Coffee plant (Arabica)

All about the Coffea Arabica

Coffee is the most famous drink in the world, without any doubt. People are unable to start their day without a cuppa. Imagine hearing as a coffee lover, that you can grow the plant in your own homes!

It'll take a few years for your coffee plant to grow some beans, and it probably won't produce enough for you to drink on a daily basis; however, it can grow a few beans which you can use a few times a month. The foliage is beautiful with dark green leaves with a glossy texture and makes for an excellent home decoration ornament.

Nicknames

The name on its own suggests that this plant is related to coffee; hence it has developed many nicknames such as coffee plant, a coffee shrub of Africa, mountain coffee, or arabica coffee.

Origin of the Coffea Arabica

This plant originates from a lot of places, such as Columbia, Yemen, and Ethiopia.

How to (generally) take care of a Coffee plant

If you take care of your plant by following the suggested care routine, your plant will bear fruit.

Watering

Just like how you are energized after drinking coffee, your plant also perks up when you give it water. This particular plant enjoys moist soil and regular watering and will surely tell you if it's underwatered by dropping its leaves. Nevertheless, your pot should have an appropriate drainage system so that the water doesn't become waterlogged in the soil and results in rotting of the root.

Therefore, once you've watered your plant and you feel there's excess water in the pot, make sure to empty the extra water to prevent root damage.

Sunlight

Coffea Arabica thrives in bright but indirect sunlight. You can put them in direct sunlight but only for an hour or two, and only in the morning time. Or else the leaves will burn.

Location

As they prefer indirect light, you can place them near a window that doesn't get direct sunlight. You can also place them on a balcony or a patio as long as it isn't exposed to the sun's direct rays. This will damage the leaves by scorching and burning them.

Temperature: Like other plants that originate from tropical regions, Coffea Arabica thrives in temperatures above 18°C, and can't survive in colder climates. They also enjoy higher humidity levels and dislike drafts that come in from the window or the air conditioner vents.

Humidity: Suppose your home environment is not humid enough to cater to the plant. In that case, you can create levels of humidity by using a humidifier nearby or misting the area around the plant with a water mist. One of the best ways to create humidity is to create a pebble or gravel tray on which you can place your plant.

How to create a pebble tray?

In order to increase humidity, you can place some pebbles or gravel on a tray and fill it with water until only the top layer is visible. Place the plant on top of the tray. The constant availability of water will create a humid atmosphere.

Plant Nutrition

To keep your plant refreshed, you can give it an organic fertilizer for houseplants every few months. Just be careful that this happens only during the growing months and not during the dormant months, as it can hurt the plant.

Toxicity

Apart from its fruits and seeds, the rest of the plant, including leaves, branches, stems, are toxic to humans and pets. Therefore, try not to let your pets ingest anything as it will lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

Additional care

There are a few symptoms to look out for which tell you if your plant is being overwatered, such as root rot, which will result in the falling of leaves. Hence, you need to find the perfect balance of watering your plant, which keeps the soil moist but not clogged with water.

The soil in the pot can be a mixture of horticultural sand and peat moss. The soil has to be slightly acidic as that's the kind of soil they have originated from. Although repotting isn't necessary for a Coffea Arabica plant, it'll only help the plant flourish. Make sure you report them during the growing season of spring or summer, and the pot is only a couple of inches larger and not more.

The roots of the plant need space to grow, but if the pot is too large, you are likely to pour more water into the pot. This will lead to the problem of overwatering and root rot. Like other plants, this one is also prone to mealybugs or mites. You can use simple water or neem oil to wipe the pests off.

Propagating a Coffea Arabica

Unlike other houseplants, Coffee Arabica isn't easy to propagate using cuttings. Therefore, if you want to plant a new pot, you need to use fresh seeds. Two fresh seeds appear in the fruits, which you can open when the fruit turns black. A tip is to place the fruit in water, making it easier for you to break open the fruit.

You can place the seeds in damp soil and take care of them by following the usual care routine. Try to place the new plant in a warmer environment than you would set the adult plant in.