N
The Global Insight

How often should you put coffee grounds around hydrangeas?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on April 13, 2026

Start adding coffee grounds to the soil surrounding your hydrangeas in late fall. Sprinkle them around your hydrangeas, but be sure to work them into the soil to help eliminate any off-putting smell. You do not need to do this process often–just two to three times per year should be sufficient.

Can you put too much coffee grounds on hydrangeas?

Changing the Soil Acidity

Simply layering the coffee grounds on top of the soil is quicker but may result in an ugly pile of mold that looks messy and smells unpleasant. Alternately, dump your coffee grounds into your compost bin and add the compost as part of your twice-yearly fertilizing ritual for your hydrangeas.

What color will coffee grounds make hydrangeas?

Some gardeners report success in turning their hydrangeas blue by applying coffee grounds to the soil. The coffee grounds make the soil more acidic, allowing the hydrangea to more easily absorb aluminum.

Will coffee grounds keep hydrangeas blue?

Add the right coffee

Coffee grounds, when added to the soil, will create a more acidic pH which will help your flowers to produce blue blooms instead of pink or white.

How often do you put used coffee grounds on plants?

Just don't add too many at once, because the acidity could bother your worms. A cup or so of grounds per week for a small worm bin is perfect. In addition to using coffee grounds in your worm bin, earthworms in your soil will also be more attracted to your garden when you use them mixed with the soil as fertilizer.

Hydrangeas & Coffee Grounds

Which plants do not like used coffee grounds?

Common Grounds

But even coffee-ground gardening advocates include a few words of warning. Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries.

Can I use leftover coffee to water plants?

Absolutely! Coffee that is leftover in the carafe can be poured on indoor and outdoor plants. Leftover coffee is a source of nitrogen and will fertilize them. Do not put coffee that has cream or sugar added on plants though, as it can harm the plant and will also attract ants and other insects.

Should I put coffee grounds around my hydrangeas?

If you're growing hydrangeas, use coffee grounds to affect their color. Coffee grounds add extra acidity to the soil around hydrangeas. On a chemical level, this increased acidity makes it easier for the plant to absorb naturally occurring aluminum in the dirt. The effect is pretty blue clusters of flowers.

How do I get more flowers on my hydrangea?

How to Get More Smooth Hydrangea Flowers:

  1. Plant smooth hydrangeas in full sun if the soil stays moist. ...
  2. Water them during times of drought, especially during the heat of summer.
  3. Amend the soil with organic matter (such as compost).
  4. Prune stems back in early spring, just before new growth emerges.

Do hydrangea plants like coffee grounds?

While some plants don't take to it, hydrangeas do benefit from this soil amendment. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, and they can increase the acid content of the soil. Both are of interest to hydrangea plants. Adding used coffee grounds to the soil of hydrangea plants can also improve the quality of the soil.

Should I cut the dead blooms off my hydrangea?

Since hydrangea blossoms are so big, deadheading a hydrangea makes a real difference in diverting energy to more important parts of the plant's growth. You should carry out this practice all through the blooming season to encourage new blossoms and keep your plant looking fresh.

How do I make my hydrangeas bright pink?

Changing the Colour of Hydrangea Flowers to Pink

To change hydrangea flowers from blue to pink, you need to remove the aluminum from the soil. The only way to do this is to add garden lime to the soil to help raise the pH. Garden lime is ground limestone rock, which is a slow-release amendment for treating acidic soil.

Can you add coffee grounds directly to soil?

Lewis Spencer adds: 'To use coffee compost, simply sprinkle the grounds directly onto your soil and lightly rake it in. Coffee grounds add organic material to the soil, helping water retention, aeration and drainage. 'Leftover diluted coffee can create a liquid plant fertilizer, too.

How often should hydrangeas be watered?

Hydrangea Care Tips

Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season. Deeply water 3 times a week to encourage root growth. Bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas require more water, but all varieties benefit from consistent moisture.

How do I make my hydrangea purple?

With a pH between 6 and 7, the blooms turn purple or bluish-pink. To lower your pH, add garden sulfur or aluminum sulfate to your soil. To raise the pH, use ground lime. Follow the directions on the product you use, and retest your soil to make sure the pH is in the range you want.

Why is my hydrangea not blooming?

Not Enough Water

All types of hydrangeas like a good amount of moisture, with consistently moist soil. If yours is consistently drying out, your plants might not bloom. Plants in the bigleaf species might need to be watered every other day if you live in a hot and dry climate.

How do I put coffee grounds on my hydrangea?

Start adding coffee grounds to the soil surrounding your hydrangeas in late fall. Sprinkle them around your hydrangeas, but be sure to work them into the soil to help eliminate any off-putting smell. You do not need to do this process often–just two to three times per year should be sufficient.

Do hydrangeas like sun or shade?

Hydrangeas grow best in full sun (more than 6 hours sun) to part sun (4-6 hours sun). With that being said, all hydrangeas can handle some shade, but the timing and type of shade are important to consider. They can be in full shade during the hottest part of the day, as long as they are getting some morning sun.

What plants can I put coffee grounds on?

The plants that like coffee grounds include roses, blueberries, azaleas, carrots, radishes, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, cabbage, lilies, and hollies. These are all acid-loving plants that grow best in acidic soil. You'll want to avoid using coffee grounds on plants like tomatoes, clovers, and alfalfa.

How do I make my hydrangeas blue naturally?

The easiest way to acidify your soil and turn those babies blue is with aluminum sulfate, which can be found at almost any garden center. Mix ¼ oz aluminum sulfate with a gallon of water and soak the soil surrounding your hydrangeas in the spring, as soon as the plant begins to grow.

How much coffee should I put in my plants?

If you aim for about 1/4 coffee and 3/4 water, or even a half-and-half mix, in your solution (depending on how strongly you brew your coffee), that's about right, but you don't have to be fussy about it. You can use coffee fertilizer on your potted plants, houseplants and in your vegetable garden.

What happens if you water a plant with coffee?

' The potential benefit of coffee grounds is that they 'add to the organic matter of the soil, which can improve drainage, soil aeration and retention of water which helps keep your plants happy and healthy. A good rule of thumb for plant feeds is to feed them with these solutions once a week. '

Is pouring coffee on plants good?

Apparently, coffee is a great source of nitrogen, and plants that enjoy more acidic soil can benefit from certain levels of nitrogen, like blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons. According to The Spruce, if you plan on doing this, you'll need to keep a close eye on your plant.

Do coffee grounds attract rats?

Used Coffee Grounds Deter Rats

Well, now you do! Instead of chucking them in your garbage, use them to repel your household pests. Coffee grounds, especially hot-brewed coffee grounds, have a bitter flavor in addition to a strong scent. This double-whammy works as a great repellent for rats.