Gardeners have been warned not to use ‘instant coffee granules’ on hydrangeas and roses after a woman asked for advice on the popular household scrap item
Gardeners are buzzing over a household scrap that could spell the end for disappointing hydrangea and rose blooms. Coffee grounds, long considered waste, have been hailed as green gold among the gardening community for helping to deliver massive bursts of blossoms that are universally adored.
For plant lovers seeking that extra flourish, Luci Nunes turned to social media for advice, posting on the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook group: “Hi can anyone clear a doubt for me please? Someone has said to use coffee grounds to get nice blooms from hydrangeas and roses and to get blue hydrangeas. Can I use instant coffee granules?”
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Rapid responses piled up in the comment section, but the consensus was a resounding no, especially considering the specificity of coffee type. Eileen Austin added her input, stating firmly: “No. It needs to be ground coffee. A lot of coffee shops give away the spent grounds, but not all.”
Meanwhile, Clare Wilson shared her unique method: “I use finished Tassimo pods and Dolce Gusto pods to keep getting bigger and better blooms from roses and hydrangeas. It keeps slugs and snails away from my plants too.
“I empty them all into a container then yes just sprinkle around the base of plants. But until they dry out don’t put a lid on the container or they go mouldy.”
Karen Davis wrote: “Only add used coffee grounds to your plants. I found that they turned my pink hydrangeas blue. I love it.”
The green-fingered pros at PlantIn note that coffee grounds are packed with minerals like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.
Phosphorus and potassium are known to boost plant yields, while nitrogen plays a key role in photosynthesis, aiding plants to “grow faster”. Additionally, coffee grounds possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that transfer essential nutrients to your garden.
Unused, fresh coffee grounds can be too acidic, so they’re not recommended for brewing, reports the Express.
Being slightly acidic, coffee is a treat for acid-loving flora such as hydrangeas, along with nutrient-starved beauties like roses; however, moderation is the watchword for any individual plant’s dosage.