Hydrangeas are popular summer garden plants thanks to their large, spectacular flowers, but you might be disappointed when the blooms aren't as spectacular as you expected.
One of the main reasons why hydrangeas struggle to thrive is a lack of nutrients, but instead of buying expensive fertilizer from the store, you can give your flowers a boost with coffee grounds.
According to gardening enthusiast and founder of Hydrangea Love, the acidic properties and nutrients in coffee grounds can help hydrangeas bloom and stay healthy.
She explained: “Using coffee grounds when growing hydrangeas has many benefits, including increasing growth and vigour.”
“Coffee grounds are rich in essential nutrients, including nitrogen, which is vital for leaf health. They also improve soil structure and drainage, and promote root health.”
“The slightly acidic nature of coffee grounds also influences the soil pH, which is particularly beneficial for hydrangeas, helping them produce their distinctive blue flowers.”
The nitrogen in coffee helps hydrangeas to increase photosynthesis, helping them to grow faster and produce larger flowers.
Coffee grounds also act as a natural pest repellent and are a popular way to keep slugs out of your garden, as they cannot stand the strong smell of coffee.
How to make hydrangeas bloom using coffee grounds.
All you have to do is collect the leftover coffee every time you brew or ask your local cafe to donate their coffee grounds.
Store these in containers until you are ready to fertilize your hydrangeas, and make sure they are completely dry before using.
To do this, spread your used coffee grounds out on a baking sheet and leave them to dry for a day or two. This will help prevent mold from forming and make them easier to handle. “This will help prevent mold from forming and make them easier to handle,” explains the gardener.
Once dry, sprinkle evenly around the base of your hydrangea plant.
Don't overdo it: hydrangeas only need about one mug of coffee per plant, and you'll only need to fertilize once a month during the summer to see results.
You can also mix coffee grounds into your compost or use them as liquid fertilizer to help your hydrangeas bloom.
The gardener advised: “Soak about a cup of used coffee grounds in five gallons of water for a week, stirring occasionally. Use this nutrient-rich solution to water your hydrangeas.”
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Feeding hydrangeas with coffee grounds in summer is an economical and environmentally friendly way to encourage larger blooms.
Be careful not to overfeed your hydrangeas with coffee, though, as they only need about one cup of water per plant to thrive, and fertilizing once a month during the summer is enough.
The gardener advised: “After adding coffee grounds, watch your hydrangeas closely for signs of abnormalities, such as yellowing leaves or stunted growth.”
“These symptoms may indicate a nutrient imbalance in the soil. Adjust the rate and frequency of coffee ground application as needed.”
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