Okay, let’s talk about my little experiment with coffee grounds and my hydrangeas. I’ve always loved those big, beautiful blooms, but I was looking for a way to give them an extra boost without resorting to chemical fertilizers. That’s when I stumbled upon the idea of using coffee grounds.
I’m a big coffee drinker, so I always have a steady supply of used grounds. Instead of just tossing them in the trash, I started saving them in a separate container. Every few days, I’d have a nice little pile ready to go.

In late fall, I started my experiment. I took my collected coffee grounds and sprinkled them around the base of my hydrangeas. I didn’t just dump them on top, though. I used a small hand rake to work the grounds into the soil a bit. It’s not rocket science, just making sure they’re mixed in and not forming a thick layer on the surface.
- I was a little worried about the smell at first, but honestly, it wasn’t bad at all. Maybe a faint coffee aroma, but nothing overpowering. I did this process only twice this past winter, and that seemed to be plenty.
- One thing I was cautious about was not overdoing it. I read somewhere that too much of a good thing can be bad, like with the salts that can build up or the chance of mold.
- So, I kept it to a couple of times during the colder months, and that’s it. It’s a really simple process, but I was super curious to see if it would actually make a difference.
Spring rolled around, and I kept a close eye on my hydrangeas. As the weather warmed up, I noticed the leaves coming in nice and green. Then came the blooms – big, vibrant, and just as beautiful as ever! Now, I can’t say for sure it was all thanks to the coffee grounds. Maybe it was just a good year for them. But I like to think my little coffee experiment played a part.
My Results
My hydrangeas did seem to have richer soil. Even the colors seemed a bit more intense than usual. I’ve heard that the acidity of coffee grounds can affect the color, turning them a bit more blueish. I can’t confirm that 100%, but it’s a fun theory. I’ll definitely keep doing this coffee ground routine. It’s easy, it’s free, and it seems to make my hydrangeas happy. Plus, it feels good to repurpose something that would have just ended up in the landfill. If you’re a hydrangea lover and a coffee drinker, give it a try! You might be pleasantly surprised.