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Are coffee grounds good for succulents?

The maintenance and care for an indoor plant to an outdoor plant can be drastically different. The main tip to remember is that coffee grounds won’t work on potted plants unless it has been brewed and diluted in water. Potted succulents don’t have enough microbes in them to break down the grounds into a substance they can use. However, diluting in water first will work as a great chemical fertilizer alternative.

Coffee grounds are great for succulents, but WHY do succulents like coffee grounds? Well, in simple terms, coffee is acidic and succulents LOVE acidic soil. Coffee grounds contain a number of different nutrients including 2% Nitrogen, Potassium and Magnesium – all essential nutrients your succulents need to thrive and grow. If your plants aren’t getting enough of these nutrients then you’ll notice their leaves start to turn pale and yellow, something you don’t want to happen!

Ultimately it all comes down to pH levels. Tap water tends to have a pH level of around 8. Succulents actually prefer a slightly more acidic pH level of 5.8 – 7.0. Using coffee grounds as a fertilizer will actually help balance out this level, meaning they will thrive more, be more healthy and are much more likely to grow.

The top three succulents to thrive are the Snake Plant (Sansevieria), Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata) and Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) which all love brewed coffee grounds mixed within the soil.

A few reminders

Don’t over-water

This is a bit general because all succulents need watering at different times so we can’t best advise how often you should water your succulent with coffee grounds. However, it is pretty well known that succulents don’t need watering very often and as a rule of thumb I would start off by watering your succulents with coffee every 2 weeks and see how you get on (the rule is a bit different for Christmas cactus). You should give your plants a thorough soaking and let the soil completely dry out before rewatering.

Only use black diluted coffee

I feel like this is very self-explanatory. As humans we love to add all sorts of interesting things to our coffee; milk, cream, sugar, syrups! But needless to say, you should stick to cold black coffee for your indoor plants. I want to reiterate the word cold as well! If you make a fresh brew and pour it straight over your succulents then you will burn and scald the roots which will cause your beloved plant to die. If you are trying out coffee grounds on potted plants, then always make sure you are diluting in water first. If it is outside plants, then using the coffee grounds as they come as a fertilizer will be fine.

If you have a success story of coffee grounds for succulents then let us know by leaving a comment.

Grow a Garden

Thinking about growing a garden, but don’t have space or trying a new way to grow your vegetables or herbs this year? This could be for you! Grow bags are lightweight and come with handles; they are relatively easy to move around the garden. Since they are more portable, they are great for gardeners who are short on space they are an incredible way to garden if you are limited on backyard space, live in an apartment or travel frequently. Since they are more portable, they are easy to move inside/outside from summer to fall as the temps start to drop and winter sets in.

Grow bags prevent plants from becoming root bound. As the roots grow, they come in contact with the edges of the pot. The dryer soil around the edges of the pot will let the roots know that they have reached a limit. Air pruning will happen naturally and plants will burn off and produce healthier roots.

Air pruning prevents the roots from overgrowing and binding in a container. Those new roots will take in greater nutrients and water and enhance the growth of the plant. Pots, on the other hand, will only allow a few roots to take over and those roots will circle the pot, become root-bound and constrict the plants ability to uptake nutrients.

Plastic pots tend to retain heat in the summer, that heat is trapped inside a material that is all but breathable. Grow pots are made with breathable material that do a better job of regulating temperature.

Excess heat trapped in a grow bag is able to freely go through the breathable material of the bag.

Grow bags work well for tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and even herbs. Collectively group a large bunch of herbs in a grow bag instead of a raised bed or in-ground system. Grow bags are available in a multitude of sizes, as small 3 gallon.

Instead of taking time to build a raised bed garden, consider grow bags for your gardening needs. Bags as large as 30 gallons can be a wonderful way to grow your favorite vegetables and herbs. If you want to try to start a garden in a bag this year, stop by the shop The Gardenocity Shop, where you can find different colored and different size growing bags!

www.thegardenocityshop.com

Bringing Nature indoors

Enjoy a spring preview of flowering branches! Bring flowering tree branches , such as crab apples and forsythia, indoors so you can enjoy spring early. A little warm air and water will “force” the branches into beautiful bloom. Starting in February, gather branches from flowering rhododendron, apple, cherry, or crab apple trees to bring indoors for an early spring look. In March you can continue the soul-lifting spring colors with clipped of magnolias, mountain laurel, lilacs, dogwoods, and bridalwreath trees.

Follow the steps below to create a one of a kind natural spring look for your home or office.

1^st Cut dormant branches, select pencil-thick branch sections about 12-24 inches long. The cut should be used with a sharp knife or pruner making an angled cut at the base.

2^nd Bring the branches indoors, then strip buds, twigs, and leaves from lower sections that will be underwater. Use a knife to pare away an inch or two of bark from the base, smash the woody base with a hammer – this will enhance water absorption for the branches.

3^rd Place branches in a water-filled sink or bathtub and give them a long soak about 30-40 mintues. Wrap branches in wet newspaper, then place them in clean, luke warm water. Move to a cool, dark area; mist branches and change water daily for 3 days.

4^th On the fourth day place branches in a tall water filled vase or pitcher and bring them into a bright indirect sunny location in your home or office. The cooler the space the longer the branches will bloom.

BEST TREES AND SHRUBS FOR FORCING INDOORS

Tree or Shrub	Time to Bloom
Buckeye	5 weeks
Cherry	4 weeks
Cornelian dogwood	2 weeks
Crab apple	4 weeks
Deutzia	3 weeks
Flowering almond	3 weeks
Flowering dogwood	5 weeks
Flowering quince	4 weeks
Forsythia	1 week
Honeysuckle	3 weeks
Horse chestnut	5 weeks
Lilac	4 weeks
Magnolia	3 weeks

SUCCULENTS FOR CATS & DOGS: SAFE OR TOXIC

Love succulents and animals? Good news: The succulents included here are completely harmless to your pets! These types are safe to keep around animals, even if a curious critter ingests them. Please note: toxicity research is an ongoing process and we are committed to keeping this list as up to date as possible. If you are concerned a pet has consumed a toxic plant, contact Animal Poison Control.

Creating a space that’s safe for both your pet and succulents can be easy. Luckily, most succulents are completely harmless to animals. Additionally, most animals instinctively avoid eating succulents. They just don’t smell or taste very appetizing.

Below are our five favorite types that pose absolutely no risk to our furry friends & further down is a list that can cause harm.

ECHEVERIA: is a family of rose-shaped succulents native to the semi-desert regions of Central America. Because of its charming leaves’ structure,

Echeverias are one of the most well-known succulents. There are plenty of types with different gorgeous colors when it comes to Echeverias.

HARDY SEDUM: are trailing varieties are lovely as ground covers and in rock gardens, terraces and hanging baskets.

HAWORTHIA: is a delightful little succulent that makes a very attractive small houseplant. These small, low growing plants form rosettes of fleshy green leaves that are generously covered with white, pearly warts or bands, giving them a distinctive appearance.

SEMPERVIVUM (HENS & CHICKS) They are commonly called houseleeks and grow well indoors and out, in cool or hot temperatures. Hens and chicks plants are so called because of the rosette shape and habit of the plant to produce numerous babies. A rockery or dry, nutrient challenged location is a good place for growing.

SUCCULENTS THAT ARE NOT PET-FRIENDLY

ALOE VERA: The gel of the Aloe is fine to apply on both human and animal skin but should never be ingested. Aloin, one of the toxic chemicals in these plants, is a bitter, yellow liquid. It’s found just beneath the outer skin of the leaves.

Symptoms: Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, red urine

Sources: ASPCA, UC Davis Veterinary Medicine

EUPHORBIA: known as “Milk Plants” because of the white latex sap in their stems. Unfortunately, this sap can be irritating to skin and toxic if ingested.

Symptoms: Mouth irritation, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea

Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline

JADE (CRASSULA): are rubbery plants that are famously hard to kill. Unfortunately, Jade leaves can be irritating to cats and dogs if consumed.

Symptoms: Lethargy, clumsy movements, dry-heaving, vomiting

Source: ASPCA

KALANCHOE: are prolific succulents and a good choice for new plant enthusiasts. They should, however, be out of reach of dogs, cats, and birds. If ingested, Kalanchoe can irritate your pet’s mouth or cause moderate digestive distress. It can take anywhere from 12 hours to five days for symptoms to show.

Symptoms: Oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea

Source: ASPCA

Use Caution with All These Varieties:

Adenium

Agave

Albuca

Aloe

Cactus

Cotyledon

Crassula (Jade)

Euphorbia

Kalanchoe

Ledebouria

Pachypodium

Sansevieria

The Gardenocity Shop

We are excited to announce not only changing our Etsy Shop name at the beginning of the year, but we also have expanded our Shop to a new website! We have extended our love for gardening to open a beautiful shop that shows cases botanical garden theme home décor and more! This shop has beautiful items from organic baskets to concreate planters. We also have shopping accessories ( cute canvas totes to help with the trip to the farmers market or your local grocery store.) We also are growing our love for plants, where you can purchase succulents in The Gardenocity Shop and air plants in our Printhouse1 Shop on Etsy. Our customers can now shop at two stores one on Etsy as Printhousedesign1 still focusing on 3D printed planters and gardening essentials to our new store on our website.

Follow the link to visit the shop and each month we will be adding new décor and offering planting tips too!