Garden5 minEasy
Which plants don't like coffee grounds?
Coffee grounds make soil slightly acidic, hold moisture and their caffeine can slow the growth of young plants. Plants that love dry, chalky or lean soil often react badly.
What you need
- A list of your plants
- Optional: soil pH test strips
Step by step
- 1
Skip Mediterranean herbs
Lavender, rosemary, thyme and sage like dry, chalky soil. Grounds hold moisture and add acidity, which both harm them.
- 2
Spare succulents and cacti
They need free-draining, dry soil. Grounds compact and stay wet, which encourages root rot.
- 3
Protect lime-loving plants
Geraniums, carnations, clematis, lilac and asparagus prefer neutral to alkaline soil. Acidity slows their growth.
- 4
Avoid seedlings and seed beds
Caffeine can inhibit germination. Don't spread fresh grounds on seed beds or around very young plants.
- 5
When in doubt, compost
Put the grounds on the compost instead. Once broken down, the finished compost suits almost every plant.
Good to know
- Acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas, rhododendrons and blueberries handle grounds well.
- A quick pH test shows whether your soil is already acidic enough.