GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Most of us start the day with a steaming cup of coffee to give us a bit of "get up and go."
Well, that same cup... or the grounds they came from... can do something similar same for your plants. They are filled with phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen along with several other trace minerals that plants love and need for healthy growth.
Here are a couple of ways to use them right now.
1. Simply brew a second pot or cup of coffee from your used grounds to make a "fertilizer tea." Simply water your plants with this tea (cooled down, of course) every couple of weeks for a boost. Or just let the grounds soak in water overnight, then strain before using.
2. Mix the used grounds into the soil of your houseplants. Mixing it into the soil is key and a great idea if you are re-potting some of your plants. Make sure you mix it in - just putting the grounds on top will draw needed moisture away from the roots of your plants.
Adding coffee grounds to your compost pile is always a good idea. Or you can save them in the freezer to make a big batch of fertilizer tea for your outdoor garden come spring!
A word of caution - not all plants love coffee fertilizer. Lavender, rosemary, asparagus fern, geranium and lemon trees (along with a few others) should not be given coffee or tea.
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