Benefits of Coffee Grounds
Spent coffee grounds is an inexpensive natural fertilizing solution. Grounds are rich in nitrogen content, one of the three essential macronutrients needed for cannabis plants to thrive. Used grounds may be dispensed directly onto the soil surface, around the base of the plant, or can be worked into the soil to offer time-released benefits.
A seed meal such as spent coffee ground has pH values in the range of 5.8 and 6.2, which is acceptable for soil conditioning. If non-bleached paper coffee filters were used for preparing the coffee, the supplement might be composted as a whole without putting an additional strain on the environment.
Spent coffee grounds will slightly raise the pH levels once added as a soil enricher. Using spent grounds, not freshly-ground coffee, is important, as caffeinated content may negatively affect the growing space. Fresh beans are also more acidic than spent ones. Fermented or rotting coffee grounds should also be avoided.
The nitrogen contained in the spent coffee grounds may take some time to become available to plants. It needs to degrade from the organic fraction where it's locked. This practically means that the application of spent coffee grounds on the soil will have a slow, gradually-releasing effect. Plants will thus be exposed to a long-term nitrogen input.
Whilecoffeehas a more significant percentage of nitrogen (this will slightly vary depending on the types of coffee beans), it also contains small amounts of other nutrients, including phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, copper, and calcium. The combination of nutrients is usually available in a healthy ratio.
Just like with nitrogen, it will take time for some of the other macro- and micro-nutrients to become available to the plant, while some of it will immediately blend with the soil. Apart from cannabis, grounds are also great for tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, blueberries, radishes, etc.
In addition, this kitchen waste product may also help deter certaingarden pests. It can be used to create a snail and slug barrier. Don't anticipate a full pesticide effect from spent grounds, especially if an organic brand of coffee is used which does not contain any chemicals.But it can be useful with cats who might want to use your garden as a litter box since most cats detest the smell of coffee grounds.
