The smell of coffee is repulsive to many bugs and will keep them away from treated areas. Coffee grounds can be used fresh or used, but unused coffee grounds are more effective at repelling pests. The smell of burnt coffee is also effective at repelling pests.
Not only do they repel mosquitoes, but also other insects such as wasps and bees. Coffee grounds are the bee's knees when it comes to staying bug bite free. Most bugs have a very strong sense of smell. Coffee grounds are very potent and even more potent once they are burned.
While many budding gardeners may be concerned that coffee grounds can attract pests, the reality is quite to the contrary. In fact, when implemented correctly, coffee grounds can be an effective way to repel certain pests such as wasps, snails, and mosquitoes.
Insect Repellent
Since coffee grounds are very potent, it's a perfect repellent to fight off those pests. According to the EPA, coffee grounds are most potent when they are burned.
But did you know you can reuse this common kitchen waste item? Coffee grounds can contain nutrients and micronutrients like nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals. Recycling your old coffee grounds is an easy way to fertilize plants and help reduce your household waste.
How Often Should You Add Coffee Grounds to Plants? You can fertilize houseplants an average of 7 to 10 days in a row, but no more, as there is a risk of over-acidification of the soil. A cup of ground coffee should be added to the compost once a week.
It would be sensible to avoid spreading coffee grounds around seeds or seedlings as they may inhibit germination and growth. There is a more obvious reason why using coffee grounds alone for mulching could be detrimental. Like clay soil, coffee grounds consist of very fine particles that are prone to locking together.
Do Used Coffee Grounds Keep Rodents Away? The answer to this question is yes, use coffee grounds as a natural rodent repellent. The coffee's bitter compounds are unpleasant to rats and mice. They will avoid areas where there is a coffee scent or use.
You may love your morning coffee, but ants could do without it. Another natural way to deter ants, sprinkle coffee grounds outside and around your garden. The smell repels them and they'll be looking for a less caffeinated place to hang out. Want to keep your home clean and clear of ants?
Other Natural Repellents
Mothballs — place them around the perimeter, and their pungent smell will repel snakes. Vinegar — mix it with water and spray often. Caffeine — sprinkle coffee grounds or instant coffee granules. Spices — chili powder and cayenne pepper work the best.
Roaches are repelled by ground coffee. In fact, putting some ground coffee down in the corners or windowsills of your kitchen can actually help keep them insects away.
Coffee Grounds
Not only do coffee grounds smell good, but they also work wonders when it comes to warding off unwelcome guests such as spiders.
The delicious coffee smell that wakes you up in the morning is a deterrent for many bugs and insects, including mosquitos. The pungent aroma masks the human scent that attracts mosquitoes to you, keeping them at bay. Burning the coffee grounds amplifies the smell and drives mosquitoes away from the surrounding areas.
Kopi luwak, also known as civet coffee, is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus).
Coffee beans, grounds and brewed coffee contain caffeine, a very dangerous and toxic chemical to cats and dogs. Ingestion can be life threatening. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, a moderate amount of coffee can easily cause death in small dogs or cats.
When caffeine is contained within its natural plant form, caffeine works like a natural pesticide, as it causes an herbivorous insects' nervous system to stop producing essential enzymes. When these enzymes are inhibited in an insect, paralysis and eventual death result.
Both cayenne and black pepper repel ants. Ants hate cayenne pepper. Black pepper will work just as well too. Locate the source of the ant infestation problem, sprinkle some pepper around that area and if possible, create a wall that will stop the ants from accessing your household.
Excessive acidic soil can kill or hamper the growth of plants like asparagus fern, Chinese mustard, Italian ryegrass, lavender, orchids, rosemary, tomatoes, and geranium. The roots of these plants are also not potent to absorb the nutrients added by the coffee grounds in the soil.
– Coffee. Coffee has been shown to keep raccoons away from visiting human settlements. So, you can sprinkle coffee grounds into the soil.
Because they don't like the smell, you can use coffee grounds to deter cats from using your garden as a litter box. By regularly sprinkling used grounds (either wet or dry) in and around your garden, cats eventually will decide to find a new bathroom spot.
The grounds can be added to the compost or used as a fertilizer. The organic matter in coffee grounds includes 2% nitrogen, 0.06% phosphorous, 0.6% potassium, and micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, boron, copper, iron, and zinc that benefit plants by encouraging healthy growth.
I've visited a site where a raised bed was ruined by too much coffee grounds. Like most kitchen waste, it is a fine amendment for the garden, but like anything else, coffee grounds can be overdone.” Contrary to popular belief, it's a myth that coffee grounds are acidic and will lower the pH of the soil.
Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.