Coffee, egg shells, and lime as slug deterrents!

hey all, i know i posted this over in Outdoor growing but i feel it should be in the organics section too. Seeing as how the outdoor sections is so inundated with noobish forums no offense lol, i just wanna make sure this thre doesnt die for a while. Heres the original post and link accompanied by a very helful post by Patriofarmer. anyways, read up on deterring those slug bastards who kill are plants almost at a whim!
http://www.plantea.com/slug-baits-coffee.htm

great article on how coffe grounds, and more specifically, caffeine, are a natural way to kill and deter slugs and snails. hopefully this helps!

Coffee grounds are good for acid-loving plants, like tomatoes, roses, azaleas & blueberries, however ...
you can also use coffee grounds on non-acid loving plants if you mix a tablespoon of garden lime into a five pound bag before you dig them into your garden or just put the grounds on the compost pile. This is the advice from "The Lawn and Garden Show with Walter Reeves" a source of weekly gardening information: "In the garden, mix at a rate of five pounds per three square feet. For composting, mix at a ratio of five pounds per three cubic feet of yard."
http://www.walterreeves.com/tools_chemic...

"Old coffee grounds have been found by farmers to produce some of the biggest melons, tomatoes and carrots. Coffee grounds add minerals, vitamins and nitrogen to the soil so that the vegetables are stockier and less prone to insect infestation."
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Like any type of fertilizer, just don't overdo it.
Information obtained by Sunset from the Soil and Plant Laboratory Inc., Bellevue, WA states:
"Based on the overall chemistry and physical properties of the coffee grounds, they can be utilized at rates similar to other organic amendments when used in amending mineral soils. Data indicate that 25-35 percent by volume coffee grounds can be blended with mineral soils of any type to improve structure of those soils."

A lab test analysis showed that: the grounds provide generous amounts of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper. "Use of coffee grounds in amending mineral soils up to 35 percent by volume coffee grounds will improve soil structure... Use of the coffee grounds at the specified incorporation rates (rototilled into a 6- to 8-inch depth) will substantially improve availabilities of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper and will probably negate the need for chemical sources of these plant essential elements."
They also release nitrogen into the soil as they degrade.
Nitrogen: 2.28 percent
Phosphorus: 0.06 percent
Potassium: 0.6 percent
http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/edib...

Don Janssen, Extension Educator for the Lancanster Extension provides this advice:
"Coffee grounds are a low-level source of nitrogen, having a fertilizer value of around 2.0 N-0.3 P-0.2 K, as well as a minor source of calcium and magnesium. Post-brewed coffee grounds are reported to be slightly to highly acidic, depending on the source, but no more so than peat moss. So, you could apply them to the soil for acid-loving plants, such as rhododendrons, azaleas and blueberries. They might even help keep your bigleaf hydrangeas blue. Or, you could spread them out over a larger garden area to minimize the pH effect. It's difficult to make a specific recommendation for an application rate, but it's always better to err on the lighter side, since the pH can be variable. A rate of 10 pounds (dry weight) per 1000 square feet would be conservative.
Composting is an excellent method to recycle the grounds. They have a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of around 20:1. Use the grounds as you would green, leafy material, mixing with some dry, brown plant materials in the compost. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests adding no more than 25 percent coffee grounds by volume. Vermicomposters can use coffee grounds but be sure to mix the grounds with dry brown materials before adding them to the bin."
http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/Articles/2...

You can dilute coffee grounds with water for a gentle, fast-acting liquid fertilizer. "Use about a half-pound can of wet grounds in a five-gallon bucket of water; let sit outdoors to achieve ambient temperature.
Sprinkle used grounds around plants before watering, for a slow-release nitrogen."
http://www.sustainableenterprises.com/Bu...

P.S. I lightly sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of my plants (along with crushed eggshells) to deter slugs, also. You can scratch it into the soil once in a while, so it doesn't compact. That also helps the soil retain moisture.

Nice info greenmeany, found this as well. Interestingly I have heard that lime will also keep slugs away so the recipe at top is worth a shot IMO. Sorry it's so long.

Great useful post GM. Thanks man.

thanks a bunch corto. glad you found it useful

Did it say it would be good to add coffee grounds into the soil, 35% of the soil?

not sure man, thanks for the rep

+rep
loved the links on coffee grounds. Definitely inspired me to save 'em and I'm sure my plants will thank me.

no prob bro. also, im gunna let every1 know(through this thread) how it goes with what i gut planned. i plan on asking the people at dunkin donuts what they do with their coffee grounds (theres like 5 in my town lol) itd be a nice way to get some free garden fertilizer, slug deterrent, and worm food!

I'm gonna head to my local Starbucks and see what's up with their coffee grounds, I could get a couple pounds and be set for my grow.

Better yet leave a shallow dish of stale beer out and the slugs will be attracted and drown in it. Trust me you will wake up to a bowl of dead slugs lol. This way not only do they stay away from your plants but die for even thinking about it

Better yet leave a shallow dish of stale beer out and the slugs will be attracted and drown in it. Trust me you will wake up to a bowl of dead slugs lol. This way not only do they stay away from your plants but die for even thinking about it

yeah ive heard of that method, its just that if it rains it becomes a bit tricky, then you gutta be there to refil it. i only visit my plit twice a month so that idea isnt the best for me. i also looked into copper rings around the trunk of the plant and that seems to have some success

+rep good info!

he said "used coffee grounds"...whats he mean by used? As in the coffee grounds that are left after u make a serving of coffee?

he said "used coffee grounds"...whats he mean by used? As in the coffee grounds that are left after u make a serving of coffee?

Yes, and actually this is another tip: if you go to Starbucks and ask for their used coffee grounds they'll give them to you. They put them back into the bags that it came from

I was plannin on using the cuban coffee I have here..but thanks

hey all, i know i posted this over in Outdoor growing but i feel it should be in the organics section too. Seeing as how the outdoor sections is so inundated with noobish forums no offense lol, i just wanna make sure this thre doesnt die for a while. Heres the original post and link accompanied by a very helful post by Patriofarmer. anyways, read up on deterring those slug bastards who kill are plants almost at a whim!
http://www.plantea.com/slug-baits-coffee.htm

great article on how coffe grounds, and more specifically, caffeine, are a natural way to kill and deter slugs and snails. hopefully this helps!

Coffee grounds are good for acid-loving plants, like tomatoes, roses, azaleas & blueberries, however ...
you can also use coffee grounds on non-acid loving plants if you mix a tablespoon of garden lime into a five pound bag before you dig them into your garden or just put the grounds on the compost pile. This is the advice from "The Lawn and Garden Show with Walter Reeves" a source of weekly gardening information: "In the garden, mix at a rate of five pounds per three square feet. For composting, mix at a ratio of five pounds per three cubic feet of yard."
http://www.walterreeves.com/tools_chemic...

"Old coffee grounds have been found by farmers to produce some of the biggest melons, tomatoes and carrots. Coffee grounds add minerals, vitamins and nitrogen to the soil so that the vegetables are stockier and less prone to insect infestation."
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Like any type of fertilizer, just don't overdo it.
Information obtained by Sunset from the Soil and Plant Laboratory Inc., Bellevue, WA states:
"Based on the overall chemistry and physical properties of the coffee grounds, they can be utilized at rates similar to other organic amendments when used in amending mineral soils. Data indicate that 25-35 percent by volume coffee grounds can be blended with mineral soils of any type to improve structure of those soils."

A lab test analysis showed that: the grounds provide generous amounts of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper. "Use of coffee grounds in amending mineral soils up to 35 percent by volume coffee grounds will improve soil structure... Use of the coffee grounds at the specified incorporation rates (rototilled into a 6- to 8-inch depth) will substantially improve availabilities of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper and will probably negate the need for chemical sources of these plant essential elements."
They also release nitrogen into the soil as they degrade.
Nitrogen: 2.28 percent
Phosphorus: 0.06 percent
Potassium: 0.6 percent
http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/edib...

Don Janssen, Extension Educator for the Lancanster Extension provides this advice:
"Coffee grounds are a low-level source of nitrogen, having a fertilizer value of around 2.0 N-0.3 P-0.2 K, as well as a minor source of calcium and magnesium. Post-brewed coffee grounds are reported to be slightly to highly acidic, depending on the source, but no more so than peat moss. So, you could apply them to the soil for acid-loving plants, such as rhododendrons, azaleas and blueberries. They might even help keep your bigleaf hydrangeas blue. Or, you could spread them out over a larger garden area to minimize the pH effect. It's difficult to make a specific recommendation for an application rate, but it's always better to err on the lighter side, since the pH can be variable. A rate of 10 pounds (dry weight) per 1000 square feet would be conservative.
Composting is an excellent method to recycle the grounds. They have a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of around 20:1. Use the grounds as you would green, leafy material, mixing with some dry, brown plant materials in the compost. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests adding no more than 25 percent coffee grounds by volume. Vermicomposters can use coffee grounds but be sure to mix the grounds with dry brown materials before adding them to the bin."
http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/Articles/2...

You can dilute coffee grounds with water for a gentle, fast-acting liquid fertilizer. "Use about a half-pound can of wet grounds in a five-gallon bucket of water; let sit outdoors to achieve ambient temperature.
Sprinkle used grounds around plants before watering, for a slow-release nitrogen."
http://www.sustainableenterprises.com/Bu...

P.S. I lightly sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of my plants (along with crushed eggshells) to deter slugs, also. You can scratch it into the soil once in a while, so it doesn't compact. That also helps the soil retain moisture.

Nice info greenmeany, found this as well. Interestingly I have heard that lime will also keep slugs away so the recipe at top is worth a shot IMO. Sorry it's so long.

I compost my grounds. Love them. Great post, thank you.

excellent info.
about to make a trip to the garden right naoo

hey all, i know i posted this over in Outdoor growing but i feel it should be in the organics section too. Seeing as how the outdoor sections is so inundated with noobish forums no offense lol, i just wanna make sure this thre doesnt die for a while. Heres the original post and link accompanied by a very helful post by Patriofarmer. anyways, read up on deterring those slug bastards who kill are plants almost at a whim!
http://www.plantea.c...aits-coffee.htm

great article on how coffe grounds, and more specifically, caffeine, are a natural way to kill and deter slugs and snails. hopefully this helps!

Coffee grounds are good for acid-loving plants, like tomatoes, roses, azaleas & blueberries, however ...
you can also use coffee grounds on non-acid loving plants if you mix a tablespoon of garden lime into a five pound bag before you dig them into your garden or just put the grounds on the compost pile. This is the advice from "The Lawn and Garden Show with Walter Reeves" a source of weekly gardening information: "In the garden, mix at a rate of five pounds per three square feet. For composting, mix at a ratio of five pounds per three cubic feet of yard."
http://www.walterree...tools_chemic...

"Old coffee grounds have been found by farmers to produce some of the biggest melons, tomatoes and carrots. Coffee grounds add minerals, vitamins and nitrogen to the soil so that the vegetables are stockier and less prone to insect infestation."
http://www.associate....com/article...

Like any type of fertilizer, just don't overdo it.
Information obtained by Sunset from the Soil and Plant Laboratory Inc., Bellevue, WA states:
"Based on the overall chemistry and physical properties of the coffee grounds, they can be utilized at rates similar to other organic amendments when used in amending mineral soils. Data indicate that 25-35 percent by volume coffee grounds can be blended with mineral soils of any type to improve structure of those soils."

A lab test analysis showed that: the grounds provide generous amounts of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper. "Use of coffee grounds in amending mineral soils up to 35 percent by volume coffee grounds will improve soil structure... Use of the coffee grounds at the specified incorporation rates (rototilled into a 6- to 8-inch depth) will substantially improve availabilities of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper and will probably negate the need for chemical sources of these plant essential elements."
They also release nitrogen into the soil as they degrade.
Nitrogen: 2.28 percent
Phosphorus: 0.06 percent
Potassium: 0.6 percent
http://www.sunset.co.../garden/edib...

Don Janssen, Extension Educator for the Lancanster Extension provides this advice:
"Coffee grounds are a low-level source of nitrogen, having a fertilizer value of around 2.0 N-0.3 P-0.2 K, as well as a minor source of calcium and magnesium. Post-brewed coffee grounds are reported to be slightly to highly acidic, depending on the source, but no more so than peat moss. So, you could apply them to the soil for acid-loving plants, such as rhododendrons, azaleas and blueberries. They might even help keep your bigleaf hydrangeas blue. Or, you could spread them out over a larger garden area to minimize the pH effect. It's difficult to make a specific recommendation for an application rate, but it's always better to err on the lighter side, since the pH can be variable. A rate of 10 pounds (dry weight) per 1000 square feet would be conservative.
Composting is an excellent method to recycle the grounds. They have a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of around 20:1. Use the grounds as you would green, leafy material, mixing with some dry, brown plant materials in the compost. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests adding no more than 25 percent coffee grounds by volume. Vermicomposters can use coffee grounds but be sure to mix the grounds with dry brown materials before adding them to the bin."
http://lancaster.unl...t/Articles/2...

You can dilute coffee grounds with water for a gentle, fast-acting liquid fertilizer. "Use about a half-pound can of wet grounds in a five-gallon bucket of water; let sit outdoors to achieve ambient temperature.
Sprinkle used grounds around plants before watering, for a slow-release nitrogen."
http://www.sustainab...rises.com/Bu...

P.S. I lightly sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of my plants (along with crushed eggshells) to deter slugs, also. You can scratch it into the soil once in a while, so it doesn't compact. That also helps the soil retain moisture.

Nice info greenmeany, found this as well. Interestingly I have heard that lime will also keep slugs away so the recipe at top is worth a shot IMO. Sorry it's so long.

DE works great too, I sprinkle it around the base of each plant.