Orchids are beautiful flowers in the family Orchidaceae. Their petals come in many colors, such as white, pink, purple, blue, and yellow. But they are one of the hardest flowers to grow at home, and many people who want to be gardeners have trouble keeping them alive. Orchids need a strict watering schedule, sufficient sunlight, and enough nutrients to survive many weeks. Even though these flowers have a label that tells you how to take care of them, it can still be hard to keep them alive. You might have researched tips and tricks that will help make it easier to care for your orchid. One typical search result is using leftover coffee grounds as fertilizer and adding them to your orchids pot. These grounds are supposed to boost the plants growth and provide plentiful nutrients to maintain its health. However, coffee grounds don’t help all orchids because they can’t be broken down properly in potting mixes.
There are two categories of orchids, namely terrestrial and epiphytes. Terrestrial orchids grow in soil, while epiphytes grow in the air or on trees and plants. Epiphytes are the most commonly grown orchid you can purchase at grocery stores or flower shops. The plants are grown in a medium mix that includes fir bark, peat moss, sphagnum moss, perlite, rock wool, and dried fern roots when they are bought. These materials are lightweight and allow air to circulate throughout the pot. However, they also cant break down coffee grounds, making this fertilizer useless to epiphyte orchids.
Orchids are treasured for their delicate, exotic blooms and intricate patterned foliage. But caring for these tropical beauties can sometimes seem mystifying, especially when it comes to watering and feeding them properly. This has led to numerous home remedies and “hacks” purporting to help orchids thrive. One of these is using leftover coffee or coffee grounds as fertilizer. But is coffee really good for orchids, or just another gardening myth?
The Theory Behind Coffee as Fertilizer
Using coffee as a fertilizer for orchids and other plants is not a new idea. It stems from the fact that coffee grounds are high in nitrogen potassium phosphorus, and other nutrients plants need. When used in compost piles, the grounds break down and release these nutrients in a usable form for plants.
Some gardeners figured they could skip the composting step and add used coffee grounds directly to their potting mix or reuse leftover coffee water for watering orchids. The logic seems sound – the nutrients and caffeine from the coffee would energize the plants, right?
Unfortunately it’s not that simple for epiphytic orchids which comprise the majority of popular orchid varieties. Here’s a closer look at why coffee grounds and coffee water don’t work well as fertilizers for most orchids.
Why Coffee Grounds Don’t Work for Orchids
Coffee grounds require nitrifying bacteria to break down and release their nutrients in a plant-accessible form. These bacteria are not present in the bark-based potting mixes used for epiphytic orchids like Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums, Oncidiums, and more.
Therefore, sprinkling coffee grounds onto an orchid’s potting mix does nothing for the plant. The grounds simply sit inert on the surface. At best, the grounds just take up space in the pot without benefit. At worst, they can retain excess moisture and lead to deadly root rot.
The one exception is using coffee grounds for terrestrial orchids potted in soil. The bacteria in the soil enable the grounds to break down and fertilize effectively. But for epiphytes, coffee grounds are not an ideal fertilizer choice.
What About Using Leftover Coffee Water?
Reusing leftover coffee water to fertilize or water orchids might seem like a great way to reduce waste. But again, the chemistry doesn’t work out in the orchid’s favor.
There are no nutrients present in brewed coffee water because the grounds are filtered out. Plain coffee water contains only one compound – caffeine.
Unfortunately, caffeine does nothing beneficial for plants and can actually harm them in excess. Small amounts of coffee water likely won’t injure an orchid. But why take the risk for zero gain? Plain coffee water has no fertilizer value for orchids.
Organic Alternatives to Fertilize Orchids
While coffee isn’t ideal for orchids, there are other organic homemade fertilizers you can use instead:
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Banana Water – Let banana peels soak in water for a few days, then use the water to fertilize orchids weekly. Provides potassium.
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Epsom Salts – Dissolve 1 tsp per gallon of water and use this magnesium-rich “tea” monthly.
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Fish Emulsion – Dilute per package instructions and feed orchids monthly. Provides nitrogen.
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Compost Tea – Steep compost in water for 3+ days, strain, and use to fertilize.
These organic options provide nutrients orchids can actually utilize without potential risks. And they are free alternatives using food waste you’d probably compost anyway!
Best Practices for Watering Orchids
When it comes to watering orchids, stick with plain water, rainwater, or melted snow. Never use softened water, which contains sodium harmful to orchids.
Water early in the morning to allow the foliage to dry completely before nightfall. This prevents diseases like fungus and rot.
The frequency of watering depends on factors like the orchid type, potting medium, humidity, air circulation, and growing environment. Orchids prefer fast draining media and hate soggy roots.
A good rule of thumb is to water just as the potting mix starts to dry out. The roots should remain green, not shriveled or brown. Pour excess water out of cache pots or saucers after watering.
The Bottom Line on Coffee and Orchids
While the notion of recycling coffee waste into plant food sounds eco-friendly, the reality is coffee grounds and leftover brewed coffee do not make suitable fertilizers for orchids.
At best, used coffee does nothing beneficial for an orchid. At worst, it can lead to potting mix breakdown and root rot over time. For flowering orchids, stick with balanced fertilizers formulated for these unique, tropical plants.
Rather than dumping leftover coffee on your orchids, use coffee grounds to enrich your compost pile or veggie garden soil. Help reduce waste without harming your prized orchid collection!
Drawbacks to using coffee grounds as fertilizer
If you want to feed plants that grow in soil and like an acidic pH level, coffee grounds can work well. When the grounds are added around the plant, they are blended in with the rest of the soil. Over time, the coffee grounds are broken down and release nutrients like nitrogen that can benefit the plant. But when added to epiphyte orchids, which grow in a medium mix, they don’t work as well. So, when coffee grounds are added, they don’t mix with the other materials like soil would; instead, they stay on top. In addition, they can clog the orchid mix, which can stop airflow and water from draining properly, letting the roots soak and eventually rot. Coffee grounds can also break down the mix, which may harm the flowers roots.
On the other hand, coffee is highly acidic, especially fresh coffee. Orchids enjoy a slightly-acidic to neutral pH in their medium to help them survive. To make the soil too acidic for a terrestrial orchid, you could add coffee grounds to the pot. This could hurt the roots of the plant. Plus, the coffee grounds by themselves cannot produce the nutrients that an orchid needs to survive. Instead, an earthworm needs to turn them into fertilizer, which isnt possible for indoor or epiphyte orchids. When acidity and a lack of nutrients come together, they can hurt the flower’s health and growth.
Coffee can improve Lots of Orchid’s Flowers Bloom Miraculously.
FAQ
Can I water my orchid with coffee water?
What is the best natural fertilizer for orchids?
What is the best water for orchids?
How to make orchids bloom?
Is coffee good for orchids?
Leftover coffee or spent coffee grounds make a great organic fertilizer for the garden. But, is coffee really good for your orchids as well, especially if you grow them indoors?
What is the best alternative to coffee for someone with esophageal candidiasis?
Candida albicans is a fungus that lives in our bodies in small amounts. In people with weak immunity systems, the fungus can flare up leading to severe infections like oral thrush. Esophageal thrush is a fungal infection in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates on the lining of the mouth and esophagus(food pipe). It leads to creamy white patches on the esophagus. It can also spread to gums, tonsils, and throat. It is seen in immunocompromised patients, patients with diabetes, HIV, and oral steroid medications. The management of esophageal thrush is antifungal lozenges and antifungal mouthwash. The treatment consists of the application of antifungal cream inside the mouth containing nystatin, miconazole, or clotrimazole. It has to be applied for about 7 to 14 days. For severe infections, oral fluconazole tablets can also be given. Along with this proper oral hygiene must be maintained. The best alternative for coffee in esophageal candidiasis is yogurt, nonsugary drinks, lemon juice, and probiotic drink.
Can you use coffee grounds to water orchids?
The coffee grounds tea is then mixed with ground eggshells, 1 tsp of molasses and diluted before using it to water orchids monthly. Other recommendations include using coffee grounds as mulch to put on top of the orchid medium, or incorporating coffee grounds into the orchid medium.
How to grow orchids with coffee?
Make sure that the coffee is completely dry, otherwise, it can lead to the molding of the soil. You also need to be careful not to add too much ground coffee, or it will have the complete opposite effect and it will hinder the flowering. Also, if the orchids are ill or infested, you need to hold off the fertilizer.