Coffee Plant care Guide: Growing Coffea Arabica

As many of you may know Coffee Plant is a source of one of the most popular beverages for breakfast and that’s of course coffee but it can also be a beautiful very easy to care for houseplants. This article is a complete guide on coffee plant care. 

What  is a Coffee Plant/ A little about Coffea Arabica

The Coffea Arabica is one of ninety members for the Coffea genus and it is to live that has been grown for coffee for at least 1,000 years. After three or four years your plant if he is very happy will flower then will produce fruits and these fruits will produce two seeds or beans where we take our coffee from.

This plant is an evergreen shrub that has glossy, dark-green leaves and they’re super smooth with ruffled edges on willowy stems. Coffee plants have a high lifespan, with some specimens that have lived for about 100 years.

In the wild, this plants can actually grow up to 15 feet but if we have her in a pot it will stay smaller you can also prune your plant so it is more full the leaves are beautiful. It’s a beautiful plant and in my experience very easy to take care of so now let’s talk about how you can keep yours very happy at your house.

Coffee Plant Quick Care & Info Guide

Origin	Ethiopia
Botanical Name	Coffea Arabica
Nickname	mountain coffee, arabica coffee
Height	Up to 15 feet in the wild
Air Purifying	Yes
Light	Bright indirect light
Water	Water when top 2-3 inches of soil becomes dry
Temperature	Average to warm probably about 65-85°F
Humidity	50% +
Soil	All-purpose houseplant potting mix
Toxicity	Toxic to pets and human
Where to grow	Bright indoors, shaded outdoors
Maintenace Level	Low maintenance

Coffee Plant Care: Coffee plants grow at the side of tropical mountains so they prefer high humidity above 50% and temperature ranges between 18 to 29 degrees Celsius. Like to be in the warmer side of your house that gets bright but indirect light. Use a potting mix that retains moisture but also has good drainage and water when top 2-3 inches of the soil becomes dry.

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Coffee Plant Humidity Requirements

Coffee plants grow at the side of tropical mountains so they love humidity(around 50% relative humidity or higher). I keep my coffee plant with other tropical plants because tropical plants help each other with humidity levels. If you feel that the air is too dry for her, you can place her on a humidity tray or close to a humidifier

Coffee Plant Temperature Requirements

Coffee plants like temperate temperatures so I would say that you can put your plant in a room that is between 18 to 29 degrees Celsius. I have also read the hotter temperatures will accelerate the growth of our plant but that we don’t want to do this in the case that we’re growing our plant for beans if we’re going our plant for bean we want the fruits to ripen at a slower steadier pace so then keep the temperature between 18 to 29 degrees Celsius. 

Coffee Plant Light Requirements

In the wild, these plants are actually covered by the shades of other trees. So they prefer bright but indirect sunlight avoid direct sunlight because you may actually Brown and burn the leaf.

Watering Coffee Plant

In terms of water, Coffee Plant really loves water in my experience. I usually water every week and we want to keep the soil very moist but not wet. So in order to make sure that my plant needs water, I check the soil with my finger. I put my finger inside the soil until the second knuckle and if I feel that the soil is dry then I water. Don’t let this soil dry completely.

Potting Mix Coffee Plant

In terms of potting mix for Coffee Plant, You want to reach for a mix that will retain moisture but also have good drainage. So for this plant, I actually use the recipe that I use for most of my tropical plants. I add seven parts of coconut coir this is to retain the moisture, two parts of worm castings to give some nutrition to my plan and of course, two parts of perlite will actually add drainage which is great and it also is not to overwater a plant.

Fertilizing Coffee Plant

You can fertilize your coffee plant once or twice a month during the growing season. I always use organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers tend to be less concentrated than synthetic fertilizers, but of course even if you’re using an organic fertilizer I strongly recommend that you read the instructions so you avoid over feeding your plant. In the winter remember to always cut back on fertilizing because your plant one needed as she will go into dormancy. 

Coffee Plant Toxicity

All parts of the Coffee plants except for the mature fruit (the coffee bean) are toxic to humans and animals. If consumed this plant can actually cause diarrhoea or vomiting so just try to keep away from babies or animals so everyone is safe.

Propagating Coffee Plant

You can easily propagate your Coffee plants using fresh seeds or those from an existing plant. But propagating from seeds will take a long time to germinate, as these plants grow relatively slow. The good news is that you can easily propagate them faster through stem cuttings.

Coffee Plant Repotting

Repot your coffee plant in spring, moving to a pot 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) larger than the previous pot. Use a pot that has drainage holes to avoid soggy soil.

Coffee Plant Pests and Common Problems

Coffee plants may be attacked by spider mites, millivolts or aphids. So just in case as part of my weekly routine I always check the leaves and the soil. I always clean the leaves. This will also make our plants very happy.

Coffee plant brown leaves

If the air in your house is too dry, your lovely coffee plant may end up with brown leaf tips or edges. Boost the humidity level to keep new leaves healthy. It’s recommended to fertilize coffee once or twice in spring and summer.

Coffee plant leaves curling

Coffee leaves curl when they get too much or too little humidity, light, fertilizers, temperature and water. So follow the coffee plant care guidelines above.  Other problems include insect damage, disease, abiotic disorders, or even herbicides. There are several insect pests that can cause your coffee plant leaves to curl.

Coffee plant yellow leaves

Chances are that you are overwatering your coffee plant. The simple solution is to reduce watering intervals and hold back on giving too big of a drink each time.  

Coffee plant leaves drooping

If your coffee plant loses a leaf from time to time then no need to worry. However, if more leaves than usual fall down, the reason might be choosing the bad location. For example, draft and high-temperature differences can cause the falling of leaves. Another reason might be that the soil is constantly too wet. So always check before you water your coffee plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are coffee plants toxic to cats and dogs?

All parts of the coffee plant are toxic to dogs, cats, horses, birds, and other animals. All coffee plant parts except for the mature fruit (the coffee bean) are toxic to humans.

Can you grow a coffee plant from a coffee bean?

Coffea arabica, the coffee plant is an attractive houseplant and is commonly grown from the seeds. Coffee beans take a long time to germinate. To speed up the process you can soak the beans for 48 hours before sowing. Germination may take as long as 6 to 8 weeks, so be patient.

How long does it take coffee to grow?

It depends on the variety but it will take approximately three to four years for the newly planted coffee plant to bear fruit. The fruit turns a bright, deep red when it is ripe and ready to be harvested.

How long does a coffee plant live?

It takes nearly about five years of growth to reach full fruit production for coffee plants. While Coffea Arabica can live up to 100 years. They are generally the most productive between the ages of 7 and 20.