Wondering what happens when you water aloe vera with tea or coffee? Here is a useful, cost-free, homemade DIY hack for your plants!
Kitchen remains are often highly beneficial in the garden, providing nutrition, texture, and hydration for free! And these include even the most common household beverages—here’s what happens when you use tea and coffee to water your aloe vera plant!
What Happens When You Water Aloe Vera With Tea Or Coffee
1. Soil Enriches
Tea and coffee contain potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, which are essential nutrients for plant growth.
Nitrogen in coffee helps in the development of lush green leaves, while phosphorus, which is found in tea, supports root development.
When you water aloe vera with any of these, the particles decompose, add organic matter to the soil, and improve the aeration and texture of the medium.
Brew tea or coffee and dilute it with an equal amount of water, and apply it after every three weeks in the early morning.
2. Soil Acidity Improves
Tea has a mild acidic pH that can benefit your plant if the medium you are growing it in is slightly alkaline.
The acidity makes it easier for the plant to absorb nutrients like iron, manganese, and zinc.
Aloe thrives in soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0, and coffee dregs, which are naturally more acidic, help keep it within this range as well.
3. Organic Matter for Soil Structure
Coffee grounds and tea leaves add texture to the soil and improve its structure. They also improve drainage and prevent soil compaction. This is especially beneficial for your aloe vera, which dislikes waterlogged conditions and compact soil.
The tannic acid in tea will also support the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. These microbes break down organic matter and release nutrients in a form that the plant can easily absorb.
Coffee grounds also encourage the growth of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants.
You can sprinkle used tea leaves or coffee grounds lightly over the soil surface and water thoroughly once in two months.
4. Deters Disease and Pests
Some compounds in tea and coffee, like caffeine and tannins, are natural pest deterrents. They help repel harmful insects, such as slugs and snails, that may feed on your aloe leaves. The tannins in tea act as a natural fungicide, protecting roots and soil.
To make it, add 1 part brewed tea and 3 parts water and apply it as a foliar spray! Use this solution sparingly, only when signs of pests or fungal infections are visible.
As overuse of tea or coffee on the soil may cause an imbalance in the pH, so use it in moderation.
5. Stimulates Root Growth
Both tea and coffee contain nutrients that help roots grow better. Coffee grounds contain root-promoting hormones like auxins that break down in the soil. This, along with ample nitrogen, leads to stronger and more extensive root systems of your aloe plant.
What Happens When You Overdo It
Odor Issues
Although both coffee and tea have several advantages for your aloe vera plant, misuse can create odor issues.
Tea and coffee can produce a musty smell as it decomposes, especially indoors. And this smell is a clear indication of overuse and does more harm than good!
Risk of Over-Fertilization
While moderate use of tea and coffee can improve soil structure, continuous application may lead to mold growth on topsoil and probably over-fertilization. This is more likely to happen if you use them alongside commercial fertilizers.
Aloe vera isn’t a heavy feeder and prefers nutrient-light soil. Over-fertilization can cause burnt roots and discolored leaves!
Residual Chemicals
With higher caffeine content entering the soil, beneficial microbial activity may get hampered and harm your plant’s overall health. This is why it’d be better to use this hack sparingly and it’ll work and help in growing aloe vera with big, thick leaves.
