Plants love neutralized coffee grounds

Straight coffee grounds benefit plants. When acted upon by soil microbes, coffee grounds release mostly nitrogen (N). They also release magnesium and zinc, micronutrients and amino acids. They feed earthworms; they loosen the soil; they retain water; and they release caffeine which repels slugs. But be careful!

Straight coffee grounds are also acidic, ranging in acidity from 5.0 - 3.0 pH. Used too much or too often they can burn roots of plants that dislike acidic soil. And, straight coffee grounds do not supply other essential plant macronutrients, phosphorous (P) nor potassium (K).

If you garden with regular coffee grounds, apply them only to plants that tolerate acidic conditions, mixing the grounds into the soil--if laid on top, a fungus mat might develop. Also add forms of P and K fertilizers to round out the macronutrients. If you want to apply regular grounds to other plants, add a "base" agent first until the acidity is neutralized, testing your mix with a pH strip. If nothing else, you can safely add a modest amount of regular grounds to your compost pile where the acidity is reduced by microbes.

In the case of Grow Joe, straight coffee grounds are tested then neutralized with limestone. The neutralized grounds are then combined with other natural ingredients. The resulting mixture, NPK = 6% - 8 - 6, was proven effective by the Pennsylvania State University and the National Home Gardening club.

Grow Joe has its advantages. Grow Joe is safer than straight coffee grounds because it will not burn. It is easier to use because it is already neutralized. And it is healthier for your plant because it is balanced with other natural macro- and micronutrients. Also, Grow Joe does a small part to keep tons of industrial coffee grounds (from which Grow Joe is made) out of landfills.

Try it!

(Read our feature story in the LA Times!)