Are coffee grounds good for all plants? OK to put in hole before the plant goes in, or use only as a top dressing?
Coffee Grounds
I only use in my compost pile or diluted in water (coffee) on my plants.
It tends to mold and is very acidic.
I would be okay to loosely spread or mix into the soil but not in great concentrations to avoid the mold. Many people use it for acid loving plants like Blueberries.
I put used coffee grounds (free from Starbucks) everywhere -- in the flowerbeds, on the lawn, around the plants. I will add a handful to any hole I'm putting a plant in. I don't have trouble with mold during most of the year because the beneficials break the grounds down almost immediately.
Carla
I did go to a coffee shop in Austin and on two occasions ended up with 100+ pounds off coffee grounds.
I put them in a spot of the yard that has very little organic matter. Well, I guess it has over 200 pounds now. I will probably plant something there next fall or spring.
I have not experienced the molding issue once it was in the ground either but assumed it was because I was spreading it thin when working it into the soil.
I did swear off coffee grounds 4 years ago when I applied it to a plant that promptly died. However, it was a heat sensitive plant and it was the first 100 degree day. I bought the plant again and it died again when it got hot. My fault, not the coffee.
I use them like you Carla and never have mold issues. I think it is only if you leave it in the bag for a couple of weeks(maybe less in the summertime)
When I picked them up from SB before, I would toss them in the freezer if I wasn't going to use them right away. I usually try to put them out lightly on beds before we run sprinklers. Then put the rest in the compost bins. I also add the granulate molassas to my compost. Can't put it on my beds, the dogs go in search of where the smell is coming from!
I use both coffee and grounds liberally. I don't worry about mold because my philosophy has always been, whatever helps break it down is beneficial. Maybe I've just been lucky, and moldy grounds might be better off in your compost. But I've never had any problems. Plants seem to love coffee almost as much as I do.
Thanks for sharing your good ideas and experiences.