If you are a coffee lover who loves orchids too, you have a praiseworthy choice that you may or may not be aware of. Have you ever thought of adding coffee grounds into a potting mix for orchids? It’s a fantastic idea because it works as a compost as well as a soil additive, but effectiveness depends on the type of orchid. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium beneficial for plants, but only when it is broken down in the soil.We will discuss all these in the article.
Coffee grounds are acidic, which may harm some plants if not properly used. It’s a known fact that orchids need fertilizers for robust growth, but that requirement is quite specific with regard to potting medium. In this article, we’ll discuss the use of coffee grounds for orchids and its pros and cons.
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How Does Coffee Ground Work for Orchid?
Coffee ground is a rich source of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and other nutrients needed by plants. It is considered the cheapest and best fertilizer by many gardeners. When the coffee ground is added to the soil, the ground breaks down, releasing the natural plant's fuel. On the one hand, coffee grounds provide essential nutrients required by orchids and other plants, and on the other hand, due to its acidic character, it may damage orchids if not used in controlled quantities. If you use coffee grounds in moderation, it will surely help the orchid thrive.
Tips to Use Coffee Grounds in Orchids
- Take a small quantity of coffee grounds and mix it properly in the potting mix.
- Dry out coffee grounds completely before using it on orchids, and keep a close watch on the orchid to see if it shows any signs of damage. In case it shows damage, stop using coffee grounds immediately.
- Coffee grounds are fine, which can result in poor drainage when added to the potting mix. To avoid this problem, mix it with materials such as charcoal, bark, and perlite to get an aerated potting mix.
How Coffee Grounds Have Varied Impact on Different Orchids?
Orchids are a few stunning flowers with colorful petals in white, pink, purple, blue, and yellow. However, growing and maintaining orchids are not easy because they require a fixed water schedule, sufficient sunlight, and balanced nutrients for robust growth. When it comes to adding coffee grounds to an orchid pot, there are different opinions. Some opine that it’s beneficial, and some say it is harmful. The fact is it depends on which type of orchids you use coffee grounds for.
Epiphyte orchids, the most commonly grown, are lightweight materials that allow air circulation in the pot, and that’s why they are unable to break down coffee grounds, making them unfit for epiphytes. Epiphytes don't grow in soil but on trees or some other plants. It grows in a medium mix, so when coffee grounds are added, it doesn't mix with the materials and remains on the surface, clogging the mix, preventing water from draining and leading to root rot.
The other variety of orchids, i.e., terrestrial, grow in soil, so coffee grounds are beneficial for them. Once you add grounds, it breaks down, releasing nutrients like nitrogen. However, use it moderately and monitor the pH level using a pH meter. Add lime if the soil becomes too acidic.
Are Coffee Grounds Good for Composting?
Yes, it's suitable for composting. It’s a natural material that adds nutrients like nitrogen to compost. To maintain the pH balance of compost, it is necessary to balance the acidic content of coffee grounds with other materials like leaves.
What Works for Orchids?
Many experts believe that the balanced use of fertilizer specific to the plant works well. Orchids require weekly fertilization in the growing season shifting to once in three weeks in the off season. There are homegrown fertilizers such as Epsom salt solution or banana peel tea that can help the plant grow properly.
Conclusion
Whether adding coffee grounds to the orchids is advantageous or not is a common question we often ask ourselves. The use of coffee grounds for orchids depends on the type of orchids and the amount used. A balanced amount of coffee grounds added to the orchids with a close watch can prove to be beneficial.
