Plant Biology Investigation

Farah Alshammasi

April 10, 2021

11 IB Biology

Marqurite McCurdy
Research question
How do different amounts of coffee grounds affect the growth of a plant?

Hypothesis
Due to previous research, I have come to the conclusion that the plant with the most amount of
coffee grounds will have the greatest growth sprout and as well as a rapid decrease in growth.

Variables
Independent: The amount of coffee grounds
Dependent: Growth of plant
Controlled variables: Type of seed, amount of soil, type of container, amount of water

Background Research

coffee grounds is a chemical stimulant, which is means that it speeds up the biological processes

that occur not only in humans but also in plants. When coffee grounds is added to plants, it helps

with the plants ability to photosynthesis and absorbs nutrients and water from the soil of the

plant. Another effect of adding coffee grounds to plants is that it decreases the pH levels in the

soil of the plant. When pH levels decrease, acidity levels increase. This can either cause harm or

be good for the plant, seeing as different plants have different reactions to this.

Many gardens say that they add coffee grounds to their soil because it helps with the quality of

the soil. Not only that but coffee grounds has been proven to be an insect repellent for insects

such as mosquitoes. Previous studies show that when coffee grounds is added to the soil, it will

help the plant grow at first, however, as time goes on, the plant begins to welt or has a stunt in

growth due to the fact that the coffee grounds kills all the bacteria in the soil.

Methodology
All the pots will be placed near direct sunlight. For the first 6 days, the plants will only be

watered using tap water for them to be germinated. After those 6 days (Saturday, April 3rd,

2021), the plants will be measured. Following that, coffee grounds will be added to the soil of the

plants in which one pot will have 0 amounts of coffee grounds. The next will have ½ a teaspoon

of coffee grounds. Another will have 1 a teaspoon of coffee grounds. The fourth will have ½ a

tablespoon of coffee grounds. And the last will have a full tablespoon of coffee grounds. All the

plants will be watered at the exact same time every day (12:45 PM). I will measure the plants

and at the end of the experiment, I will calculate the average height and analyze what happened

to the plants.

After 6 day of germination

Zero coffee grounds

Half a teaspoon of coffee grounds

One teaspoon of coffee grounds

Half a tablespoon of coffee grounds

One tablespoon of coffee grounds

Week 1 Length (cm)

Plant #1 (0 Plant #2 (½ Plant #3 (1 Plant #4 (½ Plant #5 (1

coffee tsp coffee tsp coffee tbsp coffee tbsp coffee
grounds) grounds grounds) grounds) grounds)

After 6 day 14 14 8 12.5 12

germinations
(cm)

Day 1 (April 14 13 9 13 13
4)

Day 2 (April 15.5 15 12 15 14

5)

Day 3 (April 18 15 12.5 16 14

6)

Day 4 (April 18 16 13.5 16 14

7)

Day 5 (April 21 17 14.5 17 13.5

8)

Day 6 (April 22 17 14.5 17 13.5

9)
Average 18.08 15.5 12.66 15.66 13.66

Growth 8 cm increase 3 cm increase 6.5 cm 4.5 cm 0.5-1 cm

Difference increase increase

After growth period

Zero coffee grounds

Half a teaspoon of coffee grounds

 One teaspoon of coffee grounds

Half a tablespoon of coffee grounds

One tablespoon of coffee grounds

Data Analysis
It is clear that Plant #1 had the greatest growth increase, despite having 0 coffee grounds,
which goes against previous studies. Past studies state that coffee grounds encourages the growth
of a plant but it if one was to look at the chat, they would see that the plant with the greatest
amount of coffee grounds had very minimal growth. This could be due to the fact that the time
for this experiment was very limited and there may be different results if time was not an issue.
What is interesting to note is that Plant #5 had a growth increase as well as a growth decrease.
After staying at the same length for three days, the plants’ length decreased by half a centimeter.
Plant #2 came in second with the least amount of on increase, first going to Plant #5, in which
there was only a three-centimeter increase in length. Plant #3 and #4 had a great growth increase
with plant #3 having a 6.5-centimeter increase and Plant #4 having a 4.5-centimeter increase.
The plant with the greatest increase overall was Plant #1. From the table, it can be concluded that
plants with fewer amounts of coffee grounds have a greater increase in length, other than plant
#2.
What is interesting to note is that Plant #5 began to leak, even though all the plants
received the same amounts of water every day.

Citation

“Will Caffeine Affect Plant Growth – Tips on Fertilizing Plants with Caffeine.” Gardening

Know How, 4 Nov. 2020,

www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/will-caffeine-affect-pla

nt-growth.htm#:~:text=Caffeine%2C%20a%20chemical%20stimulant%2C%20incre

ases,humans%20but%20plants%20as%20well.&text=Studies%20involving%20the

%20use%20of,a%20dead%20or%20stunted%20plant.. Accessed 28 Mar. 2021.

“How Long Does It Take for the Seeds to Germinate?” Click & Grow Help Desk, 24 Nov.

2020,
 support.clickandgrow.com/hc/en-us/articles/216827528--How-long-does-it-take-for-

the-seeds-to-germinate-#:~:text=Germination%20speed%20mainly%20depends%20

on,to%202%20weeks%20to%20germinate.. Accessed 28 Mar. 2021.

The Effect of Caffeine on Plant Growth. “Education.com.” Education.com,

Education.com, 4 Mar. 2011,

www.education.com/science-fair/article/effect-caffeine-plant-growth/. Accessed 28

Mar. 2021.