mid Kent
                Ratings:
                +95,502
                I've not used real coffee in years, didn't know anybody still did.

                Hows it made these days, I threw the percolator out about 20yrs ago.
                 
              • *dim*

                *dim* Head Gardener

                Joined:
                Jun 26, 2011
                Messages:
                3,548
                Location:
                Cambridge
                Ratings:
                +1,593
                ask starbucks or any shop that sells decent coffee for their coffee grounds

                I don't use it though, as I read that it alters the ph of the soil .... I'm also not convinced that it is a good snail/slug deterent ....

                one of my clients used it around her hostas as she refused to use the blue pellets as she has several bird feeders in her garden.... her hostas were munched ...

                I will try the garlic spray on her hostas this year (I see some of them have already started growing)
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Victoria

                  Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

                  Joined:
                  Jun 9, 2006
                  Messages:
                  31,624
                  Occupation:
                  Lady of Leisure
                  Location:
                  Messines, Algarve
                  Ratings:
                  +57,134
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • *dim*

                    *dim* Head Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Jun 26, 2011
                    Messages:
                    3,548
                    Location:
                    Cambridge
                    Ratings:
                    +1,593
                  • Victoria

                    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

                    Joined:
                    Jun 9, 2006
                    Messages:
                    31,624
                    Occupation:
                    Lady of Leisure
                    Location:
                    Messines, Algarve
                    Ratings:
                    +57,134
                    :) Hiya Pete

                    T'other half uses real coffee every day, most folk do here in these machines. He had a Krups now a Saeco .. I personally don't like it as I am a herbal tea person but love the smell of fresh ground coffee.

                    *dim* Garlic spray is absolutely disgusting and foul smelling ... I tried it once and never again. :thud:
                     
                  • *dim*

                    *dim* Head Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Jun 26, 2011
                    Messages:
                    3,548
                    Location:
                    Cambridge
                    Ratings:
                    +1,593
                    garlic spray works though ...

                     
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • sal73

                      sal73 Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Sep 4, 2011
                      Messages:
                      2,833
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Bedford
                      Ratings:
                      +3,011
                      I`ve never seen so many pristine hostas , I love hostas but the snails love them too much ....I`ll piss off my neighbour but will try garlic........the lady in the video must be Thailandise , by the way she organise the plant and by the taste of Thai people in growing not tropical in the tropic almost like us but in the oppasite way.
                       
                    Loading...

                    Share This Page

                    1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                      By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                      Dismiss Notice