Are Coffee Grounds Good for Houseplants? (Yes, but read these important tips.)

Last updated on January 7th, 2025 at 02:37 pm

Are coffee grounds good for houseplants? Yes, as long as you know how to use them. Keep reading to learn all you need to know.

I wish I did, but I just don’t have a green thumb. I love plants, but I have a hard time keeping them alive. That said, I am getting better at it! 

The flowers I have outdoors are doing well, which is a thrill for me. I honestly feel happy whenever I look out my window and see my colorful little flowers.

Houseplants are a little trickier though. I am gradually getting better, but I’m always looking for advice when it comes to keeping my indoor plants alive and thriving. 

One idea I came across recently was to use coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer. So, can you use coffee grounds on your indoor plants? Here’s what I found out–

Are Coffee Grounds Good for Houseplants?

Yes! Coffee grounds have nutrients your plants can use, so why throw them away? They’re a terrific free fertilizer, and since most of us drink coffee, they’re readily available.

Why do coffee grounds make a good fertilizer?

1. They’re nutrient-rich

Fertilizing your plants with coffee grounds supplies them with beneficial nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

2. They’re eco-friendly

Most coffee grounds wind up in landfills, but there’s no reason they should! 

3. They’re basically free

Indoor and outdoor gardening can be expensive hobbies, so why not save a little money where you can? 

Coffee grounds are a great fertilizer, and when you use them on your houseplants, you save money versus buying fertilizer. 

Even if you don’t drink coffee, you can pick up free coffee grounds. Starbucks is just one place to get free coffee grounds to use for you plants. (The last time I was there, the coffee grounds basket was already empty. It looks like this is a popular program!) It may be a good idea to ask the workers at your local Starbucks if there’s a good time to come in to pick up coffee grounds.

How to Use Coffee Grounds to Fertilize Houseplants

You might be tempted to just pour out or sprinkle some coffee grounds onto the soil of your potted plants. This isn’t a good idea. Here’s what to do instead–

1. Use coffee grounds as part of your compost

To get the most out of your coffee grounds, add them to your compost pile.

If you’re not familiar with composting, don’t be intimidated! It isn’t that hard. Check out our post on composting 101 to get up to speed. You can even print out our handy guide so you always know what’s okay to compost and what’s not.

When your compost is ready, just add a bit to the top of the soil. Or, if you prefer, you can work a little of the compost into the top few inches of dirt.

2. Turn your coffee grounds (or coffee) into liquid fertilizer

You don’t want to water your houseplants with regular coffee, but you can make a liquid fertilizer using your coffee grounds. 

All you need to do is add the used coffee grounds to a container of plain water. Let it sit for a week or two, and give it a stir every few days.

Before using, strain the liquid through cheesecloth, and then use it to water your plants.

Another idea is to use leftover liquid coffee. You can mix it using a 1:3 ratio of cooled coffee to water. 

3. Add coffee grounds to your potting soil

Coffee grounds can be an excellent addition to potting mix. Keep in mind that coffee grounds are best for plants that like a more moist soil. 

If you want to balance out the coffee grounds in your potting soil mixture, you may want to add a little sand for drainage.

Tips to remember

So, are coffee grounds good for houseplants? The answer is yes, but keep these tips in mind.

Don’t use unbrewed coffee grounds or undiluted coffee on your plants or in the soil–coffee is very acidic in this state, which is not healthy for your plants. 

Compost helps soil retain more water, so be careful of overwatering when you use your “coffee compost.”

All plants are different. Some thrive in moist soil, but others need very little water. Read up on what your particular plants need. Don’t use coffee grounds on cacti or other plants that require a dry soil.

Summary

In case you were wondering too, “Are coffee grounds good for houseplants?” The answer is definitely yes! Coffee grounds can be a wonderful source of nutrients that will help your houseplants grow and thrive. They’re also eco-friendly, not to mention free!

With a few simple tips in mind, you can make a cheap, simple, and effective fertilizer for your indoor plants with something you would have thrown away.

Let me know if you’ve used coffee grounds for your houseplants. Leave me a comment below.

Also read —
How to Compost at Home + a Printable Compost List
Sustainable Swaps + a Free Printable Checklist
DIY Gardener’s Hand Lotion