Coffee grounds as a weed barrier in pots

16 years ago

I started this little experiment 2 years ago after learning that coffee grounds will crust and repel water if placed thick on the surface of the soil.

This pot was a compost bucket in the sense that it was filled with kitchen scraps, cig butts, dead weeds and grass and urinated on regularly. I had used the liquid from this rotting bucket of unholy material as liquid fertilizer. The strength was about the same as liquid fertilizer or about a tablespoon per gallon of water. Naturally I had to try to find out how much was too much and it seemed to be about the tablespoon per gallon because I increased it and burned some plants. The plants loved this compost ROT tea! The reason I call it "compost ROT tea" is that is not proper compost and in fact the more proper term is leachate not tea.

To see how plants would respond to being grown using this unholy whatever, the top 1/3 of the rot was removed and then a hosta was planted using pro-mix in the top 1/3 of the bucket. Note; the bucket has the drain holes about 4 inches above the bottom leaving a constant water reservoir in the bottom.

This unholy material was underway when I learned of the crusting coffee so I placed about Â½ inch of coffee grounds on the surface of the bucket to see what would happen. Thinking that the plant would probably die anyway. After 2 years there have only been 2 weeds appear in this pot and plant has grown like a weed.

Late next spring the plant will be decanted to examine the roots involvement with this unholy material.

I do not recommend using this unholy material as part of a potting mix but the plants roots started above this material so they could enter the lower area or not and we will learn what happened.

Coffee grounds have been shown to be a valuable soil amendment (minor nitrogen source) when placed below mulch, which keeps them moist eliminating the crusting "problem" on the soil surface.

Result; the coffee grounds have acted as a weed barrier in potted plants outdoors.

1st photo is going dormant last fall.

[IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/wilddog_202/P1010151.jpg[/IMG]

Spring showing 1 of 2 weeds that germinated

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/wilddog_202/P1010175.jpg

Now the growth in the middle of the second year.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/wilddog_202/hostaincoffegroundsjul08.jpg

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Comments (3)

esther_opal
Original Author
16 years ago
Sorry, though the photos would be clickable. Here they are!

1st photo is going dormant last fall.

[IMG]{{gwi:280600}}

Spring showing 1 of 2 weeds that germinated

{{gwi:280598}}

Now the growth in the middle of the second year.
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mary52zn8tx
16 years ago
Do you have a control? I am not having much of a problem with weeds in my potted hostas. I have to pull the occasional pecan seedling that the squirrels have planted, but I have not had much of a weed problem so far. I am finding that your wet feet theory is right on. I have most of my hostas sitting in shallow pots filled with water, and they are very healthy so far. I want to see how they do in hot weather.
Mary
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esther_opal
Original Author
16 years ago
"I want to see how they do in hot weather."
Mary

Heat is a problem you can't avoid easily. At a certain combination of heat and humidity the plant will have a problem transpiring. The water in the saucer will help some but moving potted plants to the shade when it gets hot is the best.

I did an experiment with a mister, leaving the mister running 24/7 all summer. I checked the temperature inside the mist zone and found it reduced by as much as 20 degrees. The plant was in full sun all summer and showed little effect from the heat or sun.

"Do you have a control?"

My only real control is other potted plants and fighting weeds, now I'm in a rural area and get every weed you can imagine. I didnÂt set up a proper control because at first I was just curious. But I do get a lot of weed seed germination in all my other pots. I have started putting coffee grounds in all my pots and IÂll be satisfied if it works. My proofs are to my satisfaction but I invite others to replicate my work and feed the research.

I think you can see that the plant is growing well?
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Coffee grounds as a weed barrier in pots

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esther_opal
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mary52zn8tx

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Coffee grounds as a weed barrier in pots

Comments (3)

esther_opalOriginal Author

mary52zn8tx

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esther_opal
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