Accidentally watered my orchid with coffee instead of water last week

I was still half asleep Tuesday morning and grabbed my mug off the nightstand instead of the spray bottle, dumping cold coffee right into the pot. The leaves started turning brown at the tips within two days, so I flushed the soil with distilled water 3 times in a row to try and save it. Has anyone else had a plant survive a caffeine overdose or am I just counting down the days?

3 comments

3 Comments

jasonallen20d ago

My buddy Dave did the same thing with his peace lily about a year ago. He poured a whole travel mug of day-old Folgers into it before his morning commute and the leaves went droopy and brown within a week. He flushed the soil out with plain water for three days straight and then let it dry out completely, and somehow that thing bounced back after about a month. Last I saw it was putting out new green leaves like nothing ever happened, so you might have a chance if you keep flushing it.

jenny4720d ago

My 3 year old pothos got a full cup of black coffee dumped in it by accident last spring and I freaked out. I flushed the pot with water for like 4 days straight, poured a ton through until it ran clear each time. Let it dry out almost completely before watering again with just plain water. Took about 5 weeks but it came back with new growth and honestly looked healthier after a few months. Just stick with the flushing routine and don't water it too much while it recovers.

betty_kelly920d ago

I read someone say coffee grounds can actually help plants if you compost them first.