detailed care guide for coffea arabica
Scientific Name: Coffea Arabica (a.k.a. Coffee Plant, Arabian Coffee)
Origin: Ethiopia, tropical Africa
Light: Coffee plants prefer dappled sunlight or full sunlight in weaker latitudes. They are actually understory plants (existing under the forest canopy), and do not thrive in direct, harsh sunlight. They can adapt to lower light conditions but will grow slower.
Water: These plants are water lovers and require both regular and ample watering. The soil should stay evenly moist but not waterlogged. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Temperature: The optimal average temperature range for coffee plants is a daytime temperature between 21 to 27 degrees Celsius and a nighttime temperature between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. Higher (hotter) temperatures can accelerate growth, but higher temperatures are not ideal for growing plants for their beans. The fruits need to ripen at a slow, steady pace.
Fertilizer: Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer throughout the growing season every couple of weeks. Cut the fertilizer back to once a month or even less in the winter.
Humidity: Because these plants naturally grow on the sides of tropical mountains, they thrive in highly humid conditions which usually receive plenty rain and fog. A 50% or higher humidity level should suffice. If the air is too dry, the leaf edges might start to brown. Mist the plant frequently to raise the humidity level.
Pruning: Regular pruning is required to control their height and will help them produce more bushy growth. You can pinch back a young plant and graduate to using hand pruners as it grows. The most common pruning you’ll do is to trim the top foliage to limit the plant’s height. This also stimulates bushier growth.
Re-Potting: Repot your coffee plant every (other) spring, gradually stepping up the pot size. Make sure the container has several drainage holes. If you want, you can prune the plant to the desired size, slightly restrict its pot size, and root prune to keep its growth manageable.
Propagation: The Coffea Arabica can be propagated from seeds or cuttings. For cuttings – select a straight shoot that’s about 8 to 10 inches long and remove all but a pair of upper leaves. Then, plant the cutting in a small pot of soilless potting mix, and keep the soil slightly moist. When you can gently tug on the plant and feel resistance, you’ll know roots have formed.
Diseases and Pests: Coffee plants will sometimes suffer from infestations of mealybugs, aphids, and mites. Signs of infestation include tiny webs, clumps of white powdery residue, or visible insects on the plant. Treat infestations as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading to the rest of your collection. Start with the least toxic treatment option first, only progressing to more serious chemicals if your initial efforts fail.
Toxicity: The Coffee Plant itself is not toxic. However, the coffee beans that it produces contain caffeine, which is not recommended for animals. Unripe and untreated coffee beans can make humans nauseous if ingested so we don’t recommend making your own coffee 🙂
