The Keurig  is a time-tested favorite for coffee lovers everywhere. With the press of a button, you get the perfect cup of coffee every time. However, once you’re finished making your coffee, the k-cups are usually thrown away. If you drink anywhere near as much coffee as I do, those k-cups could stack up to hundreds a year. What a waste! We can definitely make use of these k-cups to bring more nutrients to your garden, lessen your environmental footprint and start seedlings for spring! 

What You’ll Need:

Daddy Pete’s Potting Soil

Seeds of your choosing (basil, cilantro, and dill are very easy to grow)

Used k-cups

Light Source

Warm Water

Plastic Wrap, Plastic Bag or Sandwich Bags

Directions: 

Collect your used K-cups and keep them in a cool, dry place. 

After you compile enough k-cups to start your seedlings, peel the foil from the tops and remove the coffee grounds.

Put the coffee grounds in a jar or bowl for later use or sprinkle around your outdoor plants.

Place paper towels or paper plates underneath your k-cups. Using Daddy Pete’s Potting Mix, place a large spoonful of soil into each k-cup, being careful not to puncture the mesh fabric towards the bottom. The mesh helps filter water through, preventing root-rot.

Place a seed a quarter inch below the surface of the soil.

Put a spoonful of water in each k-cup.

Put plastic over the k-cups with small holes poked throughout the plastic.

Place k-cups in a warm spot (I like to put mine on the floor next to the air vent) and provide a light source (I use the Ferry-Morse Grow Light Fixture with T5 Bulb) to help your seedlings grow big and strong!

Be sure to remove the plastic covering every day to discourage mold. (Pro-Tip:  Talk to your plants! Studies show that female voices help plants grow stronger and faster!)

When tilling up your outdoor garden, mix in coffee grounds to make your soil more nutrient-rich. Enjoy your new, healthy, strong seedlings, making good use of your used k-cups!

Happy Planting! -Jayla at Mitchell’s Nursery