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Is coffee ground good for fig tree ?

I have potted some fig trees in 7 gal bucket for about 12 months. However, due to the soil PH has been 7.5 to 8 for zone 8b. Can I apply some coffer ground on top of the soil level to make soil become more acidic ? 
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  • ross
  • · Edited

Keeping it at 7 is definitely to your benefit.

I don't know too much about coffee grounds, but if they lower ph.. why not? I would suggest sulfur though! 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/20-lb-Fast-Acting-Sulfur-100510896/203342315
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I add coffee grounds to my blueberriy bush & it loves it! I have not added it to my figs.

Free grounds from Starbucks...all yiu want!

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There doesn’t seem to be consensus on if spent coffee grounds actually influence soil ph.  There is a school of thought that suggests all (or most) the acidity winds up in the cup of coffee and not in the spent grounds.  

There also doesn’t appear to be any formal guidelines on how much to apply, how often, etc. to get an expected result. 

Unless you’re ready to test different application rates, monitor the results and adjust accordingly, I would suggest relying on the sulfur approach as Ross suggested above. 
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Thanks to all for your great responds. I really appreciate it very much.
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Starbucks gives away big bags of coffee groups to plant people for free. You can grow a fig tree in pure coffee grounds. It is a totally nutral media after is been used. But fig trees love it. Add 1/2 grounds to your media. Its free and works awesome

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Originally Posted by figpig_66
Starbucks gives away big bags of coffee groups to plant people for free. You can grow a fig tree in pure coffee grounds. It is a totally nutral media after is been used. But fig trees love it. Add 1/2 grounds to your media. Its free and works awesome


I remember seeing a lot of positive from various forms about using coffee ground for plants in ground and potted and I did try for other plants this Spring and so far works very well, but never try for fig tree before.
Oh yes,I always get coffee ground from Starbucks for free and once they dried out by the direct sun, I give to acid lover plants usually in Spring time and water it afterward.
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  • ricky
  • · Edited

If you want to lower PH, The most easy option is using sulphur.

you can buy them from Canadian tire, Home depot, Etc

C-I-L Aluminum Sulphate  1.7Kg -- $ C8.00  ( I use it to adjust flower color and it works quite well)
Peat moss  (2.2/3.3 CF) - $C7.29/C9.99  PH = 5.5  
Pine mulchs or shaving or nuggets

Of course, you can use coffee ground, But it is tricky due to two main components.
- Drinking coffee is acidity to PH 5.5
- Composted dry coffee ground is mild alkaline

It means that it will be acidity first to soil but once water flush away all drinking coffee, it will be mild alkaline and rise its PH.
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Originally Posted by ricky
If you want to lower PH, The most easy option is using sulphur.

you can buy them from Canadian tire, Home depot, Etc

C-I-L Aluminum Sulphate  1.7Kg -- $ C8.00  ( I use it to adjust flower color and it works quite well)
Peat moss  (2.2/3.3 CF) - $C7.29/C9.99  PH = 5.5  
Pine mulchs or shaving or nuggets

Of course, you can use coffee ground, But it is tricky due to two main components.
- Drinking coffee is acidity to PH 5.5
- Composted dry coffee ground is mild alkaline

It means that it will be acidity first to soil but once water flush away all drinking coffee, it will be mild alkaline and rise its PH.

I started using Aluminum Sulphate in June till early July but I did not see soil PH changed much, so I stopped So far my soil PH has been around 7.5 (average)Is it still good for potted fig trees ?

 
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Originally Posted by sobelri


I pick up about 50 lbs a week for my compost pile, worm bins and also apply it straight to my lawn.  Spent grounds are considered a green material and can generate a lot of heat when en mass so let it age a little before adding to any potting media.  

1450975002894.jpg 

I got the impression from the original post that the goal is to amend the existing medium to get to a specific ph level.  As a rule of thumb,  you add 1 pound of sulfur per 100 square feet to lower pH 1 point. I don't know of any guidelines for how much spent coffee grounds to add to get a similar result.  This leads me to the opinion that it would be more effective and quicker using sulphur. 



You do good, Solberi! I get about a 5 gallon bucket evety so often. I use it on my vegetable garden with compost as well as my worm farm. It really is great!
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Originally Posted by sobelri


I pick up about 50 lbs a week for my compost pile, worm bins and also apply it straight to my lawn.  Spent grounds are considered a green material and can generate a lot of heat when en mass so let it age a little before adding to any potting media.  

1450975002894.jpg 

I got the impression from the original post that the goal is to amend the existing medium to get to a specific ph level.  As a rule of thumb,  you add 1 pound of sulfur per 100 square feet to lower pH 1 point. I don't know of any guidelines for how much spent coffee grounds to add to get a similar result.  This leads me to the opinion that it would be more effective and quicker using sulphur. 

I think its really good that Starbucks does this for people who grow things. One day might not be free

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