Fertilizing with Coffee?

[NYCorchidman]

I tried beer and it didn't work for those tiny snails.
I read that large garden snails are attracted to beer, but then I do not have those in my growing area. lol

[iammadeofdreams]

I know this thread has switched topics, but I had some thoughts on the original topic of fertilizing with coffee...

Coffee beans can vary a decent amount in their acidity and a little in the trace nutrients depending on where they were grown and how they were roasted. Also, I notice that often when I read about people testing the coffee fertilizing theory they don't mention the coffee they used. So, this makes me curious if the success depends on the coffee used. Especially considering that low acid coffees generally have a ph around 5.5-6, which is in range of fertilizers you can buy.
I can't argue that a regularly brewed cup of coffee would have anywhere near enough nutrients to replace real fertilizer if you want your plants to thrive. However, I can't imgine it would do them much, if any harm as long as they got plain water sometimes as well as coffee.

[JanS]

Back to this thread's original question, here's another reason I advise against using coffee grounds as fertilizer for orchids: with its small particles, it will end up stuffing up the potting medium (e.g. bark chips....and I don't even want to imagine what it would do to sphag moss), and choke and rot the roots. This is actually not just my opinion but was voiced also by Hollingsworth himself in a e-mail Q&A post I saw somewhere as far as using grounds to get rid of snails.

On the other hand, I think c. grounds may be quite beneficial for plants that grow in "regular" soil.

[Stray59]

Acid lovers (roses, hibiscus, gardenias, azaleas, rhododendrons, etc) love coffee grounds. I guess if I were to use coffee on orchids, I would just brew them a second cup as I brew mine! I really don't know that this would have any benefit. Again, there are too many other plants the love the grounds for me to think about using it on my orc's.
A cup of joe for all - except the orchids.
Steve

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by Stray59

Acid lovers (roses, hibiscus, gardenias, azaleas, rhododendrons, etc) love coffee grounds. I guess if I were to use coffee on orchids, I would just brew them a second cup as I brew mine! I really don't know that this would have any benefit. Again, there are too many other plants the love the grounds for me to think about using it on my orc's.
A cup of joe for all - except the orchids.
Steve

I also noticed, fungus gnats LOVE coffee grounds in the soil. One more reason not to offer this to 'kids.

[Stray59]

I agree - Plus, if I leave my coffee grounds in my french press a couple of days, it is covered in mold! If the grounds are that prone to fungus I am definitely not putting them on my orc's.
My roses and other plants are going to be the only java grounds lovers around my house!
Steve

[orchidsarefun]

coffee grounds - in the garden
coffee ( cold/leftover - straight up ) - on all indoor plants except orchids

tea/tea bags - in the garden
tea ( cold/leftover - straight up ) - on all indoor plants except orchids.

I think my indoor plants are all caffeine addicts by now. The orchids are probably alcoholics !