9 Plants That Love Coffee Grounds and Eggshells

*This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclaimer for additional details..

The nutrients in the soil are not infinite. So from time to time, you will have to replenish them. Considering how expensive fertilizers can sometimes be, you may be searching for effective alternatives to them.

In your search for alternatives to purchased fertilizers, you came across many options.

Of the many substitutes you saw, coffee grounds and eggshells caught your eye. Now you want to know some of the plants that love coffee grounds and eggshells.

Well, you are in luck! We wrote this post to satisfy your curiosity. But first, we discuss the benefits coffee grounds and eggshells offer plants.

Table of Contents

What Benefits Do Coffee Grounds Offer Plants?

Coffee grounds offer multiple benefits to plants through the soil. Top amongst these benefits is the nutrients they provide to plants.

Coffee grounds provide nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to plants.

Apart from the stated nutrients, coffee grounds also offer micronutrients like magnesium, chromium, copper, iron, and calcium.

These nutrients find various uses in the growth of different plants.

Besides providing nutrients to plants, coffee grounds also serve as a soil amendment.

When added to the soil, coffee grounds can improve drainage, aeration, and water retention. At the same time, coffee grounds promote the growth of beneficial soil organisms.

Coffee grounds may also be used as mulch and as a pest repellent. When used as a pest repellent, it is the abrasive texture of the grounds that drives away soft-bodied pests such as slugs and snails.

It is also thought that caffeine and other compounds in coffee grounds deters pests, including insects, snails, and slugs.

Does It Matter What Type of Coffee?

The type of coffee you get your coffee grounds from may be of significance. Grounds from decaf coffee may be safer than those from caffeinated coffee.

Caffeine has been mentioned to have detrimental effects on the growth of some plants. As it does in humans, caffeine stimulates biological processes in plants.

At first, caffeine might stimulate growth and photosynthesis in plants. But with prolonged exposure, caffeine can destabilize the plant’s cells, kill them, and kill the plants too.

It is expected that coffee grounds from caffeinated coffee would contain more caffeine than those made from decaf. So, if you have grounds from decaf and regular coffee, favor the grounds from decaf.

All in all, having too much caffeine in coffee grounds may be detrimental to plants. This is also why people are advised to work with used coffee grounds instead of fresh ones.

Crushed egg shell and spent coffee grounds in bowl against plants.

What Benefits Do Eggshells Offer Plants?

The main benefit eggshells offer plants is calcium.

Eggshells are chock-full of calcium. When they are ground and incorporated into the soil, they release calcium to plants.

Calcium is vital in the development of the membranes and cell walls of plants. In other words, they are integral to the structure of plants.

In a case of insufficient calcium, some fruits would not last as long as they should. Calcium also improves soil friability and soil permeability.

Does It Matter Brown or White Eggshells?

It does not matter whether you use brown or white eggshells on your plants.

The calcium content is mainly dependent on the bird that laid the egg. Healthy birds raised on the right diet would most likely have shells with high calcium content.

The color of eggshells has no influence on the calcium content of eggshells.

9 Plants That Like Eggshells and Coffee Grounds

The following is a list of plants that like eggshells and coffee grounds:

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes will benefit from coffee grounds and eggshells.

Calcium deficiency predisposes tomatoes to blossom end rot. On the other hand, sufficient calcium promotes longer shelf-life in tomatoes and helps control moisture intake.

Tomatoes thrive in slightly acidic to neutral pH soil. Considering that the pH of coffee grounds is around 6.5 to 6.8, they are great for tomatoes.

It is also said that old coffee grounds can improve the flavor of tomatoes.

2. Cantaloupes

Flavor enhancement with old coffee grounds has also been seen in cantaloupes. Besides, cantaloupes thrive in slightly acidic soil, and that is just what coffee grounds provide.

Provision of calcium from eggshells to cantaloupes has been linked with longer shelf-lives.

3. Peppers

Like tomatoes, peppers might suffer blossom end rot if soil moisture is not well controlled. But with calcium supplementation from eggshells, this is less likely to happen.

Calcium supplementation from eggshells also ensures that the leaves of pepper plants develop as they should.

Pepper plants love nitrogen, and coffee grounds contain substantial amounts of nitrogen. It is no wonder why coffee grounds are useful in reviving sick pepper plants.

4. Cabbages

When cultivating cabbage, one might have issues with pests such as snails and slugs. It turns out that eggshells can keep those pests away from your cabbage.

Calcium is also essential in the proper development of cabbages. In cases of calcium deficiency, you may find that the plant is stunted.

In other cases, you may also notice that the leaves are withered and not well-formed.

A solution made from coffee grounds may also be useful to cabbage plants because it can repel pests like bugs, aphids, and spiders.

5. Basil

Basil enjoys similar benefits as cabbage from eggshells.

Basil also loves coffee grounds. The aromatic herb grows best in soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Since coffee grounds fall within this range, basil would thrive in them.

6. Strawberries

Strawberries grow well with the supplementation of potassium. You can provide this to your plants by adding ground eggshells to the soil.

Strawberries also attract pests like slugs and snails. Fortunately, eggshells can help deter these pests.

The high nitrogen content and the pH of coffee grounds favor the growth of strawberries. They often thrive when supplemented with coffee grounds.

7. Lettuce

Lettuce is one of the first plants snails and slugs are attracted to.

But you can keep them away by applying ground eggshells. Also, the calcium offered by eggshells supports the proper growth of lettuce.

Various sources confirm that coffee grounds promote lettuce growth. The nutrients in the coffee grounds are particularly useful in supporting lettuce growth.

8. Marigolds

Like lettuce, strawberries, cabbages, and basils, marigolds appeal to snails and slugs. As already said, eggshells would help put these pests off.

Besides eggshells, it is thought that the caffeine contained in coffee grounds will keep slugs and snails away.

9. Hydrangeas

The addition of eggshell to hydrangeas offers calcium, which makes the plant grow better and stronger.

Hydrangeas bloom flowers of different colors when the pH of the soil is altered. In acidic pH, you will get blue flowers. In neutral or alkaline pH, you will get pink flowers.

When you add coffee grounds to hydrangeas, you will most likely get blue flowers since the coffee grounds reduce soil pH. Interestingly, eggshells may also produce the same effect when added to hydrangeas.

Plant Name	Benefits From Coffee Grounds	Benefits From Eggshells
Tomatoes	Coffee grounds are thought to enhance the flavor of tomatoes. Besides, tomatoes do well in slightly acidic soil, and coffee grounds can help lower soil pH.	If tomatoes do not get enough calcium, they are predisposed to blossom end rot. But with eggshells providing calcium, this is less likely to happen. Calcium supplementation from eggshells may also help enhance the shelf-life of tomatoes.
Cantaloupes	Coffee grounds may enhance the flavor of cantaloupes. Apart from that, cantaloupes thrive in slightly acidic soil, which can be provided by coffee grounds.	Eggshells will supply calcium to cantaloupes, and this may improve their shelf-life.
Peppers	Pepper plants love nitrogen, and coffee grounds give them just that.	Calcium supplementation from eggshells prevents blossom end rot in pepper plants. Calcium also ensures that the leaves of pepper plants grow as they should.
Cabbages	Coffee grounds solution sprayed on cabbages is said to keep insects like aphids and spiders away.	Eggshells are useful in deterring slugs and snails from cabbages. Lack of calcium causes stunted growth and crooked leaves in cabbages. But calcium supplementation from eggshells can help prevent that.
Basil	Basil thrives in slightly acidic pH, and coffee grounds can contribute to lowering soil pH.	Keeps snails and slugs away.
Strawberries	Provides nitrogen to the plant and lowers soil pH.	Supplements the plant with potassium and keeps snails and slugs away.
Lettuce	Provides nutrients that promote the growth of lettuce.	Keeps snails and slugs away and promotes proper growth.
Marigolds	Keeps snails and slugs away.	Keeps snails and slugs away.
Hydrangeas	Promotes the formation of blue flowers.	Promotes the formation of blue flowers. Promotes plant strength and proper growth.

9 Plants That Love Coffee Grounds and Eggshells