Roses are often considered the crown jewels of any garden, with their stunning blooms and rich fragrance. But for some, growing roses that stay healthy and thriving can feel like a daunting task. Thankfully, roses aren’t as high-maintenance as they sometimes seem. 

They’re pretty resilient, and once established, they’ll reward you with plenty of blooms without much fuss. However, if you want to see your rose plant in its full glory, it’s important to give it the right kind of care. Gardening experts at Grow Bags claim that the “secret to thriving roses” is to use coffee grounds, and it works for tomatoes, too.

They said: “Coffee grounds are a great natural fertiliser that can provide numerous benefits to plants, especially roses and tomatoes. 

“They are rich in nitrogen, which is an essential nutrient to make roses and tomatoes grow better than ever.

“They also contain other essential nutrients such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These nutrients help plants to build strong roots and stems, produce more flowers, and resist disease.”

There are several ways to use coffee grounds as fertiliser. One way is to sprinkle the grounds around the base of the plant and work them into the soil. 

Another way is to mix the grounds with water to create a liquid fertiliser that can be applied directly to the leaves and roots.

It’s important to note that while coffee grounds are beneficial, they should not be used in excess. Too much nitrogen can cause leaf burn and other issues. 

A good rule of thumb is to use no more than 10 to 20% coffee grounds in your soil mix or fertiliser, and this should be used once to twice a month.

When using coffee grounds on roses or tomatoes, there are three things to keep in mind.

1. Begin by using a small amount of coffee grounds and gradually increase the amount over time. This will help you avoid over-fertilising and damaging the plant.

2. Fresh coffee grounds are best as they contain the most nutrients. Used coffee grounds can still be beneficial, but will have a lower concentration of nitrogen.

3. While coffee grounds can benefit many plants, not all plants are suited for them. Avoid using them on plants that prefer alkaline soil, such as hydrangeas, unless, of course, you want to change the colour of them.