In early 2025, a unique plant care trend is taking off on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. One of these involves using used coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer for indoor plants. New creators are touting this zero-rupee miracle fertilizer, which promotes healthy plant growth and improves soil health. This coffee fertilizer started as a DIY experiment but has now become very popular among new creators. This coffee fertilizer has become a common trick among plant parents not only in India but also in Australia.This hack is very effective if used correctly, but if overused or misused, it can harm plants. Now, let's take this article to explain how to use coffee fertilizer and which plants it affects the most.
Why are coffee grounds becoming so powerful for indoor plants?
Coffee grounds contain all the essential nutrients that plants love, such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and essential micronutrients like magnesium and calcium. Coffee grounds also contain many other nutrients. Using them strengthens the roots of our plants, deepens the color of the leaves, and also helps in increasing their growth.The leaves of our plants become even brighter and greener after using this hack, primarily because of the nitrogen. However, this only happens when we add the right amount of coffee grounds to the soil. Coffee grounds will also support beneficial microorganisms and make your plants' soil healthy and aerated.
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Although raw coffee grounds are acidic, coffee grounds are not acidic for every plant. Therefore, before using this trending hack on your houseplants, it is important to understand and ensure that the plant you have at home does not make your plant acidic due to the coffee grounds. If so, then you can use this hack.
Do you know which plants benefit the most from coffee grounds?
Not all indoor plants respond the same way, but many popular varieties thrive using this fertilizer trick. Plants that prefer acidic to neutral soil benefit the most, including some of the plants I've listed below.
•Pothos
•Peace Lily
•Ferns (especially Boston Ferns)
•Philodendron
•Spider Plant
•Anthurium
•ZZ Plant
•Snake Plant (in very small amounts)
•Fittonia (Nerve Plant)
•Jade Plant
Gardeners also use ground clay for herbs like basil and mint, as long as the soil drains well. This hack can increase your plant's growth by almost two times, thickening the stems and helping it grow more leaves.
Plants that should be kept away from the ground
Some plants don't like acidic or heavy soil and may react poorly, potentially ruining your entire plant.
• Succulents and Cacti
• Aloe Vera
• Orchids
• Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
• Calathea (very sensitive roots)
These plants I just mentioned prefer airy soil that dries out quickly, but coffee grounds retain moisture and, if used in excess, can compact the soil, causing the roots of the plants to lose their strength.
The safest ways to use coffee grounds, explained in detail
1. Mix coffee grounds into the soil
Online plant growers typically use a teaspoon or two of coffee grounds in the top layer of soil to slowly release nutrients without shocking the plant's roots, and to protect the plant from fungus. Your coffee grounds should be completely dry.
2. Coffee Tea Fertilizer (Which is Best for Plants)
Another traditional method is to make coffee tea. In this method, one teaspoon of used dry coffee grounds is soaked in 500 ml of water for about 24 hours and then used as a thin liquid on the roots of plants as a mild fertilizer. This method is considered safer for most peace lilies and pothos.
3. Compost Mix Booster
If you have a compost setup, adding coffee grounds increases microbial activity, creating a richer compost that improves the quality of the soil when added to a pot. This is the easiest and most eco-friendly way to use coffee waste.
4. Pest-Repellent Trick (Viral on Pinterest)
Sprinkling a very thin layer of dry coffee grounds on the soil surface where you plan to plant will help keep ants, fungus gnats, and snails away. The smell acts as a natural barrier, but remember to avoid large amounts or thick layers, as thick layers can often breed mold, which can damage the soil.
These are some common mistakes that can harm your plants.
As soon as this hack went viral on social media, many new plant lovers are unknowingly causing huge damage to their plants. But to avoid such a mistake, I am telling you some key points.
• Using Fresh Coffee Grounds
Fresh coffee grounds should never be used as they are highly acidic and can burn the delicate roots of your plants. You should use them only after properly cooking or drying them first.
• Pouring too much at once
We should never add too much coffee, but some people think that adding more coffee will lead to more growth, but this is not the case. One teaspoon of coffee is enough for one plant. Excessive coffee grounds compact the soil and absorb moisture, due to which fungus starts growing in it and your plant also gets spoiled.
• Not drying the coffee grounds
Fungus grows rapidly in wet ground, so whenever you add a lot of ground to the soil, dry it thoroughly in the sun and air first.
• Ignoring drainage
Coffee grounds slowly rot because the water they contain weighs down the soil and causes it to accumulate, so always use pots with drainage holes.
Real benefits that the plant owner should know
This trend is going viral because its results start showing within a few days or weeks. People who are using this hack are sharing screenshots and time-lapse videos on social media which show that.
• Faster growth of new leaves
• Brighter, darker green leaves
• Stronger stems and stronger roots
• Fewer yellow leaves
• Better soil aeration
• Fewer small insects, such as mosquitoes and ants
The effect of coffee grounds is most pronounced in peace lilies and pothos, as they prefer nitrogen-rich soil. Many users claim that coffee grounds work best for these two plants.