is it okay to use them? do i mix a cujp or two into the soil or do i juse top dress it? any comments please. thanks
used coffee grounds for vegetable containers
Coffee grounds are fine in the garden or compost, but should be left out of containers. They add nothing in nutrients that you can't get in any number of fertilizers and break down quickly, creating problems with drainage and aeration.
Container culture is much different than growing in the garden. I would suggest that garden soil, compost, sand, and coffee grounds are on the list of things best left in the garden.
Al
al - thanks so much for the advice. i have never used coffee grounds at all. saw someplace that they were used in the garden sparingly so i thought i would see if they could be used in containers since is the first year i am going exclusively with containers.
thanks again
My Aunt used coffee grounds for her roses and they were always beautiful. This was back in the forties when people never heard of prepared fertilizer. She did make her own compost so I don't know if it was the coffee grounds that aided the compost as she applied the coffee grounds every day. I remember the fresh scent from her Pittsburgh, Pa. garden and her dog that would never let me get near the chicken coop.
Tplant,lol, you crack me up!
My grandmother used to whack the catfish that were in her bass pond on the head and bury them in her rose garden...she always had beautiful roses too! And her swans wouldn't let me near the garden shed....
:)
MerryMary
tplamt/merry mary - don't you guys give up your jobs just yet. LOL
I don't know if you all realize this, but Tapla is (was?) the resident expert in the container forum at GW. You are truly fortunate to have him around. I have learned a lot from Al.
Al, good to see you over here. I made the jump, too.
Have you had a chance to look at the CHC?
Robert
Robert - You're too kind, but thank you, and good to see you here, too. I still retain dual citizenship - GW and DG. What's CHC?
Al
Sorry folks, I know I'm off topic...
Al, several weeks ago I did an experiment measuring the water retention/drainage in containers with and without wicks, using a Promix medium as compared to a coconut husk chip medium. The wick drained a substantial amount of water out of the Promix container, but had no additional effect on the CHC containers. I posted on a different Citrus forum and, I think, on the GW container forum.
This link describes a number of different aspects of the use of CHC and includes some comparisons to pine bark.
http://www.ladyslipper.com/coco3.htm
I have since read that some orchid growers have found the CHC retains too much water for some orchids! I'm interested in any thoughts or experiences you or anyone else might have.
Robert
Herbie....your not the first one who has told me to not give up my day job just yet! I'm running out of 2nd occupations, as none of them so far have proved to be talent worthy! ;)
Mary
Robert - I remember our conversation now, and I did read the link you provided. I'm guarded about the content because they're selling CHC's. I won't be doing much with soils for another 8 wks or so when I'll start bonsai repots. I'll be sure to try them so I can at least talk intelligently about their properties. Sorry about straying from the thread, Herbie.
Al
Herbie, coffee grounds have helped keep the slugs away from my plants. I put some of it into the soil, but mainly, I sprinkle it around the plants as compost and, as I said, keeps the slugs away.
Michelle
michelle - thanks for your input. i am planting into containers this year so i think i am just gonna forget about the grounds.