The first time I saw anyone use tea bags and coffee grounds for plant health was when I noticed a particular scent in my mother-in-law’s house many years ago. She showed me its source: old tea bags and coffee grounds on top of the soil in her houseplant pots. Each time she watered her plants, the house would smell like tea and coffee!
My mother-in-law's innovative use of tea bags and coffee grounds was not just a pleasant aroma but a practical solution. Both black and green tea leaves and coffee grounds provide nitrogen to the soil, a nutrient that houseplants thrive on. They also act as a natural deterrent for soil fungus and gnats and help maintain soil moisture, a crucial factor for houseplants, especially those from tropical regions. And it worked. My mother-in-law grew the most beautiful African Violets I have ever seen. There was always a discussion at my mother-in-law’s place between her and my father-in-law about who got to use the tea bags and coffee grounds: she for her houseplants and he for the garden! Worms love coffee grounds and tea leaves, and your soil loves worms, so it makes perfect sense to “feed” your soil with the old tea leaves and coffee grounds. Your soil microbiome will benefit as well, and as we know, the health of your plants starts with healthy soil. Sprinkle used coffee grounds and tea bag leaves on the surface of the soil and mix them into the top layer. To keep slugs and snails off your plants, sprinkle the grounds and tea leaves around the base of your plants, but don’t dig them in. Your veggie garden will particularly benefit from a foliar spray with a diluted blend of coffee and tea liquid. This safe and effective spray not only helps repel pests but also provides a gentle nitrogen foliar feeding. Remember, always spray in the morning to avoid any potential leaf burn, ensuring your plants stay healthy and strong. As with anything you put on your garden plants or soil, and especially your vegetable garden, organic is your best choice. Some tea producers use bleached or plastized tea bags, so it’s worth checking for unbleached paper tea bags only or going for loose tea. So, after enjoying your morning cup of tea or coffee while sitting in your beautiful garden be sure to feed your soil at the same time.
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AuthorI'm a generational forager with a passion for all things wild and wonderful! Archives
May 2024
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