51 replies to this topic

[manders]

dvg, on 5th June 2010 - 18:44 PM, said:

Manders, that might explain in part coffee's seeming ability to boost plant growth.

Do you have a link to your findings on coffee analysis?

dvg

Any other explanation?

Starbucks Coffee grounds test

[dvg]

Thanks for the link Manders.

That is the best coffee analysis that I have seen to date.

There has been some speculation on coffee's plant growth  boosting abilities.  Some have wondered if besides the nitrogen and trace minerals found in coffee, that maybe coffee might also work as a growth stimulator due to some as yet unknown growth stimulator or hormone.   Nothing has been proven with that, but in time, who knows what else will be found out about coffee.

dvg

[mobile]

manders, on 5th June 2010 - 21:04 PM, said:

Any other explanation?

Starbucks Coffee grounds test

The analysis is based on coffee grounds and states that the nitrogen is not freely available until soil micro-organisms break down the organic fraction. Given that many of the growers who feed their Nepenthes coffee do so in liquid form (percolated), I would presume that the amount of available nitrogen would be very small?

I've been adding L-glutamine to Heliamphora pitchers for a few months now and the growth rate seems to be good. I would be interested in knowing if anyone has tried this in Nepenthes pitchers.

Edited by mobile, 06 June 2010 - 08:55 AM.

[manders]

I doubt that its hormonal or enzymatic for two reasons.  

Firstly tea and coffee have been used on plants for a long time and have always shown the benefits of adding leaf litter & micro-nutrients.  The more pronounced response that nepenthes seem to show is more likely due to the fact that they're generally, in cultivation, growing in inert media with none of the required nutrients, so adding some makes a disproportionate difference.

The second reason I would argue is that enzymes and the like are generally denatured when you boil them or squirt superheated water at them.

Nepenthes in the wild are often not in inert media and surely obtain nutrients from decomposing leaf litter. (its even been proposed that ampularia targets leaf litter as a 'prey' item).  In my mind adding coffee or tea, is just giving them what they would be getting in nature anyway.

[mobile]

Works as a herbicide too

http://www.colostate...994/kebede.html

[Tim Caldwell]

mobile, on 6th June 2010 - 10:54 AM, said:

The analysis is based on coffee grounds and states that the nitrogen is not freely available until soil micro-organisms break down the organic fraction.

That might suggest that in order to get the full benefits of coffee, it needs to be left in the substrate for an extended period of time, with waterings between coffee treatments only being enough to moisten the compost without flushing it.

[Taliesin]

Here's an update on the coffee treatment for my D. Peltata and N. Bongso seedlings.
The bongso seedlings have grown twice as fast since they got coffee, and they are healthy green now.
The dews turned from translucent to healthy green with red tendrils and have grown quite well also.
I have the dews on pure living spaghnum that is floating in 50% coffee and 50%water.

[Dave Evans]

Tim Caldwell, on 6th June 2010 - 14:57 PM, said:

That might suggest that in order to get the full benefits of coffee, it needs to be left in the substrate for an extended period of time, with waterings between coffee treatments only being enough to moisten the compost without flushing it.

That agrees with my experience.  And anyways CP's do not need a lot of nutrient at once.  If coffee acts like a weak time release formula, so much better :)

[Richard Bunn]

I've never heard of this before & think it's a) great as it's an environmentally friendly fertilizer & b) it's hilarious.  I have visions of a new hybrid being named N. x Costa or N. x Starbucks or N. x Gold Blend.

Edited by Richard Bunn, 05 July 2010 - 02:19 AM.

[Stefano]

Sorry, someone may have mentioned it...

What is the exact idea behind it? Is it just luke-warm/cold coffee, is it instant or *proper* filtered coffee.. What sort of coffee should be used?... Columbian etc.. sorry for the mass of questions, I just don't want to get it wrong!

Thanks
Stefan

[mobile]

Stefano, on 13th July 2010 - 20:53 PM, said:

Sorry, someone may have mentioned it...

What is the exact idea behind it? Is it just luke-warm/cold coffee, is it instant or *proper* filtered coffee.. What sort of coffee should be used?... Columbian etc.. sorry for the mass of questions, I just don't want to get it wrong!

Thanks
Stefan

The majority of posts that I have read suggest that it is peculated coffee which has gone cold. Basically what is left in the peculator at the end of a day. This would mean that is is 'proper' i.e. ground beans coffee.

[James O'Neill]

adynepenthes, on 11th July 2010 - 14:03 PM, said:

How if using civet coffee, want to buy civet cofee? i have it. really wild civet cofee beans!!! :)

Those are coffee beans that have been eaten, digested and excreted by a civet. Yummy!

[mobile]

James O'Neill, on 13th July 2010 - 21:18 PM, said:

Those are coffee beans that have been eaten, digested and excreted by a civet. Yummy!

Also known as Kopi Luwak. Usually cost approx. £50/100g

[James O'Neill]

I knew it was expensive...but jeepers! £50 per 100g! Whew! You better hope it's good tasting if you bought it at that!

Apparently it is good tasting. I am not sure whether I would get it though...

Edited by James O'Neill, 13 July 2010 - 21:32 PM.

[carni grower]

mobile, on 23 April 2010 - 16:39 PM, said:

I use hydroponic fertiliser on Nepenthes and Cephalotus and have not observed any ill effects.

Which hydro nutrients do you use?

[mobile]

carni grower, on 22 March 2012 - 16:44 PM, said:

Which hydro nutrients do you use?

This one: IONIC® Hydro

[manders]

mobile, on 13 July 2010 - 21:26 PM, said:

Also known as Kopi Luwak. Usually cost approx. £50/100g

I've started feeding coffee beans to my cat, anybody want some?  Ill do you a deal at 20£ a gram.  Was thinking of branding it as 'catty crap'.

[carni grower]

mobile, on 22 March 2012 - 18:21 PM, said:

This one: IONIC® Hydro

That was our top seller when i worked at the hydro store. it would make you sick what the mark up is on it, but i suppose that goes for all goods.

[mobile]

manders, on 22 March 2012 - 19:49 PM, said:

I've started feeding coffee beans to my cat, anybody want some?  Ill do you a deal at 20£ a gram.  Was thinking of branding it as 'catty crap'.

Any good for making cattochino?