Some fiddle leaf fig owners add coffee grounds to their fiddle leaf fig plant to help it grow.
But is coffee good for fiddle leaf fig plants? What happens to the soil when you add coffee grounds to it?
Coffee grounds have become a popular fertilizer for gardens and houseplants. As a free, natural source of nitrogen, it’s tempting to think dumping old coffee on fig trees must be beneficial. But is this caffeinated compost all it’s cracked up to be for ficus plants?
The answer is complicated. Fig trees can gain certain advantages from used coffee grounds, such as increased soil nitrogen and acidity. However, excessive amounts of grounds can potentially harm figs by altering soil pH too drastically, accumulating toxic levels of caffeine, or causing nutrient imbalances.
This article will explore the pros and cons of using spent coffee grounds on fig trees You’ll learn when and how much to apply grounds safely We’ll also cover better organic alternatives tailored specifically to meet fig trees’ nutritional needs.
How Do Coffee Grounds Help Fig Trees?
Used coffee grounds are not a complete fertilizer but they do offer some potential benefits
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Nitrogen – Grounds contain about 2% nitrogen by volume, which can encourage leaf and branch growth in spring. Figs need extra nitrogen in early growth stages.
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Acidity – Coffee’s pH is around 4.5-6.5. Fig trees prefer mildly acidic soil of pH 6.0-6.5. Grounds can potentially lower pH in alkaline soils.
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Organic matter – Decomposing grounds add organic material to improve soil structure and nutrient retention.
However, there are also risks associated with using coffee grounds. Let’s look at some potential downsides.
Potential Downsides of Coffee Grounds for Figs
While grounds can offer some advantages, there are good reasons to use them sparingly and with caution:
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Excess nitrogen – Too much nitrogen leads to weak, tender growth, and poor fruiting. Fig trees need less nitrogen later in summer.
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Over-acidity – Excess acidity hampers nutrient availability and harms beneficial microbes. Figs are sensitive to extremes outside their ideal pH range.
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Caffeine toxicity – Coffee contains caffeine, a natural pesticide. Accumulated caffeine can kill helpful insects and soil bacteria.
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Compaction – Grounds easily become dense and compressed when wet, preventing air and water circulation.
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Pests – Decomposing grounds can attract snails, slugs, and other pests.
Next we’ll look at how to use spent grounds safely as fig fertilizer if desired.
How to Use Coffee Grounds on Fig Trees
Follow these tips to take advantage of possible benefits from grounds while avoiding drawbacks:
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Compost first – Add grounds to a compost pile to allow caffeine and acids to break down before using. Takes 2-3 months.
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Limit frequency – Only fertilize figs with grounds early in season, discontinuing by mid-summer. Apply just once or twice a year.
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Small amounts – Grounds should constitute no more than 20% by volume of total soil content or compost. Excess accumulates.
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Test pH – Check soil pH before using grounds to alter acidity. Don’t apply if pH is already ideal.
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Mulch lightly – Spread just a thin 1/2 inch layer of grounds as mulch. Top with thicker layer of organic mulch.
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Avoid pots – Don’t amend container fig soil with grounds. Roots are too vulnerable in confined pots.
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Rotate fertilizers – Alternate coffee with worm castings, compost, manure, etc. to prevent nutrient imbalances.
Adhering to these guidelines allows fig trees to gain benefits from spent coffee grounds while avoiding potential risks.
Better Alternatives for Feeding Fig Trees
While used grounds can offer some pros, they aren’t the ideal fertilizer choice for ficus plants. Better organic options include:
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Compost – Provides balanced, slow-release nutrition without risk of toxicity. Can be used mulched or in compost tea.
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Worm castings – Contain nutrients and enhance beneficial microbial activity in soil. Especially good for container figs.
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Manure – Chicken, cow, or other manures offer safe organic nitrogen and phosphorus for flowering and fruiting.
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Fish emulsion – Highly bioavailable nitrogen and mineral content. Stimulates fruit production.
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Wood ash – Raises pH and provides potassium, another key fig nutrient. Helps counteract acidity.
These alternatives are specifically beneficial for fig trees without the drawbacks grounds can potentially have.
The Bottom Line on Coffee Grounds and Fig Trees
Fig trees can gain some advantages from used coffee grounds, like increased nitrogen and organic matter in the soil. However, grounds pose risks if over-applied, especially for container figs in small amounts of soil.
Use coffee fertilizer in moderation, test soil pH, compost grounds first, and discontinue use by mid-summer. Alternate with other organic amendments tailored to figs’ needs for the best nutrition.
Following these tips allows enjoying the upsides of recycling spent grounds, while avoiding potential downsides for your fig trees. Through smart, sparing application of this free garden additive, you can brew up improved soil quality!
Do Ficus Plants Like Acidity?
Generally, acidity is helpful for acid-loving plants like azaleas, hydrangeas, camellias, and blueberries.
But ficus are not acid-loving plants!
Ficus trees like neutral pH soil conditions (slightly acidic or slightly alkaline). If the pH falls far out of this range, ficus trees may have difficulty absorbing nutrients from the soil.
The perfect pH for a ficus is 6.5-7.
Anything under 6 will be too acidic.
Brewed coffee has a pH of from 5.2 to 6.9, so depending on the coffee, it could be harmful to your fiddle leaf fig.
Signs of Too Much Acid in Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants
Plants will sicken or die if the soil becomes too acidic for their needs. Yellowing leaves is the most common sign of too much acid in the soil.
Too much acidity in a fiddle leaf fig can be confusing, because your plant will show all the same symptoms of being under-fertilized, even if you are fertilizer properly.
What happens is a pH of under 6 causes your plant’s roots to be unable to absorb the nutrients in the soil. Yellow leaves, stunted growth, and unhappy plant are the general symptoms.
How to Prune Fig Trees for BIG Harvests
FAQ
Should I put coffee grounds on my fig tree?
There are a few reasons why coffee grounds are good for some plants: coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen (which is an important component of many …
What is the best fertilizer for fig trees?
Let’s discuss tips on fertilizing figs. Please use a fertilizer with an analysis of 8-8-8 or 10-10-10. Apply fertilizer three times a year to bushes you are trying to bring into full production: early spring, mid-May, and mid-July. Mature bushes can be fertilized just once a year in the early spring.
What plants do not benefit from coffee grounds?
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Garden Designhttps://www.gardendesign.comHow to Use Coffee Grounds for Plants – Garden DesignWHAT PLANTS DO NOT LIKE COFFEE GROUNDS? Since coffee grounds retain moisture, avoid using on plants that prefer drier soil such as cacti and succulents. Avoid u…
Do fiddle leaf figs like coffee grounds?
However, a fiddle leaf fig prefers soil with a pH around 6, and coffee grounds can tip this in the wrong direction. Overly acidic soil can cause leaf discoloration, so you don’t want to add something that can acidify your soil beyond a fiddle’s preference.
Are coffee grounds good for trees?
Coffee grounds also lower the pH of the soil, making it more acidic. This results in an improvement in the solubility of nutrients, thus facilitating their absorption by the roots. Additionally, this condition favors certain trees, particularly those that prefer slightly acidic soils. Other benefits of coffee grounds for trees—
Can you use coffee grounds on apple trees?
Apple trees are also good candidates for coffee grounds. In addition to being rich in nitrogen, coffee grounds provide phosphorus, copper and magnesium. These elements promote balanced and vigorous growth, while increasing the acidity of the soil. Apply the pomace directly to the soil or add it to the compost.
Do fig trees produce small figs?
A fig is at its peak when the fruit is large, plump, and juicy, so when a fig tree produces small figs, this is a problem. Some varieties of fig tree do bear smaller fruit, so if you want large figs, try planting a different variety, such as ‘Brown Turkey,’ which bears some of the largest fruit among the cultivars.
Why do citrus trees eat coffee grounds?
Why’s That ? Citrus fruits, such as lemon, orange and grapefruit trees, particularly appreciate coffee grounds. The latter helps to enrich their soil with nitrogen and increase its acidity, ideal conditions for their development.
Can you put coffee grounds on a banana tree?
banana tree because coffee grounds interfere with its water absorption. pear tree. Cherry tree. plum tree. By avoiding applying coffee grounds to the trees mentioned, you will avoid potential problems like pH imbalances or other nutritional deficiencies.