With the arrival of the warmer months, gardening enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the blossoming of their roses and hydrangeas. However, achieving stunning blooms can be challenging. Fortunately, there is no need to spend a fortune on expensive plant food. Used tea bags and leftover coffee grounds, which are often discarded, can serve as excellent fertilizers, particularly for acid-loving roses and hydrangeas, due to their acidity and nitrogen content.
Michael Perry, a plant expert and the man behind Mr Plant Geek, has revealed how these remnants of morning beverages can double as high-quality fertilizers. He shared, “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!” He added with a touch of humor, “So, if you thought that your hot drink habits were starting to err on the side of obsession, here’s your reason to drink more.”
Roses and hydrangeas thrive in slightly acidic soil and flourish with the presence of nitrogen, which acts almost like a fertilizer, encouraging them to produce lush flowers that can become standout pieces in any garden. Coffee grounds can be mixed into compost piles or simply sprinkled over the soil, where they will break down slowly and create the ideal conditions. A jar of supermarket own-brand coffee costs around £2.69 per jar, while a single teabag is relatively inexpensive.
Michael offered a practical tip: “You can add coffee grounds directly to the soil around your plants to provide nutrients.” He also shared advice for dealing with garden pests: “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.”
Used tea bags are not only useful for repelling garden pests but also for providing a nutrient boost to roses and hydrangeas that may be struggling. After enjoying your tea, instead of discarding the bag, gently open it and transfer the damp leaves into a container. Once the tea has cooled, you can water your plants with it.
For coffee-loving plants, simply sprinkle the leftover grounds onto the soil and let the old beans work their magic. Roses, in particular, benefit from generous watering to ensure the brew soaks into the soil.
Michael also highlighted the importance of regular watering for container plants like roses, which tend to lose nutrients more quickly than those in the ground. He advised, “Water them regularly with cooled tea (no milk), or compost tea (made by steeping tea and other kitchen waste in water).”
