Separate, Grow, Repot. In these three easy steps, you can grow your very own coffee plant. Every coffee enthusiast dreams of having his own coffee plant, and this is an understandable desire. Aside from being great providers of coffee beans, and filling your space with a delicious aroma, coffee plants are also great houseplants. They require very little maintenance and are considered one of the most resilient plants. An extremely convenient houseplant to have, the coffee plant requires just the basic attention and can thrive in an evergreen state in your house all year long. It does not shed its leaves either, which saves you the hassle of cleaning up on the regular. The only thing a coffee plant would require out of you is a little patience. If you purchase an already potted plant, the maturation process would still take about 3-4 years, and only then will you start seeing some results (coffee beans). If you’re planning to grow one directly from the seed, the wait is even longer.
How To Grow A Coffee Plant At Home
Different plant growers have various ways of potting and growing a coffee plant, but the steps below are a general step by step process on how to efficiently plant one in your home or at your business place.
Step 1: Germination
Your first task would be to procure a container with acidic oil around a pH level of 6. After that, you’d have to add a layer of organic fertilizer to that soil. Make sure you have already separated your seeds, since you’ll have to add those into the soil, up to 3 centimeters deep. Once these seeds are in the soil, don’t forget to add drops of water to them, every three days. A helpful tip is to keep the plant in a shaded area in the house and for it to receive only the rays of the morning sun.
Step 2: Transferring
The next step is to pick a pot and shift the plant into it. Keep in mind that the pot of your choice has an opening for drainage. If you’re not the type of person to keep changing pots of different designs, a clay pot would be a good choice. A light plastic pot is also a good choice if you’re planning to move it around and for lifting while cleaning.
After 8 weeks, apply 100 grams of citrus fertilizer and a mixture of slow-releasing fertilizer.
Keep adding these every year during the growing seasons which are April to August.
Step 3: Setting
Keep your coffee plant at a warm temperature as they thrive in such conditions. The ideal temperature for your plant would be from 12 to 30 degrees Celcius. Cold conditions make it very hard for your plant to survive, and may even kill the plant. Keep in an area that has a constant non-fluctuating temperature and one which is exposed to sunlight. The temperature which always changes may cause your plant to shed leaves. Avoid direct sunlight to avoid leaf burn.
Step 4: Water and Trim
As a plant that’s native to a humid South American climate, water and showering with water droplets is a must. The soil of the plant should be kept moist constantly and the number of times you water it should be reduced in the winter, as the plant will continue growing at a constant speed even through the cold. Able to reach lengths of 60cm, you should constantly trim and prune the leaves and cut the growing tips to encourage lateral growth. Pruning is important, as it is a natural way for the plant to grow. Pinch and prune your plant for healthy growth and cut it back to your liking.
How to Take Care of a Coffee Plant
Certain steps have to be taken to properly take care of a coffee plant, to ensure its steady growth. Lighting is one of the most important things that have to be taken into account. More than two hours of direct sunlight might cause the leaves to turn brown, so make sure to keep it in a well-lit area with a constant temperature that does not fluctuate. The quality and acidic level of the soil is also important which is why fertilizers have been introduced. Constant watering is important and something to especially look out for is to never allow the soil to completely dry up. Other ways to care for your plants are to regularly pot and re-pot to air out the soil and to provide a better environment for the ever-growing roots of the plant. Pruning and cutting the edges of the leaves are also a form of care and helps you clean up the rough look of the plant. Watch out for pest infestation as well, which may include tiny webs, white powdery residue, and insects. These infestations should be treated as early as possible so they don’t cause any serious damage to the plant. They can be treated with toxic treatment and chemicals.
FAQ
1. Can you grow coffee at home?
Yes, you can grow coffee at home, via a coffee plant. If you have an area in your house that is well lit with sunshine, and at a normal temperature, you can easily grow your coffee plant in that environment. You could grow it indoors or outdoors, that is up to you. If you’re planning to grow your coffee plant, you should keep in mind that these plants reach a big size, so you’d want to make sure you have enough space. Coffee plants make great houseplants, aside from bearing you delicious coffee beans. Growing one in your home is a good decision and will pay off in the long run. Being as resilient as they are, you would have no problem growing one in the comfort of your own home.
2. How do you grow a coffee plant?
The first step to growing a coffee plant is to choose a designated space/ spot for your plant. An area where the temperature does not fluctuate too much and is in the path of constant sunshine. The next step would be to procure seeds for an arabica coffee plant, and if those are hard to get, you can also plant coffee cherries or green seeds. The next step is potting, into the right soil. You would want to give the plant the closest atmosphere to its originating region, which is the humid climate of South America. A soil with a pH level of 6 or close, is perfect. The last few steps would be to keep watering it as much as you can and to trim the edges if they seem a little wild. Regular soil check-ups are also great to make sure they are of the right acidic level.
3. How do you care for an indoor coffee plant?
Once you have your indoor coffee plant, you would want to get into a plant-care routine, which would guarantee your plant’s healthy development. Water the plant regularly to make sure the soil remains moist and not too dry. Every few months, make sure to check the pH level of the soil and add fertilizer to the soil when needed. Regular pruning looks good for the aesthetic of the plant and of your house (if indoors), and will help in the development of the plant as well. Once your plant has grown to about 2 feet tall, you would have to re-pot it. Your first re-pot should be when the plant reaches about 8 inches, and the next when it’s at 24 inches. Repotting should be done responsibly as the development of the plant could depend on it.
4. How much sun do coffee plants need?
Coffee plants need an adequate amount of sun. Not too extreme, but not too mild either. Well-drained and well-watered plants are equally as important. For sunlight, an average of two hours a day of direct sunlight is enough, while the rest of the time it should be kept in a well-lit area during the day. If the sun is exposed to too much direct sunlight, the leaves will start to turn brown. Originally, these plants grow under the thick canopy, which is the reason why they should be stored in sunlight, but not be exposed to too many direct rays.
5. Do coffee plants smell like coffee?
Whether or not you enjoy the strong aroma of coffee beans, or enjoy the taste and feel of a good morning cup of coffee, you will surely love how the coffee plants smell and how they fill your house with a comfortable smell that makes you feel cozy in your home. The coffee plant has a pleasant smell, just like tropical, floral jasmine. It is subtle and has a similar scent to that of brown sugar and vanilla. It sounds like you have sprayed your house with a few pumps of air freshener, but it’s just a 24/7 pleasant smell emitting from your coffee plant.
6. How do I get my coffee plant to bloom?
The main ingredient for a coffee plant to bloom is patience, and care. Keep the plant in sunlight and direct sunlight for about two hours a day, regularly check the pH level of the soil and add fertilizers every time the pH level seems low. Water the plant daily, and re-pot when it seems like it’s getting too big for the pot. The next step is to be patient. Once the plant is about two to three years old, it will start to flower. Small, white flowers will start to sprout bringing sweet fragrance along with them.
7. How big does a coffee plant get?
A coffee plant can reach lengths of up to 60cm if properly taken care of and given enough attention. When it reaches lengths like this, it’s important to trim and prune the hedges, to promote a healthy speed of growth. If you wish for your plant to grow laterally. You should keep cutting back the tip, and the plant will keep growing. Within a year of being potted, your plant will grow to about 4 ft. and constant care will keep the speed of growth at a constant. The higher it gets, the more fragrance it would emit and the more aesthetic the plant will look.
8. Is the fruit of a coffee plant edible?
The coffee plant, also known as coffee cherries, is indeed edible but does not taste like coffee. The “coffee” taste in the beans develops when the beans are roasted, and if eaten as they are, they have different flavors depending on the area that they grow in. If you do want to try eating a coffee berry, make sure it’s ripe. The proper way to eat coffee cherries is to pop them with your two fingers until the seed comes out. The only thing between the layer and the seed is some skin and pulp. The cherry has a mango-ish flavor and has a sweet taste.
9. What does the coffee flower smell like?
The coffee flower has a tropical, jasmine-like fragrance. The fragrance fills your house and gives a comfortable cozy vibe and makes the environment much homier. With the scent being similar to that of brown sugar, or vanilla you can expect your place to smell good 24/7. According to many, the smell could pass as one that comes from a perfume. The subtle smell is sure to uplift your mood and make every moment in your house one filled with a pleasant aroma.
Conclusion
Although growing a coffee plant requires a lot of patience, the daily tasks of watering and taking care of the plant make the wait easier. Tending to a plant and investing time in it is positive for you and the plant. The process should be enjoyed because it well-tended, the end product, in the form of coffee beans, will turn out even healthier. While you are waiting for your beans to develop, you can learn about the process of roasting, grinding, and brewing of beans, so you can have an easier time once you have a full-grown plant. Always remember to water, re-pot, and prune. If you can get that done, the rest of the journey should be easier, stress-free and enjoyable.