Great information. Now I understand why my plants has grown so big especially my sweat peppers. We make coffee 2 to 3 times a day. I dry them, add crushed egg shells and put it in a plastic bag and once every couple of months I scatter a bit of coffee grounds with egg shells and they started to grow beautifully. Now I have to cut them down because they grow tall and the production of peppers are great for the first time I have been having peppers already for for 3 months. I stopped fertilizing with bought fertilizers. This has worked perfect and I'm recycling.
Thanks for the great lab report and the tips Stephen. Can't wait to try out the coffee grounds in the garden this season and see how well it does for out leafy greens! Have a great day
Stephen, I am so glad you and Patrick kept twisting my arm until I tried coffee grounds as a top dressing lol. My brassicas certainly appreciated them this winter season.!! After 40 years of hearing old wives tales that the only place for coffee grounds is around the bluberries and azaleas, it was hard to get up the nerve to try them in my raised beds, but they work great!!
Stephen Great video I love the use of coffee grounds in the garden and I was stoked to see you are on making the coffee grounds videos! Cant wait for the next one!!
Stephen, another great episode. Coffee grounds are awesome for heating up compost piles. Plus, coffee shops are always happy to get rid of their used grounds. I drop off and pick up a 5 gallon bucket weekly!
***** Here's a little story about ironic competition... I told my neighbor about how, and what I use coffee grounds for and now she is dropping off her bucket at the same coffee shop. LOL It's all good though. Most of the time she picks up my bucket for me!
Hey Stephen! I used coffee grounds to fertilize sunflowers last summer. The result? The biggest heads of sunflowers I have ever grown. I used the same seed in two locations in my yard. One group of sunflowers, I fed wood chips (broken down), uncomposted coffee grounds, composted manure, and occasional miracle grow. The other group, I occasionally fed only miracle grow. The one with coffee grounds performed GREAT! I wonder if I made a magic concoction. haha
I have gathered many kilos of coffee ground from a local cafe. So far I have only put two kilos in my compost bin. Thank you for that important information. I was told it will lower the pH and to only put it on flowers and rhurbarb that need a bit more acid . I appreciate your guidance
Alberta Urban Garden Simple Organic and Sustainable.......I like you channel mainly because you actually send out things for getting tested i dont know any other channel that does that thank you and great job man!!.........one question i dont drink coffee can i just buy coffee grounds and directly apply them without using them first?
You can apply them with out them having been used however you can likely get them for free from your local coffee shop. I appreciate the kind comment my friend! I felt it was necessary to send my own samples in to get some tangible evidence for the community.
Thanks for this excellent piece of info Stephen. I've been reviewing your archives and what sets your channel apart from other gardening channels on YT is the factual presentation presented well and in a non-intimidating way. I used to throw away the coffee grounds from my coffeemaker and coffeepress but thanks to videos such as yours, I've been putting it into my balcony composting pots, also using it to completely cover banana and fruit peels so as not to attract fruit flies. I've observed that earthworms do like the coffee grounds.
+Oggie Ramos I am so very glad that I can help! I follow the evidence and simply try to provide people with a clear message allowing them to make up their own minds!
What a great video for me to be watching and learning from this morning as I sip my organic coffee grown and harvested from my own land. Thanks Stephen for the info!(-:
I sprinkle my coffee grounds right on top of my no till / deep mulch. I don't bother to compost it. I also use some in my worm farm, but not too much and I always add egg shells when I do. Lately I've been saving the grounds until I have enough start growing mushrooms. I look forward to a analysis of mushroom compost in the future. :)
I often do the same thing with my grounds. right on top but not too thick! I want to try growing mushrooms on grounds and on compost to see how they do!
Thanks for great intuitive information. I was dumping coffee grounds and paper filters right on top of the tomato plants. Fortunately, the plants were not hurt. But the addition of our daily household scraps of fruit and vegs with some mulch I believe was responsible for our abundant harvest and buffering somewhat the effects of the coffee grounds.
Great information on using coffee grounds in the garden, Stephen! I was surprised the pH of the used grounds was that low. I wonder if the brewing process doesn't really lower the acidity of the grounds?
Well I think it's a variety of factors that resulted in this. As you know Rob did an analysis of his coffee grounds and found a higher pH. It might be just the method used allowed for more acidity to come out of the grounds or it could be the variety chosen is more acidic. Either way it should not be an issue for the soil.
dakotabob10 If you could see my shaking hands right now that would give you a good example of the results ; ) I could run a seismograph! LOL....sorry I couldn't resist!
I use coffee grounds 2 ways. I do use them in my compost piles. I also use them directly on the soil. Here's how. I no till using a variation of sheet mulching. Basically it's simple. Just mow the grass. 5 days later mow very short. I actually scalp the ground. Then a layer of paper or cardboard and mulch over that. Where do the coffee grounds come in? I like to sprinkle coffee grounds on the scalped ground before I unroll the paper. The worms will come up and this feeds them for a while when still waiting for the mulch to start decomposing. That activity is what tills my soil. Thus I can use no till and actually still have even fluffier soil than my neighbor who double digs. ;-) Let the worms do all the work!
Thanks for posting. I love these information packed videos. I have used some coffee grounds and some tea leaves in my compost. It would be interesting to have the same info on tea to compare with coffee.
I thought that adding coffee grounds to my compost bin would allow them to be broken down, freeing up more nutrients than adding it as a mulch...thanks for confirming this!
***** Thanks so much for the analysis Steven, I often wondered what PH used coffee grounds have. I primarily use them, and crushed egg shells for vermicompost bin. I use a little Keurig coffee maker so there's just enough used grounds for my bin
Been subbed for a while, enjoying your vids - first comment, I think. Great vid, here - really enjoy the blend of science & gardening you share. One more thing to offer regarding coffee - which you covered indirectly under "brewing methods" - is the water used, whether it's just tap water, well water, purified water, or what I use, alkaline purified water. The purifier in which I invested also is able to separate out the acid from alkaline. I use the acid flow in all cleaning processes, but especially enjoy using the alkaline water to make coffee, knowing its typicial acidity. So I wonder what - if any - difference this would make to the used grounds. Probably not widely used enuf to merit any testing - just thought I'd mention it. Also, glad someone else brought up pine mulch. As I live in a stand of pines, there isn't much of leaf mulch available, here. Have so far stuck to hydrangeas & azaleas, acid-loving plants. Just beginning to test the waters, tho, considering working with compost to enrich my heavy clay Arkansas soil. As I said, enjoying the blessings of your vids as I pluck up my courage to get out there & perhaps start some raised beds :) ~♥~
+TheseEyesGod my friend this is why I produce videos is to hopefully encourage others to take up gardening!! the water would likely make a small difference but as its a fast extraction differing pH of the water likely would not have a huge impact. That said a french press certainly has more opportunities. Pine mulch will break down just very slowly. If you don't have access to fall leaves wood chips work well but again take some time to break down in a compost. that said most municipalities have wood chip piles and if your lucky they have some old ones around back that have already begun to decay ! I am glad you came by and commented! It is great to get feedback and when I am told I help people it makes the hours and hours I put into every 4-7 minute video well worth the time!
+Alberta Urban Garden Simple Organic and Sustainable Oh yes, especially with this playlist of testing the theories, you put many months into some of them, as well as your travel both ways to Maxxam testing labs - serious effort, & it shows. Thanks so much for your ideas, here. ~♥~
That's great information! From your analysis report it appeared that there is more of P and K that is immediately available and then you explained there would be more N available as it broke down and becomes plant available. I am using wood ash for K but still haven't been able to procure rock phosphate here in Mumbai , India. Do you think it is a good idea to utilise used coffee grounds weekly as a phosphorus source for my container garden? Thanks.
Applying it as a mulch would likely not give you the results your looking for as they won't break down fast enough. If used to make a compost the soil that comes out would likely have a surplus and could be used as a primary source in both the soil and mulch.
***** I think you're right. But Can you clear one thing up? The testing show unused grounds have a lower nitrogen level. So the darker I steep my coffee, the higher the nitrogen level goes up? That's weird. I'm also wondering if I should put my coffee grounds under my pine shaving mulch or on top of it. If it went under, I'm afraid it would have a decaying effect.
Well the numbers of nitrogen in my samples are close enough to be considered statistically the same. Most of the nitrogen is caught up in the molecules with in the grounds. I would apply the grounds on top of your pine mulch. What will happen is as they get watered in they will move down and will be less likely to create a cap. As long as your not using more then 1/4 inch it will be a great addition.
Just this morning I put my ph pen right into some unused coffee grounds and got a reading of 4.7. I plan on just spreading the fresh coffee grounds around my blueberry plants and water it in to get that lowering ph affect.
Hello Stephen, Very informative video's you make. Can you tell me if used coffee grinds that have been sitting in the hot sun and developed some mold on it, is still good to mix in virgin soil (this is the first time the clayish soil is being used for a garden)?
I watched this video tonight after adding a lot of coffee grounds to my potted plants in the evening . 😢 I mixed the grounds into the soil. Do I have to remove them ASAP from my plants to prevent harming them when the coffee grounds ferment.?
Very informative video!! Do you think coffee grounds added on top of soil in pots would help lower the pH of the watering? The water out of my hose comes from a well and is between 7.5 and 8.0.
Thank you my friend I am glad you enjoyed the video. I do add grounds to my pots as well but it's unlikely to help amend the pH of your water. I also would not worry about your water with a pH like that. The soil can buffer it and stay around 5-4.5 no problem !
Using Coffee Grounds in your garden is a great way to bring all sorts of benefits to your garden. At #starbucks you can get them for free with their #groundsforyourgarden program! #usedcoffeegrounds #coffeegrounds #mulch #compost #organic #spentcoffeegrounds #free #freefertilizer #organicfertilizer #localresources #wastedeversion #coffee #espresso #espressogrounds #freeresource #cheapfertilizer #fertilizer th-cam.com/video/ifEAqN1bMNU/w-d-xo.html
That is very interesting for coffee drinkers but Here in the UK it can be difficult to find enough coffee Grounds, but I have just read in a book that says used Tea (loose or bagged) has more nutrients than ground coffee, and just wondering if you every thought about this in the garden.
As a matter of fact I just received a package of the two most common teas in England and will be running a similar assessment in a few weeks. We are going to put that garden practice to the test :)
***** I have just read on the internet that African Violets really love tea and that ericaceous plants really love it (due to the tannic acid present). It would be interesting to see a comparison between the nutrients of coffee grounds and tea grounds (see homeguides.sfgate.com/can-tea-grounds-plant-grow-70101.html)
Last week we Took a look at the great benefits Used Coffee Grounds can have in the garden. Thanks to programs like grounds for your garden #starbucks Tomorrow we will see if coffee can be of use in the garden. #coffee #starbucks #coffeegrounds #usedgrounds #usedcoffeegrounds #nutrints #npk #traceminerals #traceelements th-cam.com/video/ifEAqN1bMNU/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for this great video. Can you please tell me if it is even better to mix used coffe grounds with eggshells and banana peals? And also, does the used coffee have an expirity date?
I am glad you enjoy the videos. I am not sure if coffee has an expiry however even if it is expired it is great for the garden. You can mix the grounds but there is no real need to.
Hi, I was just wondering how many doses of used coffee grounds did you put to each plants? And I was wondering if you knew which plant grow the fastest, as I am conducting a science experiment and would like to know what plants or herbs can grow within a week to two weeks. Thank you so much!
+Bernice Tang I have not tracked that kind of information. I usually just start at one end of the garden apply a light mix over it all and then return to where i started the next time.
Really interesting, comprehensive and useful information. love your scientific approach.. really gives depth to what is normally a gardening tip without much explanation how and why it works. Bravo. Have subscribed to your channel and started sharing you on twitter @return2earth
I am glad you enjoyed the video my friend. I quite enjoy making these videos :) Thank you for subscribing and sharing my video ! I really appreciate it!
I live in the Dallas area where we have clay soil. I do not have a garden but would be using used coffee grounds from Starbucks mainly for my shrubs i.e. nandinas and hollies along with my lawn. I have been lightly spreading the used coffee grounds on the lawn and around the base of the the shrubs. Do you have any info on the use of used coffee grounds on clay soil and its benefits.
i will pickup 50lb at a time from starbucks i mix it with soil when preparing a hole to plant fruit trees. (also mixing in compost). then add urine to it every day for a month. let it sit for another month before planting. i also sun dried 100lb of grounds they may have lost some of the nitrogen, but when they were re-wetted the bacteria were able to attack them faster to break them down. they also seem to have a better consistency for drainage this way, while still being able to absorb water. it "may" also make some of the other minerals more bio-available. that would be a good test to do.
It looks like you put grounds to great use in the garden. I don't recommend mixing in U composted ground directly into the soil in larger volumes. It can cause issues. I bet your compost is quite nitrogen rich
Starbucks method of making coffee is an extremely fast pressurized extraction process. The acidity in coffee is water soluble which means the acidity is washed out of the grounds as it is brewed. Normal home brewing is a slower process which extracts more acidity than a fast extraction. I would bet my coffee pot that home brewed coffee has a higher ph value.
I would tend to agree Ray. I would be willing to bet a coffee We also generally pick coffee types that are much less acidic as they turn out better in our home pots ! Regardless these results although low are nothing to worry about in my opinion.
I have been putting my home coffee grounds in my composer. I have seen a few of these videos and from what I understand is that as long as you are putting the grounds around the area but not directly under the plants, any ph issue is neutralized.
***** Thanks. I use coffee grounds from ecological fairtrade coffee, which I brew coffee from every Sunday at church. Since I did not know I have been adding them directly over the soil. Is there a plant that I can grow indoors that produces lots of leaves that I can use in my indoor worm compost over winter? Can I substitute leaves with torn-up bits of newspaper and cardboard? I would also like to know what I can grow in my allotment that produces lots of leaves that I can use to mulch the allotment with. We are not allowed to plant trees. Shrubs are no problem. All the autumn leaves in the area are collected by the municipality and people on whose lawns they drop. No free wood chips or free sawdust are available either. I have comfrey but do not know how to use it as a mulch.
Edwin Reffell Indoors its probably best to ask ***** for a plant that can feed your worms as he is the master. You can feed your worms kitchen scraps and shredded paper with you coffee grounds and your likely going to end up with some great castings! Outside I would recommend comfrey as a leafy plant you can use to accumulate NPK and lots of trace minerals. I am sure Ill be doing a clip soon on that.
More people probably should. Unfortunately, I'm sad to type that I suspect too many people probably think it sounds like mumbo-jumbo--especially when you describe the math (which by the way is well done also!).
So basically you are saying that I can sprinkle used coffee grounds on top of the soil, but don't mix it in and don't put too thick of a layer of grounds on the soil surface. Also are you saying that the microbes and worms will break down the coffee ground that are on the surface of the soil thus releasing more of the nitrogen and other elements?
Patrick Pittman Thats right my friend! simple to do and effective! Add that with todays Comfrey video and the leaf video from a few week ago and your off to the races ;)
even though I don't have the time or resources to collect all those leaves and comfrey, I have been collecting coffee grounds. So I should be fine by just sprinkling the grounds on the surface and letting nature take its course, right?
Patrick Pittman There are actually several species of worms. 1 kind will come up to the surface and grab food (decaying grounds etc...) and bring it back underground... you need some mulch over the grounds though,, the worms wont expose themselves to direct sun. From what ive read, the worms are looking for bacteria. they dont actually digest the grounds, but it will pass through their guts. they eat grounds because the bacteria are feeding on the grounds, and also because the grounds are just the right size from what i read.... whatever the reason, they love the stuff. i mix 20lb or so with the soil whenever i plant a papaya, and my papaya trees take off. excellent growth and tons of worms.
I once cooked my worms (literally) by making a 50/50 mix of brown with coffee grinds, it composted so hot that they all fled the bin, and those that didn't died :( It was a fridge upended and nearly full of the mix with LOTS of worms.. then none :P After that I was more careful to buffer the amount of coffee grinds to smaller more modest amounts.
***** Haha thanks Steven :) I agree they are great in the right amounts, I've been using them for years; I was getting a ute load a month free before I moved to the country to homestead :P
Be careful if you are trying grow vegetables. The nitrates in the coffee can grow incredibly beautiful green plants but due to the heavy nitrates it can keep your plants from growing the fruit or veggie. Personal experience and much research. Use sparingly.
The application process I use in my garden does not use tons and tons in any one location. Because the nitrogen is tied up in more complex molecules it takes time for it to release to the environment. Making sure to have other mulch materials with complements of all nutrients balanced plant growth should be fairly easy to achieve. I suppose the moral of my gardening recommendation is everything in moderation!
Great information. Now I understand why my plants has grown so big especially my sweat peppers. We make coffee 2 to 3 times a day. I dry them, add crushed egg shells and put it in a plastic bag and once every couple of months I scatter a bit of coffee grounds with egg shells and they started to grow beautifully. Now I have to cut them down because they grow tall and the production of peppers are great for the first time I have been having peppers already for for 3 months. I stopped fertilizing with bought fertilizers. This has worked perfect and I'm recycling.
It's great to recycle what you have and get an added benefit from them !
I am really glad you peppers are doing well!
Thanks for the great lab report and the tips Stephen. Can't wait to try out the coffee grounds in the garden this season and see how well it does for out leafy greens! Have a great day
I am glad you enjoyed the clip my friend ! Spring is coming ! I for one can't wait !
Stephen, I am so glad you and Patrick kept twisting my arm until I tried coffee grounds as a top dressing lol. My brassicas certainly appreciated them this winter season.!! After 40 years of hearing old wives tales that the only place for coffee grounds is around the bluberries and azaleas, it was hard to get up the nerve to try them in my raised beds, but they work great!!
I am very glad we could help with our clips ! I find this work so much fun! I have been told for years to use it in my compost. Now we know why!
Thanks for the informative video ***** ! I sometimes throw the grounds in the garden as well as the compost bin!
Learn To Grow They do provide quite the benefit!
Stephen Great video I love the use of coffee grounds in the garden and I was stoked to see you are on making the coffee grounds videos! Cant wait for the next one!!
I am glad you enjoyed the video ! It has been a lot of fun to make ! I use a good amount in my garden as well !
Stephen, another great episode. Coffee grounds are awesome for heating up compost piles. Plus, coffee shops are always happy to get rid of their used grounds. I drop off and pick up a 5 gallon bucket weekly!
Wow that's fantastic ! I have some competition here so I usually end up with 1-3 gallons a week.
***** Here's a little story about ironic competition... I told my neighbor about how, and what I use coffee grounds for and now she is dropping off her bucket at the same coffee shop. LOL It's all good though. Most of the time she picks up my bucket for me!
Although you get less it's worth it IMHO to share the knowledge and benefits ! I hope o have a hard time getting them this summer !
Hey Stephen! I used coffee grounds to fertilize sunflowers last summer. The result? The biggest heads of sunflowers I have ever grown. I used the same seed in two locations in my yard. One group of sunflowers, I fed wood chips (broken down), uncomposted coffee grounds, composted manure, and occasional miracle grow. The other group, I occasionally fed only miracle grow. The one with coffee grounds performed GREAT! I wonder if I made a magic concoction. haha
Sounds like you sure did! You know the combination of wood chips grounds and manure would provide a lot of nutrients consistently!
I have gathered many kilos of coffee ground from a local cafe. So far I have only put two kilos in my compost bin. Thank you for that important information. I was told it will lower the pH and to only put it on flowers and rhurbarb that need a bit more acid . I appreciate your guidance
Glad I could help Patrick! Its a great resource !
I've been using grounds for years for my compost and raised beds! Good episode Stephen!
I have been as well based on my family recommending it. Now we know why!
Alberta Urban Garden Simple Organic and Sustainable.......I like you channel mainly because you actually send out things for getting tested i dont know any other channel that does that thank you and great job man!!.........one question i dont drink coffee can i just buy coffee grounds and directly apply them without using them first?
You can apply them with out them having been used however you can likely get them for free from your local coffee shop.
I appreciate the kind comment my friend! I felt it was necessary to send my own samples in to get some tangible evidence for the community.
MUy buena explicacion ^^
gracias
Thanks for this excellent piece of info Stephen. I've been reviewing your archives and what sets your channel apart from other gardening channels on YT is the factual presentation presented well and in a non-intimidating way. I used to throw away the coffee grounds from my coffeemaker and coffeepress but thanks to videos such as yours, I've been putting it into my balcony composting pots, also using it to completely cover banana and fruit peels so as not to attract fruit flies. I've observed that earthworms do like the coffee grounds.
+Oggie Ramos I am so very glad that I can help! I follow the evidence and simply try to provide people with a clear message allowing them to make up their own minds!
What a great video for me to be watching and learning from this morning as I sip my organic coffee grown and harvested from my own land. Thanks Stephen for the info!(-:
For you that would be in place recycling ! I bet that coffee is fantastic !!!
I must say the coffee here is the best I have ever had!(-: Thanks again for the videos Stephen...
Your welcome my friend !
Interesting findings Stephen.. Looking forward to the fertiliser clip..
Cheers mate..
Glad you liked the clip. I think you will be surprised with the results. I am putting it together right now!
use it all the time... from nature... back to nature!
Make sure to tune in this weekend to OneYardRevolution | Frugal & Sustainable Organic Gardening Episode ! I think you will like it
Great information! I recently started feeding my red worms the spent coffee grounds from Starbucks. Thanks for sharing.
I am glad you enjoyed the clip. Your worms must love the grounds !
Great info, once again, Stephen! thanks for sharing this with us!
Glad I you enjoyed it my friend. In your area they would break down much quicker !
I sprinkle my coffee grounds right on top of my no till / deep mulch. I don't bother to compost it. I also use some in my worm farm, but not too much and I always add egg shells when I do. Lately I've been saving the grounds until I have enough start growing mushrooms. I look forward to a analysis of mushroom compost in the future. :)
I often do the same thing with my grounds. right on top but not too thick! I want to try growing mushrooms on grounds and on compost to see how they do!
Thank you so much for doing these kinds of videos.
Thanks for great intuitive information. I was dumping coffee grounds and paper filters right on top of the tomato plants. Fortunately, the plants were not hurt. But the addition of our daily household scraps of fruit and vegs with some mulch I believe was responsible for our abundant harvest and buffering somewhat the effects of the coffee grounds.
Thank you Sir. See you next time. Take care, be safe!
Glad you enjoyed it my friend
Great information on using coffee grounds in the garden, Stephen! I was surprised the pH of the used grounds was that low. I wonder if the brewing process doesn't really lower the acidity of the grounds?
Well I think it's a variety of factors that resulted in this. As you know Rob did an analysis of his coffee grounds and found a higher pH. It might be just the method used allowed for more acidity to come out of the grounds or it could be the variety chosen is more acidic.
Either way it should not be an issue for the soil.
Great information Stephen! I am looking forward to seeing the results of brewed coffee.
dakotabob10 If you could see my shaking hands right now that would give you a good example of the results ; ) I could run a seismograph! LOL....sorry I couldn't resist!
Keyplayr61 Greenhouse Hydroponics And Gardens LOL
Glad you enjoyed the clip dakotabob10
Nice info Stephen, sorry to be late on your videos my friend, can't seem to get a grip on things since the holidays!
Thank you my friend ! I think coffee grounds are a great addition to our gardens !
I use coffee grounds 2 ways. I do use them in my compost piles. I also use them directly on the soil. Here's how. I no till using a variation of sheet mulching. Basically it's simple. Just mow the grass. 5 days later mow very short. I actually scalp the ground. Then a layer of paper or cardboard and mulch over that. Where do the coffee grounds come in? I like to sprinkle coffee grounds on the scalped ground before I unroll the paper. The worms will come up and this feeds them for a while when still waiting for the mulch to start decomposing. That activity is what tills my soil. Thus I can use no till and actually still have even fluffier soil than my neighbor who double digs. ;-) Let the worms do all the work!
I'm totally with you on that.
That's a great way to sheet mulch and get long term humus and nutrients into the area !
Thanks for posting. I love these information packed videos.
I have used some coffee grounds and some tea leaves in my
compost. It would be interesting to have the same info on
tea to compare with coffee.
I plan on doing a clip on tea as well but it will have to wait until my next round of sampling :)
Thanks! Well researched as usual.
I am glad you enjoyed the video !
I thought that adding coffee grounds to my compost bin would allow them to be broken down, freeing up more nutrients than adding it as a mulch...thanks for confirming this!
I am glad I could help ! I like to add them to my mulch as well to help bring the worms in ;)
*****
Thanks so much for the analysis Steven, I often wondered what PH used coffee grounds have. I primarily use them, and crushed egg shells for vermicompost bin. I use a little Keurig coffee maker so there's just enough used grounds for my bin
Glad I could help my friend. Using them in vermicompost is a great way to break them down and inoculate them with bacteria !
Been subbed for a while, enjoying your vids - first comment, I think. Great vid, here - really enjoy the blend of science & gardening you share. One more thing to offer regarding coffee - which you covered indirectly under "brewing methods" - is the water used, whether it's just tap water, well water, purified water, or what I use, alkaline purified water.
The purifier in which I invested also is able to separate out the acid from alkaline. I use the acid flow in all cleaning processes, but especially enjoy using the alkaline water to make coffee, knowing its typicial acidity. So I wonder what - if any - difference this would make to the used grounds. Probably not widely used enuf to merit any testing - just thought I'd mention it.
Also, glad someone else brought up pine mulch. As I live in a stand of pines, there isn't much of leaf mulch available, here. Have so far stuck to hydrangeas & azaleas, acid-loving plants. Just beginning to test the waters, tho, considering working with compost to enrich my heavy clay Arkansas soil. As I said, enjoying the blessings of your vids as I pluck up my courage to get out there & perhaps start some raised beds :)
~♥~
+TheseEyesGod my friend this is why I produce videos is to hopefully encourage others to take up gardening!!
the water would likely make a small difference but as its a fast extraction differing pH of the water likely would not have a huge impact. That said a french press certainly has more opportunities.
Pine mulch will break down just very slowly. If you don't have access to fall leaves wood chips work well but again take some time to break down in a compost. that said most municipalities have wood chip piles and if your lucky they have some old ones around back that have already begun to decay !
I am glad you came by and commented! It is great to get feedback and when I am told I help people it makes the hours and hours I put into every 4-7 minute video well worth the time!
+Alberta Urban Garden Simple Organic and Sustainable Oh yes, especially with this playlist of testing the theories, you put many months into some of them, as well as your travel both ways to Maxxam testing labs - serious effort, & it shows. Thanks so much for your ideas, here.
~♥~
It sure is a lot of fun and some I have been working on for nearly 2 years and am still not done !
Hi..great information...what natural fertilizers are goid for strawberry plants? Are coffee grounds good for them?thanks
Excellent video! Thanks for sharing!
I am quite glad you enjoyed it !
That's great information! From your analysis report it appeared that there is more of P and K that is immediately available and then you explained there would be more N available as it broke down and becomes plant available.
I am using wood ash for K but still haven't been able to procure rock phosphate here in Mumbai , India. Do you think it is a good idea to utilise used coffee grounds weekly as a phosphorus source for my container garden? Thanks.
Applying it as a mulch would likely not give you the results your looking for as they won't break down fast enough.
If used to make a compost the soil that comes out would likely have a surplus and could be used as a primary source in both the soil and mulch.
Love your work!
Thank you my friend !
Very thorough research!
Thank you my friend! I bet your new blueberries would love a nice leaf / coffee grounds mulch!
*****
I think you're right. But Can you clear one thing up? The testing show unused grounds have a lower nitrogen level. So the darker I steep my coffee, the higher the nitrogen level goes up? That's weird. I'm also wondering if I should put my coffee grounds under my pine shaving mulch or on top of it. If it went under, I'm afraid it would have a decaying effect.
Well the numbers of nitrogen in my samples are close enough to be considered statistically the same. Most of the nitrogen is caught up in the molecules with in the grounds.
I would apply the grounds on top of your pine mulch. What will happen is as they get watered in they will move down and will be less likely to create a cap. As long as your not using more then 1/4 inch it will be a great addition.
Just this morning I put my ph pen right into some unused coffee grounds and got a reading of 4.7. I plan on just spreading the fresh coffee grounds around my blueberry plants and water it in to get that lowering ph affect.
Don't put it on too thick my friend !
Will do.
This is very informative. I was going to use them as a layer in my no dig lasagne garden bed. I think its probably best to compost them first.
+Steve Parker it's probably best to use a thin layer and or compost it first.
Hello Stephen,
Very informative video's you make. Can you tell me if used coffee grinds that have been sitting in the hot sun and developed some mold on it, is still good to mix in virgin soil (this is the first time the clayish soil is being used for a garden)?
I watched this video tonight after adding a lot of coffee grounds to my potted plants in the evening . 😢 I mixed the grounds into the soil. Do I have to remove them ASAP from my plants to prevent harming them when the coffee grounds ferment.?
Is there any issue with getting grounds from flavored coffees?
Very informative video!! Do you think coffee grounds added on top of soil in pots would help lower the pH of the watering? The water out of my hose comes from a well and is between 7.5 and 8.0.
Thank you my friend I am glad you enjoyed the video.
I do add grounds to my pots as well but it's unlikely to help amend the pH of your water.
I also would not worry about your water with a pH like that. The soil can buffer it and stay around 5-4.5 no problem !
Using Coffee Grounds in your garden is a great way to bring all sorts of benefits to your garden. At #starbucks you can get them for free with their #groundsforyourgarden program!
#usedcoffeegrounds #coffeegrounds #mulch #compost #organic #spentcoffeegrounds #free #freefertilizer #organicfertilizer #localresources #wastedeversion #coffee #espresso #espressogrounds #freeresource #cheapfertilizer #fertilizer
th-cam.com/video/ifEAqN1bMNU/w-d-xo.html
So can you just use coffee you dindt drink and use that to feed your plants.would that work like a compost tea?
Does decaf (swiss method) give the same benefits?
That is very interesting for coffee drinkers but Here in the UK it can be difficult to find enough coffee Grounds, but I have just read in a book that says used Tea (loose or bagged) has more nutrients than ground coffee, and just wondering if you every thought about this in the garden.
As a matter of fact I just received a package of the two most common teas in England and will be running a similar assessment in a few weeks. We are going to put that garden practice to the test :)
***** I have just read on the internet that African Violets really love tea and that ericaceous plants really love it (due to the tannic acid present). It would be interesting to see a comparison between the nutrients of coffee grounds and tea grounds (see homeguides.sfgate.com/can-tea-grounds-plant-grow-70101.html)
Ill probably do an episode just on the tea and then one later in the year comparing tea to coffee :)
Have you done the test for tea leaves. Can I mix them with the coffee grounds
I did not see any research on molasses on soil. Do you have any comments on its value?
I have run the analysis and should produce that video! I do have an opinion and make sure to stick around to find out ;)
Last week we Took a look at the great benefits Used Coffee Grounds can have in the garden. Thanks to programs like grounds for your garden #starbucks Tomorrow we will see if coffee can be of use in the garden.
#coffee #starbucks #coffeegrounds #usedgrounds #usedcoffeegrounds #nutrints #npk #traceminerals #traceelements
th-cam.com/video/ifEAqN1bMNU/w-d-xo.html
so should I wait for the grounds to decompose to use it on my plants?
Do you use mayonnaise in the garden soil?
Nope lol. Milk products smell when decomposing. My garden has a nice aroma of coffee and it feeds the soil.
Nope lol. Milk products smell when decomposing. My garden has a nice aroma of coffee and it feeds the soil.
Thank you for this great video. Can you please tell me if it is even better to mix used coffe grounds with eggshells and banana peals? And also, does the used coffee have an expirity date?
I am glad you enjoy the videos. I am not sure if coffee has an expiry however even if it is expired it is great for the garden.
You can mix the grounds but there is no real need to.
what about newpaper in the garden? or corn husk
thx that was very interesting
I am glad you enjoyed it my friend !
Hi, I was just wondering how many doses of used coffee grounds did you put to each plants? And I was wondering if you knew which plant grow the fastest, as I am conducting a science experiment and would like to know what plants or herbs can grow within a week to two weeks. Thank you so much!
+Bernice Tang I have not tracked that kind of information. I usually just start at one end of the garden apply a light mix over it all and then return to where i started the next time.
enjoyed the technically info.!
Really interesting, comprehensive and useful information. love your scientific approach.. really gives depth to what is normally a gardening tip without much explanation how and why it works. Bravo. Have subscribed to your channel and started sharing you on twitter @return2earth
I am glad you enjoyed the video my friend. I quite enjoy making these videos :)
Thank you for subscribing and sharing my video ! I really appreciate it!
do they have to be used coffee grounds?
Very informative.
I am glad you enjoyed the clip!
I live in the Dallas area where we have clay soil. I do not have a garden but would be using used coffee grounds from Starbucks mainly for my shrubs i.e. nandinas and hollies along with my lawn. I have been lightly spreading the used coffee grounds on the lawn and around the base of the the shrubs. Do you have any info on the use of used coffee grounds on clay soil and its benefits.
You are using them the way I do as well. The continued use helps feed worms and break up that soil
+Alberta Urban Garden Simple Organic and Sustainable Thanks for the input.
i will pickup 50lb at a time from starbucks
i mix it with soil when preparing a hole to plant fruit trees.
(also mixing in compost). then add urine to it every day for a month.
let it sit for another month before planting.
i also sun dried 100lb of grounds
they may have lost some of the nitrogen, but when they were re-wetted
the bacteria were able to attack them faster to break them down.
they also seem to have a better consistency for drainage this way,
while still being able to absorb water.
it "may" also make some of the other minerals more bio-available.
that would be a good test to do.
It looks like you put grounds to great use in the garden. I don't recommend mixing in U composted ground directly into the soil in larger volumes. It can cause issues.
I bet your compost is quite nitrogen rich
CHEERS!
Thank you my friend!
Coffee really helps my garden! The more I drink in the morning, the faster I get the garden weeded! Lol
Lol I love thinking the same
My experiment was far more simple. I put coffee grounds on my roses as they come out of the pot. They make the roses grow very well.
Simple yet effective experiment ! We don't waste any coffee grounds these days !
Van someone give me the link of the one he used for showing those sources plsss
Done one on Tea leaves yet?
Can i use used coffee grounds even with molds?
Yup
Starbucks method of making coffee is an extremely fast pressurized extraction process. The acidity in coffee is water soluble which means the acidity is washed out of the grounds as it is brewed. Normal home brewing is a slower process which extracts more acidity than a fast extraction. I would bet my coffee pot that home brewed coffee has a higher ph value.
I would tend to agree Ray. I would be willing to bet a coffee We also generally pick coffee types that are much less acidic as they turn out better in our home pots !
Regardless these results although low are nothing to worry about in my opinion.
I have been putting my home coffee grounds in my composer. I have seen a few of these videos and from what I understand is that as long as you are putting the grounds around the area but not directly under the plants, any ph issue is neutralized.
I agree Erik Salmon
***** Thanks. I use coffee grounds from ecological fairtrade coffee, which I brew coffee from every Sunday at church. Since I did not know I have been adding them directly over the soil. Is there a plant that I can grow indoors that produces lots of leaves that I can use in my indoor worm compost over winter? Can I substitute leaves with torn-up bits of newspaper and cardboard? I would also like to know what I can grow in my allotment that produces lots of leaves that I can use to mulch the allotment with. We are not allowed to plant trees. Shrubs are no problem. All the autumn leaves in the area are collected by the municipality and people on whose lawns they drop. No free wood chips or free sawdust are available either. I have comfrey but do not know how to use it as a mulch.
Edwin Reffell Indoors its probably best to ask ***** for a plant that can feed your worms as he is the master. You can feed your worms kitchen scraps and shredded paper with you coffee grounds and your likely going to end up with some great castings!
Outside I would recommend comfrey as a leafy plant you can use to accumulate NPK and lots of trace minerals. I am sure Ill be doing a clip soon on that.
Well done!
+A B Thank you Sir!
Yw.. Keep up the good work!
I certainly will as long as people find it useful!
More people probably should. Unfortunately, I'm sad to type that I suspect too many people probably think it sounds like mumbo-jumbo--especially when you describe the math (which by the way is well done also!).
I have been working on making sure what I deliver is accessible to everyone! Those whom want to know more often ask and I have it all on my blog ;)
Could I just add that putting fresh coffee into the garden is an insult to your coffee mug :-) Two uses - once for me, then once for the garden :-D
Well really both ways may be of benefit ;)
So basically you are saying that I can sprinkle used coffee grounds on top of the soil, but don't mix it in and don't put too thick of a layer of grounds on the soil surface. Also are you saying that the microbes and worms will break down the coffee ground that are on the surface of the soil thus releasing more of the nitrogen and other elements?
Patrick Pittman Thats right my friend! simple to do and effective! Add that with todays Comfrey video and the leaf video from a few week ago and your off to the races ;)
even though I don't have the time or resources to collect all those leaves and comfrey, I have been collecting coffee grounds. So I should be fine by just sprinkling the grounds on the surface and letting nature take its course, right?
you should be alright doing that. if you notice colour changes in leaves you might be light on NPK but most soils look alright.
Patrick Pittman There are actually several species of worms. 1 kind will come up to the surface and grab food (decaying grounds etc...) and bring it back underground... you need some mulch over the grounds though,, the worms wont expose themselves to direct sun.
From what ive read, the worms are looking for bacteria. they dont actually digest the grounds, but it will pass through their guts. they eat grounds because the bacteria are feeding on the grounds, and also because the grounds are just the right size from what i read....
whatever the reason, they love the stuff. i mix 20lb or so with the soil whenever i plant a papaya, and my papaya trees take off. excellent growth and tons of worms.
I used this to wet my plantsxwhen I drink my coffee on mornings
I once cooked my worms (literally) by making a 50/50 mix of brown with coffee grinds, it composted so hot that they all fled the bin, and those that didn't died :( It was a fridge upended and nearly full of the mix with LOTS of worms.. then none :P After that I was more careful to buffer the amount of coffee grinds to smaller more modest amounts.
I think that's the key Jeremy is moderate amounts ! Too much of a good thing can be very bad !
Sorry about your worms my friend !
***** Haha thanks Steven :) I agree they are great in the right amounts, I've been using them for years; I was getting a ute load a month free before I moved to the country to homestead :P
I've used coffee grounds in my worm bin for over a year. I never had it heat up, ever. Good stuff. The worms love it.
With extra land you could do so much more with compost !
so im watching the video and the advertisement is for round-up???? wow man yuck!
Roundup ... thats an odd commercial to play in front of an organic gardening video ... I dont select the adds but they do help me keep making videos.
well now lets try to push monsanto and the horse it rode in on the hell outa our lands eh?
I logged a complaint with TH-cam about the adds. Thanks for letting me know!
Be careful if you are trying grow vegetables. The nitrates in the coffee can grow incredibly beautiful green plants but due to the heavy nitrates it can keep your plants from growing the fruit or veggie. Personal experience and much research. Use sparingly.
The application process I use in my garden does not use tons and tons in any one location. Because the nitrogen is tied up in more complex molecules it takes time for it to release to the environment. Making sure to have other mulch materials with complements of all nutrients balanced plant growth should be fairly easy to achieve.
I suppose the moral of my gardening recommendation is everything in moderation!
I don’t feed them to my worm farms
quit acting gay. uikkkk