Households told to put one £1.20 kitchen item in plant pots before adding soil
Coffee filters are a household staple, but they also have another use for your plants.
If you've been noticing soil coming out from your plant pots, there's one item that will solve all of your problems. According to Gardening Know How, coffee grounds work well on plants, but coffee filters can also benefit your plants - and here's how.
Lining the bottom of your plant with a coffee filter before adding the new soil will ensure that the soil is well secured by acting as a barrier to let the water drain freely - just like it would with freshly brewed coffee.
All plant pots need a drainage hole to get rid of the excess water. The site explained: 'Without some drainage, plant roots will sit in that excess water and rot. But when that extra moisture moves through the hole, it takes with it some of the potting medium.'
It also explained that if the plant doesn't have enough soil to hold nutrients and moisture, it will likely suffer, potentially leading to death.
Gardeners have been told to repot their plants. However, it has to be done with caution, as it can affect the plant's overall health by causing stress. This is where the coffee filter comes in. Not only does it avoid waste, but it also keeps the soil inside by being a compostable solution.
Water is important for the plant's health, but without the right drainage process, the soil washes over time. This leaves a big mess on the floors, which leads to gardeners having to regularly to top it up or even replace it. By using a coffee filter, gardeners will prevent this from happening, by also ensuring that their indoor areas remain clean.
Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the UK and millions of coffee filters are being thrown in the bin. Using this hack will give a second purpose to reusing your coffee filters rather than just getting rid of them. It will also help the environment by reducing the amount of food waste.
If you're not a coffee drinker, there are other items which are as effective, including: landscape fabric, newspaper, compostable packing material, coconut coir, pine cones, wood chips, peat moss or paper towels. The options are endless!
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