Pothos plants, also known as Devil’s Ivy, are among the most popular houseplants due to their ease of care and ability to survive in various conditions.
Native to the South Pacific, these beautiful plants feature long trailing stems adorned with variegated green and yellow leaves that can help purify your home or office air.
But when it comes to caring for pothos plants properly, not all practices are equal!
A common question is whether coffee grounds benefit them.
Rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, essential nutrients for plant growth.
Coffee grounds provide additional minerals such as calcium & magnesium too.
They break down, adding organic matter into the soil, which helps improve its structure & fertility levels, further aiding the healthy development of your pothos plant’s root system.
Now you know how useful they are. Here we will discuss more on what nutritional value coffees ground offer your beloved Pothos Plants, along with potential drawbacks from using them, plus instructions on proper usage too!
The Benefit of Using Coffee Grounds for Pothos Plant
Pothos are low-maintenance houseplants that clean the air of pollutants, but they may still benefit from occasional fertilization with coffee grounds due to their nitrogen content.
However, it’s important not to overdo it. Too much caffeine in your soil could negatively affect your plant’s health!
Many gardeners wonder if using coffee grounds as fertilizer for their Pothos plants is a good idea. The answer to this question can be yes or no, depending on the situation.
Let’s take a closer look at each benefit here:
1. Improved Soil Fertility
Adding coffee grounds to the soil can help improve its fertility and support healthy plant growth, due to their high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium essential nutrients for plants.
2. Better Soil Drainage
Adding coffee grounds to soil can benefit pothos plants, as it helps improve drainage and create the ideal well-drained environment that these plants prefer.
3. Pest Control
Sprinkling coffee grounds around the base of your plants can be an effective way to keep pests like slugs, snails, and ants away.
The grounds act as a barrier that these pests cannot cross.
4. Increased Microbial Activity
Adding coffee grounds to your soil can be beneficial in many ways!
Not only do they provide organic matter, but their presence also increases microbial activity.
This helps improve the structure of the soil and makes it easier for plants to absorb nutrients and develop strong roots.
5. Nutritional Value
Pothos plants can benefit greatly from the essential nutrients found in coffee grounds.
These include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, three of the most important elements for plant growth.
Nitrogen is necessary to promote healthy foliage and stems.
Phosphorus enhances root development and flowering capabilities.
At the same time, potassium helps with overall wellness and disease resistance.
Traces of magnesium (for chlorophyll production) and calcium (cell wall strength & uptake of other nutrients) are also present in coffee grounds which are beneficial for pothos’ health.
Potential Drawbacks of Using Coffee Grounds for Photos Plants
We must be aware of the potential drawbacks when using coffee grounds for pothos plants.
The main issue is that coffee grounds are acidic and can cause soil pH levels to drop too low, which could lead to problems with nutrients being absorbed by the plant.
To reduce this risk, one should use only a small amount of coffee grounds in combination with other more neutral amendments like compost or mulch.
Any used filters should also be removed before adding them to your potting mix, as they may contain chemicals that can harm your plants. Let’s take a look at the potential drawbacks that you should consider here:
1. Soil Acidity
Although coffee grounds are naturally acidic, with a pH of around 6.0-6.5, pothos plants prefer slightly more neutral soil between 6.0 and 7.0 on the pH scale than what the grounds provide for them in terms of acidity levels.
Suppose the soil becomes too acidic due to excessive coffee grounds added over time.
In that case, this can lead to nutrient deficiencies, resulting in stunted growth or yellowing leaves.
Eventually, it could cause root damage and death if not addressed soon enough.
2. Toxicity
Caffeine, found in trace amounts within coffee grounds, can be toxic to some plants.
Studies have revealed that caffeine may inhibit root growth and reduce overall plant health, which in high enough concentrations, could even lead to the death of certain species, such as pothos plants.
Although coffee grounds contain caffeine, it is not enough to be poisonous for humans or pets.
Therefore, if you have children or animals that may eat the soil around your pothos plant, it would be better to refrain from using coffee grounds in its potting mix.
How to Properly Use Coffee Grounds for Pothos Plants
Consider using coffee grounds if you want to provide your pothos plants with an eco-friendly and cost-effective fertilizer.
However, it is important that they are used in moderation and mixed with other soil components to ensure a balanced pH level.
Here are some tips for doing this successfully:
1. Compost the Grounds First
It is essential to compost coffee grounds before adding them to your pothos plants.
This process lowers the acidity of the grounds and minimizes any potential toxicity that may harm your plants.
2. Limit the Amount of Coffee Grounds Used
It is essential to restrict the number of coffee grounds used in the soil so as not to cause it to become overly acidic.
As a guideline, at most 25% should be employed.
3. Mix with Other Soil Components
To maintain a healthy pH balance in the soil and avoid potential toxicity, mixing coffee grounds with other components such as compost or peat moss is essential.
Mixing coffee grounds with other components helps mitigate the acidic effects that coffee grounds can have on the environment.
4. Allow Coffee Grounds to Age
It is recommended to wait a few weeks before using fresh coffee grounds in soil, as this will allow them time to break down and become less acidic.
Aged coffee grounds are much less acidic than freshly-ground ones, so allowing the latter time to age helps balance their acidity levels.
5. Use in Moderation
Using coffee grounds as fertilizer benefits your plants, but you should do it in moderation.
Too much of a good thing can lead to soil toxicity, which could harm the health of your plants.
So use caution when adding coffee grounds for fertilization!
6. Avoid Overwatering
Be careful when watering your plants with coffee grounds, as they can retain moisture, leading to overwatering and root rot.
Keep an eye on the soil’s moisture levels, so you only give them a little water.
7. Test Soil pH Regularly
To maintain a favorable soil pH level for pothos plants, it is essential to check the acidity of your soil routinely.
Soil pH testers can easily be procured from local garden stores or online retailers.
To summarize, although pothos plants can gain nutrients from coffee grounds, it is essential to use them sparingly and combine them with other soil components for optimal results.
Following these tips will ensure that your pothos plants get the necessary nutrition while keeping a balanced pH in the soil.
This will lead to stronger and more vibrant plants overall.
Reference:
- DO POTHOS LIKE COFFEE GROUNDS? – Gardenzy – https://www.gardenzy.com/do-pothos-like-coffee-grounds/
