Cycad scale.

Collecting grounds in a bucket for use this year.
But I do wonder what effect coffee grounds will have on soil-based organisms.
Barb

One thing to keep in mind (I can't remember if Tom covered this in his article) is that if the grounds sit in a closed container and grow mold before you use them, the efficacy is reduced dramatically. I found this happens in as little as 4-6 weeks. I assume that there are fungi capable of breaking down the alkyloids, thereby rendering the grounds essentially inert from the perspective of having insecticidal properties.

As for your question regarding soil microbes, I really don't know. I am a firm believer that is it more important to try to create a healthy soil than to simply fertilize the plants without taking the soil into consideration. Coffee grounds have been used with great success as a top-dress mulch (or even the primary basis of a growing medium) in producing extremely healthy cycads, and they have long been recommended for roses by those who grow them (I can't speak to this latter point, as I know nothing about roses).

Hope this helps.

Jody

Yes thanks for the mold reminder, Jody.
I did read that, too.
Maybe keep the bucket in the freezer until it's full, thaw with lid off, and use up the supply immediately.
I certainly have enough plants in pots, let alone the perennials.

I'm going to find an earthworm, place into a bucket with native soil, and see what happens when coffee grounds are added.
The worm may not be representative of soil organisms generally, but at least I'll be able to see it.

I'm hugely (not scientifically) interested in miccorhizae...and understand fungi feed miccor, which allows nutrients to be accessible to the plant in a symbiotic relationship.
So my quest is whether coffee grounds harm/kill/assist fungi.

Certainly chemicals do.

Barb

Cofee Grounds are good for the microorganisms in the soil too.

It would be great if that's true...any literature on it?

I managed to find an earthworm...he's in a bucket with soil in the warm basement...a few coffee grounds on top.
I'll see how he's doing tomorrow.

Barb

Barb,

Let me do some research on the microorganisms.

Your earthworm castings will be great. I put earthworm castings on a Photos (House plant) before and the thing went bonkers. I mean it grew like crazy.

Dean

Barb,

Here are some links to what I was describing. I think it mainly that the Coffee Grounds are feeding the microorganisms. http://www.viewnews.com/2006/VIEW-Jun-06-Tue-2006/SEast/7713902.html
http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/article/0,20633,1208232,00.html

Dean

I spread the Coffee Grounds in my compost piles around outdoor plants, etc..

If I have a problem w/ scale I'll use it then. I get the grounds for free at a local Starbucks. I buy a Coffee and I get free grounds. Not a bad deal in my mind.

Dean

Yesterday found an earthworm (no small feat in February in Canada!), put him into a trowelful of native soil in a clean
yoghurt container, into the warm basement, lid on (airholes):
Added a few yummy potato peelings.

Covered with 1/4 inch of dry cool coffee grounds.

Today (24 hours later), he's fine (obviously happy to be in warmish soil).
Decidedly unscientific, but my conclusion is: if coffee grounds kill scale after 10 hours,
obviously no harmful effects to larger organisms.

I'll check earthworm daily for longer term effects.

I've been adding coffee grounds to my compost pile, maybe now I'll just add it straight to plants
from what folks have reported.
Barb

Dean, that first link you provided addressed moldy coffee grounds.

Suggested not to throw it away as it's part of the breakdown process.

I think mold is a fungus (versus bacteria), therefore it's nature's way of breaking it down.
Fungus feeds other organisms, other organisms feed the larger ones, so on.

Reminds me of a joke:
A mother calls her son at college and asks him if he's eating right.
Yes he says.
Are you eating anything green, she asks.
Just the bread, Mom, was the answer. 😆
Barb

LOL! I'm glad to see your worm is doing fine. Where did you find he/she (she/he)? You know they go both ways! LOL!!! Did I come up with enough scientific evidence for you? I know the nitrogen feeds the microrganisms, etc.

Dean

Dean,
Found him an inch from foundation of the house,
Would've had to use a pick-axe anywhere else 😆

Yup, enough info for this doubter... 😀 Thanks.
Barb

LOL! Keep em warm!

Next to the woodstove on the warm basement floor, the little guy's probably dancing the jig.
Barb

Now you got me wanting to start raising some worms.

Dean

Each year I want to, but never get around to it.
Just think, free castings...no finer soil amendment.

It must be the cheapest hobby one could have...no tools/kits to buy,
no 4H dues 😆 , no vet fees or parvo virus pills,
no specialized feed to buy, no grow lights.

And then no potting soil to purchase!
Barb