In the past, they were mostly used to brew coffee, but in recent years more and more garden lovers have begun to use plain old coffee filters.
Why would they do that? Because brewing coffee is not the only thing that coffee filters are good for. The little paper filters have a lot more uses — and some of them are very beneficial to your plants and garden!
It’s not hard to use coffee filters to benefit your plants. Your first step, as Apartment Therapy recommends, is to place the coffee filter in the bottom of a flower pot. It should be placed between the soil and the drainage holes of the pot, where water and dirt usually drain out.
When you do this, the filter will let the water drain while the dirt remains in the filter. And why is this helpful? Because otherwise, the soil gets caught in the drainage holes when you water your plants, clogging the holes. Not only does this prevent excess water from draining out, it reduces proper air flow. This can cause the plant’s roots to rot, and eventually, the plant will die.
You’ve probably seen people accomplish the same thing by putting gravel at the bottom of their pots. This is the same idea, but coffee filters are easier, cheaper, and takes up less space in the pot. This means that more soil is left in the pot — which your plants will thank you for!
Place a coffee filter at the bottom of your flower pots. This way, excess water can escape, but the dirt stays in its place. #TidyLiving pic.twitter.com/NjdDj8SqbE
— Tidy Living (@tidy_living) June 1, 2017
There’s another trick for using coffee filters with your plants.
Because coffee filters are absorbent, they will retain moisture every time you water. Not enough moisture that your roots will rot, but just enough. Using coffee filters means you don’t have to water as often.
Thanks to the coffee filter, your plants will stay moist — a great thing in my book!
Add a coffee filter to the bottom of a flower pot to keep soil in while replanting! #Garden #tips!https://t.co/20Bv9PXojf pic.twitter.com/rzHvMEy87X
— American Freight Appliances & Furniture (@AmericanFreight) August 18, 2017
Last but not least, the coffee filters are really helpful when it’s time to transplant your plants to another pot.
Whether you’re changing to a larger pot or simply a different one, the coffee filter will help to prevent the soil from spilling everywhere and making a mess. Smart, right?
Please share so that more garden lovers out there can benefit from this smart, easy trick!
