If you’re looking to give your roses or hydrangeas a bit of a boost, then there are two kitchen scraps that could help your flowers bloom and look bigger and better than ever before
As summer heats up, gardeners across the nation eagerly anticipate their rose and hydrangea blooms reaching majestic sizes. However, cultivating those big, lush flowers can sometimes be a challenge. Luckily, plant lovers might find a surprising use for their morning beverage leftovers, because coffee grounds or used tea bags can pack a punch as plant food.
According to Michael Perry, the green-fingered wizard behind Mr Plant Geek, our daily cuppas provide more than just a caffeine jolt for us. Coffee and tea are brimming with acid and high nitrogen levels, ingredients that roses and hydrangeas especially adore for their growth.
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Michael said: “Did you know that it’s not just us that can benefit from a hearty beverage? Our plants can get a kick from tea, coffee and even milk!”
So next time you’re sipping your cup of Joe or tea pondering on life, remember – your horticultural habit could also spruce up your garden space.
For those looking to amp up their rose and hydrangea glamour, here’s a bit of wisdom: both these opulent flowers have a penchant for slightly acidic and nitrogen-rich soil, which means better blossoms.
You don’t need to fuss too much with coffee grounds; whether you mix them into compost or simply scatter them atop the soil, Mother Nature will handle the rest as they break down gracefully.
Michael advises: “You can add coffee grounds directly to the soil around your plants to provide nutrients.” He advised: “If you’re worried about your plants being attacked by snails and slugs, spread coffee grounds around the base of the plant to act as a deterrent.”
How to boost roses and hydrangeas with tea bags
Tea bags can also work to keep snails away as well as a deterrent for other pests such as ants or aphids, reports the Express.
After boiling a cup of tea, open up a teabag and pour the loose tea into a container. Ensure it has completely cooled down before adding it to your flowers.
Like with coffee, you can pour loose tea directly into the soil of your flowers to help them but with roses, it is best to mix it into their water.
Michael stated: “Like any container plant, roses can lose nutrients quicker than plants in the ground. However, roses love the acidity and nitrogen that tea contains.
“Water them regularly with cooled tea (no milk), or compost tea (made by steeping tea and other kitchen waste in water).”