The Morning Leftover That Will Help Heather Plants Bloom

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is a low-growing shrub that can also be used as a groundcover. An easy-going flower that looks beautiful in container gardens, heather is known for holding its leaves and flowers through the fall and winter. Heather plants also prefer well drained, acidic soil. For this reason, your morning leftover coffee grounds can help them bloom.

One of the genius ways to use leftover coffee grounds in your yard is by making them into a natural fertilizer. That said, while coffee grounds can be an effective fertilizer, they aren't suitable for all plants, as they tend to be acidic. Although the acidity of used grounds can vary, the plants that like coffee grounds most are usually the acid-loving types, such as heathers, rhododendrons, and azaleas.

Using coffee grounds as a fertilizer offers several benefits for your heathers. The texture of the grounds helps to improve soil structure and drainage because they work to aerate the soil, which helps plant roots soak up more water and nutrients. Coffee grounds also help the soil retain water and prevents harmful diseases. During decomposition, they produce beneficial bacteria that can help protect your plants from fungi and diseases. Even better, your leftover coffee grounds can also be used as a form of natural pest control in your garden.

To get the full benefit of coffee grounds, you need to apply them correctly. One thing you should not do is put a thick layer of coffee grounds on your plants, as this will interfere with air circulation and soil drainage. You can use them on heathers in a few other ways, however. For example, you may want to add coffee grounds to your compost pile before using the compost on your plants.

Another method involves mixing your coffee grounds into the soil. To do this, you'll need a cup of potting soil and a tablespoon or two of dry coffee grounds. Mix the soil and the grounds and gently work the mixture into the top inch of the soil. You could also use your leftover grounds to make a coffee tea, which can act as a liquid fertilizer for your plants. To make the tea, mix a teaspoon of coffee grounds into a cup of warm water, let it sit overnight, then strain the grounds.

While your morning leftovers can be a great fertilizer for your heathers, it is important not to overdo it. Using this method too often may result in root rot and discoloration of the leaves. For best results, you should fertilize your plants once or twice throughout the growing season.