The Money Tree (Pachira Aquatica) is quickly becoming one of the trendiest houseplants around – and for good reason. They’re easy to care for, and their unique foliage and braided trunks will brighten up any room. But what do you do when you want to feed them some extra nutrients? Coffee grounds have often been pondered as a cost-effective fertilizer, but do they actually work?
While coffee grounds can serve as an organic fertilizer, applying them directly to the soil of a Money Tree will cause the soil to retain too much moisture. Too much moisture can cause root rot and introduce fungal issues. Coffee grounds are best for Money Trees when used as compost or compost tea.
Many people swear by adding coffee ground into their home gardens, and for a good reason! Coffee grounds are a great source of natural nutrients that plants need. However, when applied to houseplants bound by the constraints of pots, coffee grounds can do more harm than good. If you are an avid coffee drinker and hate the thought of throwing away those old grounds, don’t worry – there is a happy solution.
Coffee Grounds as Organic Fertilizer
Coffee grounds are rich in Nitrogen, which is one of the three macronutrients present in all types of fertilizer (the other two are phosphorus and potassium). Nitrogen is one of the significant components in chlorophyll and is essential for photosynthesis. Nitrogen helps to stimulate leaf and stem growth, and it is extremely important for green foliage plants.
Money Trees can undoubtedly benefit from the boost of nitrogen coffee grounds have to offer. But how can you do so without harming the plant?
Placing coffee ground as a layer on top of your soil will up the moisture retention of your plant and keep it from drying out as quickly between waterings. This is something you’ll want to avoid as it can cause root rot and introduce fungal issues to your tree.
Some people suggest using coffee grounds as an organic or natural fertilizer. The components of natural fertilizers have not been processed. They are, therefore, not as easy for your plant to immediately uptake. This type of fertilizer usually breaks down in the soil and treats the soil more than the plant itself.
For this reason, coffee grounds by themselves are not very helpful. To help this process out, you’ll need to compost the grounds or use them as compost tea.
Composting With Coffee Grounds
If you have a compost bin or pile, adding your coffee ground to that, rather than directly to the soil of your Money Tree, will be your best bet. Then that compost can be used when repotting your Money Tree or as a very thin layer, mixed into the top few inches of soil.
There is a myth that used coffee grounds are incredibly acidic and will create a very acidic compost. That is not true. Once a coffee bean has been ground and used, the leftover coffee grounds have a PH level almost always neutral.
Money Trees prefer soil PH levels to be between 6.0 and 7.5. This range is considered to be neutral and is what is best for your tree. So using a neutral compost with coffee grounds in it will be beneficial.
In addition to composting, Coffee grounds also make an excellent addition to a worm bin. Earthworms love coffee grounds. They eat them and, in turn, create a nitrogen-rich compost that is excellent for lots of uses.
Coffee Grounds as Compost Tea
My favorite method for fertilizing with coffee grounds is by introducing it to your plants in the form of a compost tea. Compost tea is created by mixing compost with water and straining the solids out. Watering your tree with this solution a few times a month is an excellent source of added nutrients.
It is important to note here that Money Trees should always be planted into a container with a drainage hole to facilitate quick draining. Even though they are tropical plants, Money Trees do not like to be too wet. It is best to only add water or compost tea when the top one to two inches of soil is completely dry.
To make compost tea, simply take your compost or coffee grounds and let it sit in water for a few days, stirring occasionally. Strain out the compost while keeping the liquid, and you’re left with compost tea! Water your plants with this once or twice a month for great results.
What About Watering With Leftover Coffee?
When it comes to watering your plants with leftover coffee, go easy. The coffee we drink is higher in acidity than what is remaining in the grounds. Hence, it is best to dilute your leftover coffee before pouring it directly onto your plants.
I do not personally ever water my plants with diluted coffee, but some people swear by it. If you find yourself with a half-inch of coffee at the bottom of your cup and want to give it a try, fill your cup back up with water to dilute it and pour it onto your Money Tree.
I would only recommend using coffee on your plants once or twice a month. Remember, Money Trees like neutral PH in their soil, and they don’t want to be sitting in soggy soil. It is important to only water them when the top one to two inches of soil is dry.
Keeping Your Money Tree Healthy
There are many other things you can do to keep your Pachira Aquatica healthy. Indirect sunlight, soil with good drainage, and consistent watering when the top two inches of soil is dry, all help you get those bright green leaves and that sturdy brown trunk we all aspire for.
However, if you want a very healthy tree, fertilizer is recommended. For coffee-based fertilizer, I would recommend creating a compost tea from your leftover grounds and watering with that once or twice a month. If you want to see my other recommendations on fertilizing Money Trees, read this article.
There is no need to fertilize your Money Tree during the colder months of the year. From late fall through winter, your plant will most likely be in a dormant state where it has put a pause on new growth to store up energy for the spring. At this time, adding fertilizer to a plant can harm the root system.