Coffee tree: growing and care at home

The coffee tree is an exotic plant that decorates the apartment with an original, unusual appearance and fills it with a rich aroma. Caring for a coffee tree at home is not difficult, but requires knowledge of the peculiarities of its agricultural technology. For proper care, the evergreen plant will “repay” with lush, fragrant inflorescences and bright berries, from the grains of which you can prepare a natural, tonic drink.

Soil and fertilizing

Only acidic soil is suitable for coffee; in neutral soil the plant will wither and become sick. To make the best earthen mixture, you need the following components:

sour peat - 2 parts,
leaf soil - 1 part,
humus – 1 part,
coarse sand - 1 part.

During the period of active growth (April-October), the coffee tree needs feeding. Every two weeks the plant is fed with a comprehensive formula containing nitrogen and potassium. Watery fertilizers are ideal for azaleas, but granular fertilizers can also be used. For example, dissolve 10 g of ammonium nitrate and 6 g of potassium salt in 2 liters of water.

Fertilize coffee only after one more watering - you cannot pour fertilizer into dry soil, otherwise the roots may get burned. Proponents of organic fertilizers can add dried mullein to the pot.

Plant diseases

Coffee tree diseases at home most often develop due to improper care.
When growing an exotic plant, gardeners may encounter the following problems:

the appearance of brown or purple spots on the foliage is a common sign of phosphorus deficiency in the soil;
dryness and darkening of the edges of the leaf plates - indicates insufficient air humidity;
brown tint of leaves - appears when there is a lack of nitrogen in the soil;
yellowing of foliage - may indicate rot of the tree’s root system;
holes of various sizes on leaf plates are a common result of sunburn;
falling leaves in winter - insufficient lighting of the plant;
slow growth, short flowering period - indicate a lack of nutrients and the need to use fertilizers.

The coffee tree is a tropical plant that, subject to the rules and nuances, can be grown on a windowsill. It will not only become a bright and original interior decoration, but will also fill the room with a rich, pleasant aroma.

Source

Features of care

Immediately after planting the cuttings, the plant is kept in a bright place, but so that the sun's rays do not burn the leaves. When the top bud begins to grow and new leaves appear, you can transplant the Arabica into another pot and move it to a permanent place. If flowers appear on the tree, they do not need to be removed. This means that Arabica liked the local conditions.

Soil for coffee tree

To transplant rooted cuttings, it is necessary to prepare another soil, which consists of turf soil, peat and sand. The ratio of parts is 4:2:1. The sand must be calcined and the peat must be shed with potassium permanganate.

The turf is steamed in a water bath for an hour to remove fungal spores that can infect and kill the young tree. The soil should be slightly acidic. If it is not possible to prepare the mixture at home, you can buy it in the store.

After replanting Arabica coffee at home, water the soil well so that the soil adheres well to the roots. Air voids do not allow the tree to fully feed.

Watering

The earthen ball should never dry out, otherwise the plant will shed its leaves or flowers. Dry indoor air can cause leaves to turn yellow. To prevent this, it is recommended to spray the coffee tree greens with warm water daily.

The root system of Arabica is of two types - fibrous and mixed, when, as the roots grow in width, it develops 2 - 3 taproots.

Arabica fertilizers

How Arabica coffee grows can determine whether it has enough nutrients. For feeding, watering with mullein solution is used, as well as complex mineral fertilizers containing the main components - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

It is necessary to introduce microelements - in natural conditions, volcanic soil is a whole storehouse of nutrients.

Soil for azaleas. Soil for indoor azaleas

Indoor azalea is also a fan of acidic soil. When choosing a ready-made substrate in a specialized store, you should pay attention to several things: first of all, the acidity should not go beyond 3.5-5.5, the soil should not be old and should be suitable for the plant that will be planted. What is meant in the last paragraph: the chemical composition of the substrate can be different, so some soils are better suited for planting adult plants in them, while others are better suited for sowing seeds or planting young plants.

One of the mandatory components of soil for azaleas is coniferous soil; if its content is not indicated in the composition, it is worth purchasing it additionally.

When familiarizing yourself with the composition of the finished soil, you should also check whether any specific mineral fertilizers are included in it. They are usually present in the soil and last for the first two months, so fertilizing immediately after planting is not needed. If this is not checked and the already nutritious soil is fed, the sensitive azalea can quickly die; excess minerals are destructive.

If you wish, you can prepare the soil mixture yourself. For this you will need leaf, heather, coniferous soil and peat. In order to increase the acidity level, you can add crushed pine bark. Coniferous soil is a must!

To disinfect the soil, you can add washed, dried and crushed sphagnum moss or charcoal.

Perlite or river sand, or both, will help loosen the soil and improve air access to the roots. Well, drainage, expanded clay is used as it and is poured onto the bottom of the pot, in a layer of about 3 centimeters.

Azalea reacts negatively to lack of watering, so if there is the prospect of long trips or an unstable schedule, it is worth adding hydrogel granules to the soil. It will retain moisture and gradually release it to the soil.

How to grow an indoor coffee tree from beans at home?

Store-bought grains are not suitable for planting because they are dried so that they can be stored for a long time. Germination is lost during this treatment. For a gardener who wanted to do just this, problems begin: “Where can I get coffee beans?” You can try looking for planting material on the websites of flower shops on the Internet, or go to forums in search of like-minded people who are ready to share coffee beans.

Coffee beans.

The grain was found with great difficulty. Now, based on the opinion of professional gardeners, for whom growing coffee at home has already become commonplace, you can get down to business:

First of all, you need to destroy the hard shell of the coffee bean. This can be done using a small nail file, knife, or file.
Next, soak the grain in a growth stimulator (any flower shop will have a sufficient amount of such preparations).
While the grain is swelling, you should start preparing the soil. The plant requires a loose soil mixture, which can also be picked up in the store.
All that remains is to simply plant the grain in a flowerpot and cover it with a fairly thick layer of soil (about five centimeters).

Grain planted at home requires patient care and maintenance of the plant sprouts in certain conditions, in particular, the soil must be constantly moist, but not wet (wet is considered to be soil that turns into a lump). The room temperature should not drop below twenty degrees, otherwise it will not be possible to grow a home coffee tree from seeds. An adult perennial coffee tree needs the same temperature, and in winter it should not fall beyond twelve degrees, of course, “plus”.

Watering

The coffee tree loves moisture, but if the water stagnates in the flowerpot, the roots will begin to rot. Therefore, the plant cannot be flooded, and drainage must be placed at the bottom of the pot. If the tree does not have enough water, the leaves droop and become limp, but after watering they rise very quickly.

The frequency of watering depends on the temperature and humidity. To ensure that the plant does not lack moisture, it is watered with settled water when the substrate in the pot dries at a depth of 1 cm from the surface.

Approximate watering schedule:

in the warm season - once every 2-3 days;
in winter - once a week, the water temperature should be 2-3 degrees higher than the air temperature in the room.

From May to September, the coffee tree is sprayed with water from a spray bottle every 1-2 days. To wash off dust from the leaves, wipe them with a damp cloth. The plant can be washed in the shower once a month.

A little about coffee

The coffee tree belongs to the madder family. More than 5 thousand species of plants belong to it, sixty of them are coffee. Among them there are trees and bushes, evergreens and tall plants. All coffee plants are united by the increased caffeine content in the green mass and fruits.

Most of these species grow in Africa and the Madagascar peninsula. 10 species grow in Southeast Asia, while only three types of coffee grow on the Mauritius Peninsula. Brazil has been the largest producer of coffee on the planet for the last 100-50 years, 80% of which is Arabica and 20% Robusta.

The best conditions for obtaining the largest number of fruits of the highest quality are a tropical climate and more than 1200 meters above sea level.

There are three main types of coffee that are in mass demand:

The Arabica coffee bush is considered easy to care for and unpretentious to growing conditions. In the middle zone, coffee is grown from beans or cuttings, so the tree adapts perfectly to local climatic conditions.

Let's look at both options for feeding a coffee tree at home.

Tree propagation methods

There are 2 ways to propagate a coffee tree at home - vegetative and seed.
Using these methods, you can grow any variety of coffee tree - both Arabica and Robusta. The first grade is considered more suitable. Robusta, although unpretentious, needs cross-pollination, otherwise it will not bear fruit.

Seeds

Regular coffee beans used to make the drink are not suitable for cultivation.
They were collected a long time ago and underwent special processing. You can only germinate grains whose “age” does not exceed 1-2 months. Sowing seeds:

Sterilize the wood substrate by holding it over steam from boiling water for 10-15 minutes.
Place the grains with their flat side on the surface of the soil, without burying them - this will cause them to rot.
Water the grains generously and cover with glass or plastic wrap.
Remove glass or plastic film from the container twice a week and leave the crops for 2-4 hours to air.
After 6-8 weeks, the first shoots appear.

After 3-5 strong and healthy leaves appear, the seedlings can be planted in separate flower pots. Within 3-5 years the young tree will bear its first fruits.

Cuttings

The vegetative method of propagating coffee is used much less frequently than the seed method. To do this, you will need several cuttings with two nodes, cut from last year's shoots. First of all, prepare the cuttings - soak them for 2-4 hours in a solution of a growth stimulator. After this, plant the cuttings in a nutrient mixture of peat and sand (don’t forget about the drainage layer), deepening them by about 3-4 cm. When new leaves appear from the buds, the seedlings can be planted in separate containers. With this method of propagation, the coffee tree begins to bear fruit within 1 year.

Harvesting

By carefully caring for your tree, protecting it from pests and diseases, in 4-5.5 years you will be able to collect your first coffee harvest. Having noticed that flowers have appeared on the tree, it is recommended to have time to lather them. After all, their beauty is short-lived.

After 10 days, the flowers will be replaced by berries. They will ripen for about six months. Each of them contains only 2 coffee beans. The collection is done, just like the coffee beans are extracted, only by hand. Ripe berries, after being picked for about 30 days, are first dried in the sun, then they are dried in a dry black room for another month. Afterwards, you need to peel off the dried berry pulp and extract the coffee beans.

Growing a coffee tree at home is not difficult. But, like any plant, it requires attention and some care. With proper organization of its maintenance, you can become not only the owner of a lush, beautiful bush. Once collected, you will be able to prepare the most delicious coffee, grown on your home coffee plantation.

We hope that this article was useful to you, we would be grateful if you share it with your friends on social media. networks. Have a nice day and see you again!

Coffee transplant

When the root system completely fills the flowerpot, it’s time to replant the plant.
Staying in one pot for a long time inhibits its growth and impairs flowering and fruiting. The coffee tree is replanted annually until it reaches 3 years of age, and after that every 3-5 years. The pot for replanting should be approximately 5 cm larger than the previous container. Transplantation can be carried out both after the berry harvest and before the flowering phase begins. The plant is transplanted together with a lump of earth.

How to replant a coffee tree at home:

clean the roots of the tree from rotten and dry shoots;
add a layer of drainage to the bottom of the pot - broken apricot kernels, nut shells, clay shards or expanded clay;
add 2 cm of coarse river sand and nutrient substrate on top;
lower the root of the plant with a lump of earth into the flowerpot so that the root collar is raised 1 cm above the ground level.

Water the transplanted coffee tree with warm, settled or melted water. After 2-4 days, the top layer of the soil mixture can be slightly loosened to maintain moisture balance and better oxygen supply.

Growing a coffee tree

Next, we will tell you how to properly plant a coffee tree at home.

Those wishing to grow a coffee tree at home should take into account that young specimens grow best on windows located to the south. If there is insufficient light and heat, the tree may bloom, but will not bear fruit. When the temperature drops below +12°C, growth slows down and the root system rots.

Features of growing from grains

First, let's look at how a coffee tree propagates at home.

There is nothing complicated in the instructions on how to grow a coffee tree from seeds.

Experts emphasize that such a plant will not bloom and bear fruit in the first year.

A full-fledged tree from coffee beans grows 3-4 years after planting the seeds in the ground. Before planting seeds, you need to make sure that grains stored no more than 2 weeks after picking from the tree have good germination.

The earlier the seeds are collected, the less likely they are to be suitable for planting. When purchasing planting material, it is recommended to purchase twice the amount required for planting. Experts have found that the germination rate of coffee beans is about 10%.

Instructions for planting coffee beans:

the seeds need to be peeled;
place in a 2% solution of potassium permanganate;
dry on a napkin, avoiding direct sunlight;
plant in individual small containers with the flat side on the ground, 1 cm deep.

After the shoots grow to 7-10 cm and become stronger, they can be transplanted into larger pots. The soil for plants should consist of a drainage layer, a mixture of peat, leaf turf, river sand and garden soil. Some gardeners prefer to buy ready-made soil for indoor fruit plants.

Like all heat-loving plants, the coffee tree loves warmth and moderate humidity. To speed up germination, pots with plantings can be placed on the windowsill and covered with cling film.

Such improvised mini-greenhouses will improve the chances of seed survival. After this, daily ventilation is required. Watering is carried out by adding water to the trays once every 3 days.

Planting seedlings

Shoots usually appear after 1.5-2 months.

As soon as the seedlings rise 2 cm from the ground, it is recommended to ventilate them 2-3 times more often.
Within 30 days, the seedlings must completely get used to room temperature and the film cover is removed.
After 2.5-3 months, a miniature coffee tree with 5 true leaves is formed. At this time, they need to be planted in individual flower pots.

Flowerpot and soil

When choosing the diameter of the container, you need to rely on the height of the plant. If it has reached 20 cm, you will need a flowerpot at least 15 cm wide. The third part of the container is filled with drainage (expanded clay, crushed crushed stone), the rest of the volume is filled with soil.

The best option for choosing materials for pots is clay or ceramics. In the first year of growth, the coffee tree requires additional air supply to the roots.

Rules for planting cuttings

Preparation of cuttings takes place mainly in the last ten days of February or the first week of March. The optimal rate of survival of cuttings is about 4 weeks.

The advantages of this method over planting grains are as follows:

there is a high survival rate;
With good care, fruiting occurs already in the first year;
rapid growth contributes to the formation of large ovaries and a good harvest.

Cuttings for planting are taken only from shoots that have already bear fruit. Only the middle part, 3 cm away from the first leaves, is considered suitable. Excisions are made on the lower part of the cutting with a sharp knife to speed up the appearance of young roots.

Before planting in the ground, the prepared branches are placed in a root formation stimulator for 2-3 hours.

The soil for planting cuttings must match the composition in which the mother plant grows. It is necessary to bury the seedling in the ground until the first leaves. The pot is covered with film and subsequently removed daily for ventilation for 5-10 minutes. At the first stage of establishment, the plant is not watered, but sprayed.

What soil is needed for a coffee tree? Where can I get a coffee tree seedling?

The first option is that a coffee tree can be grown from a grain (seed). Yes, in fact, coffee beans can be grown, but not from what is sold in stores. It is impossible to grow a coffee tree from the coffee beans we are used to, even if they are not roasted. To do this, you need to purchase special coffee tree seeds, these are sold in specialized garden stores. But when growing coffee from seeds, you will have to wait a very long time for the first flowering and fruiting.

The best option would be to purchase a rooted cutting from a coffee tree. Coffee cuttings are not expensive and fruiting can be achieved after only a year of cultivation. You can buy rooted coffee cuttings in nurseries (exotic plant stores) or from amateur collectors (such sales advertisements are usually posted on social networks and forums); when buying a plant on free classifieds sites (Ebay, Avito, OLX), they can very often deceive and sell the wrong thing, it is better to refrain from such purchases.

We bought a coffee tree seedling – what to do?

You bought a small coffee tree seedling, brought it home, and what to do next? The first step is to transplant the seedling from the shipping container into a permanent pot. Usually, during mass propagation and cultivation, inexpensive, square containers are used, which are filled with special soil to accelerate the growth of the plant’s root system. Such pots and soil are great for greenhouses, but are completely unsuitable for apartment window sills, they are not beautiful, and the soil in such pots dries out very quickly, which can lead to the death of the coffee tree. That's why a transplant is necessary.

Caring for a coffee tree at home

You should not think that such a plant, exotic for indoor conditions, requires some special conditions. On the contrary, a coffee tree at home can give a hundred points ahead in unpretentiousness to the same azalea, cyclamen, amaryllis and many other traditional indoor plants. But the rules of care, no matter how simple they are, must be followed.

Temperature

At normal room temperature, the coffee tree feels quite comfortable. But in winter it is advisable for it to have a period of rest so that it can gain strength for the upcoming flowering and fruiting. It can withstand quite a significant drop in temperature (as for a houseplant). The lower temperature limit is +12 degrees, but such an extreme is not necessary, it is enough to lower the temperature to +17 degrees. In most cases, this is the usual temperature on the windowsill in winter.

Lighting

Unlike the vast majority of indoor flowers, the coffee tree can be grown in direct sunlight. Moreover, he urgently needs them during the period of inflorescence formation. But this only applies to mature trees. For young plants (up to two years old), such lighting is contraindicated. It should also be taken into account that after laying the buds, the coffee tree no longer needs as much light and it is advisable to slightly shade it. The lack of lighting has a very bad effect on both the appearance of the plant and its flowering. The best place to place it would be the windowsill of windows oriented to the south (ideally southeast, southwest).

Watering, air humidity, fertilizing

In the warm season, the coffee tree needs regular and abundant watering.

This is especially important if you have it in a warm, well-lit place, where the soil dries out very quickly. Overdrying should not be allowed

Especially during the flowering and fruiting period! With the onset of cold weather and a decrease in the temperature in the house, watering is reduced. It is impossible to allow the soil to become waterlogged during this period!

Air humidity should always be high. In summer, it is highly advisable to place a pot with a coffee tree on damp expanded clay or moss. But at the same time, try to spray it thoroughly regularly, once or even twice a day. Spraying should be carried out only in the evening or morning, when the sun's rays do not illuminate the plant.

Hard water is not particularly suitable for irrigation and humidification. Rain water is best in summer, and snow water in winter.

The coffee tree is fed only during the active period (from April to September). Liquid mineral fertilizer (complex) may well be suitable for fertilizing. The frequency of feeding is every 14-15 days.

Transfer

Until the age of three, a young coffee tree must be replanted every spring. Mature trees grow somewhat less frequently - once every two to three years. However, the top layer of soil in the pot still needs to be changed every year.

The coffee tree likes sour soil. Although there are often cases when it grows successfully in ordinary garden soil, neutral. But if possible, try to buy the most suitable soil mixture for it (the packaging should indicate pH7). If you make it yourself, you can use this recipe:

High-moor peat (sour) – two parts (of the total volume);
Leaf soil (or garden soil) - one part;
Greenhouse soil (you can use compost soil) – one part;
Humus soil (well rotted) - one part;
Sand or perlite - one part

If possible, add pieces of sphagnum moss to the mixture; it will maintain moisture and slightly increase acidity. Be sure to provide good drainage.

If all these, by and large, rather simple rules are followed, then the coffee tree at home will grow, bloom, and bear fruit, giving you joy and a harvest of wonderful coffee beans.

Where to put the plant

A young indoor coffee tree requires a lot of light, so it is best to place the pot on a windowsill in a warm room. Coffee also grows well on a north-facing window, but a south-facing window is best suited for it. One of the most important requirements is not to change the location of the plant and not to rotate the pot. This will cause foliage to fall, and the flowering tree may lose its buds and subsequently fail to bear fruit.

What does a coffee tree look like?

The coffee tree is an ornamental shrub that can become a real decoration for a greenhouse, and with the right agrotechnical approach, it can gratefully reward its owners with aromatic coffee beans twice a year.

In natural growing conditions, and this is primarily in Latin America, this shrub can reach a height of more than 5 meters. In a decorative form - no more than 3 meters, even with proper care.

The leaves of this plant are dark green, glossy, and very beautiful, so the coffee tree can be successfully used in the interior design of apartments and offices. The tree begins to bloom at the age of 3 years, the flowers are white, collected in inflorescences of several pieces.

The shape and aroma resemble jasmine flowers. Flowering lasts about a week. After flowering ends, the bush produces berries in shape and color reminiscent of cherry fruits.

After 5-6 months the fruits ripen. Each berry contains two coffee beans, between which there is a partition of pulp.

The berries are harvested manually, and they must be fully ripe. Then the grains are extracted from each berry by hand.

This happens as follows:

The berries are dried in the sun for a month.
Dried berries are collected in bags and stored for another month.
At the final stage, the berries undergo peeling.

Popular variety of homemade coffee tree with photos and names

Arabian coffee tree

Everyone knows Arabica. Under natural conditions it reaches a height of 6 meters, but for home breeding its dwarf variety “Nana” with a maximum length of about 80 cm is used. It blooms twice a year and is easy to form.

Congolese coffee tree

Its second name is robusta. An unpretentious plant with a highly developed root system. The peculiarity of this type of coffee is the falling of fruit branches after natural death.

Liberian coffee tree

This is a large and very tall tree with a pyramidal crown, suitable for growing in greenhouses or large areas. The plant is resistant to most coffee tree diseases.

Regarding coffee tree pests

Pests of the coffee tree are scale insects and spider mites, which you can try to fight:

wash the leaves;
spray the plant with a special preparation.

Whiteflies are also dangerous to trees. Her “visit” ends with the appearance of a white coating and cobwebs on the leaves. If you notice this right away, the tree can be saved. The first step is to wash off the plaque with warm soapy water. In some cases, you will have to wash each leaf. To do this, you need to spray the plant with an anti-whitefly preparation, you can use a weak solution of karbofos.

It is recommended to place the coffee tree on the windows.

The most terrible disease for the coffee tree is “sooty fungus,” which is useless to fight. A black border on the leaves indicates a disease. Gradually it spreads to the stem - the plant dies. Experienced gardeners say that they no longer love the exotic plant. The conditions of its maintenance have changed, in particular, the temperature in the room has decreased, which the “coffee” plant does not like.

That's why it is said that before you plant a tree, you need to love it. The coffee tree needs to be looked after all year round, regularly treated with preparations that protect the plant from pests and diseases.

Coffee tree diseases

The main reason for plant diseases is improper care. Coffee tree diseases can be eliminated as follows:

If the foliage dries, curls and becomes stained, you need to carefully inspect the plant and remove the affected areas;
In order to get rid of pests, treatment is carried out with a solution of actellik and karbofos (10 drops per half liter of water);
If the leaves are affected by scale insects, they must be carefully wiped with alcohol;
Treatment with insecticidal soap, copper sulfate or antifungal drugs will help against fungal diseases.

Now you know how to care for a coffee tree. If you do everything correctly, then in 3-4 years you will be able to get not only a beautiful indoor plant, but fruits in the form of berries from which grains are extracted. When processed, you get real natural coffee. And when grown from cuttings, the tree can begin to bear fruit in the first year.

Comments from experienced plant growers

Those who have been growing a coffee tree for many years have probably noticed that this plant gets so used to its place that if it is moved, it instantly sheds its leaves and stops blooming. This process can cause even the slightest rotation of the flowerpot.

Proper tree care leads to the fact that the plant from seeds blooms at home in spring and autumn. The interesting thing is that the tree blooms for a long time. The first flowers have already turned into long green seeds, and new flowers are just blooming. Every gardener strives to wait for the fruits, but the coffee tree will not lose color if the care does not follow the rules: the tree will not grow in a cramped flowerpot. And the edges of the leaves will dry out, since they will not have enough nutrients for nutrition.

Coffee tree grown from cuttings.

A domestic tree begins to “be capricious” if a lot of seeds have accumulated on it: it is better to collect them unripe and wait until they dry. Then peel, grind, and you can brew your own coffee.

You should not try to place other flowers next to the coffee tree. The plant does not like its neighbors and will instantly respond to this by changing the color and condition of the leaves.

Temperature

Although the coffee tree grows in the tropics, it does not tolerate heat and scorching sun rays. If the plant is too hot, it will not bloom. The tree should be placed in a well-lit place, but so that direct sunlight does not fall on it. If the window in the room faces south, then the flowerpot should be located at a distance of approximately 1.5 m from the glass.

Optimal room temperature for wood:

in the warm season – from +23 to +25 °C;
in winter – +17 °C, in extreme cases – not lower than +15 °C.

When caring for a coffee tree, you need to take into account that it does not tolerate changes in orientation in space. Experts do not recommend turning the flowerpot more often than once every 5 years, otherwise the plant will drop its flowers. To make the crown symmetrical, you can place a mirror next to the coffee tree (but so that direct sunlight is not reflected).

How to grow a coffee tree at home. Caring for a coffee tree at home

Coffee trees grown at home must be protected from sudden changes in temperature and drafts. If you care for it properly, it will not only bloom magnificently, but also give a rich harvest.

Illumination

The plant needs a lot of bright light, which should be diffused. The tree grows best near a south window. In spring and summer, when the weather is warm, it is recommended to move the plant to a terrace or loggia, and in winter, the room where it is located must be systematically ventilated. Place the tree away from operating heating devices, otherwise the tips of its leaf blades will begin to dry out. If the lighting is too poor, then the tree will have to be illuminated with fluorescent lamps.

Temperature

In summer, the temperature in the room should not be higher than 25 degrees, and in winter - below 15 degrees. If the room temperature is higher or lower, then all the buds and leaves of the coffee tree may fly off.

Air humidity

Throughout the year, the foliage must be systematically moistened with clean water from a sprayer. And in the summer, the tree can sometimes be given a warm shower. Thanks to this, the bush will grow intensively and bloom luxuriantly. Make sure that there is always high humidity in the room.

Watering

In the warm season, the plant is watered systematically immediately after the top layer of the substrate has dried to a depth of 10 mm. In winter, the soil mixture in the pot is moistened once every 7 days. To do this, use well-settled soft water that does not contain lime. If the water is unsuitable, the tree may become sick because of this.

Top dressing

During the growing season and flowering period, the bush is fed systematically a couple of times a month. A fertilizer suitable for this purpose should include nitrogen and potassium. You can also use special fertilizer for azaleas for this. In the autumn-winter period, the plant is not fed.

Replanting a coffee tree

Young plants that have not reached three years of age need systematic replanting, which is carried out annually. Choose a deep pot for the tree. When the coffee tree is transplanted, it is placed in partial shade for a while and at the same time provided with regular moisture from a spray bottle. Don't forget to make a good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.

soil mixture

A substrate suitable for growing a coffee tree must be loose and acidic. Optimal composition: coarse sand, crushed charcoal, peat and humus (taken in equal parts).

Trimming

Pruning of such a plant is carried out at any time of the year when necessary. To do this, cut off all dried or diseased shoots and leaf blades. Formative pruning is also carried out; for this purpose, elongated branches are shortened and the crown is given the necessary shape.

Suitable temperature, humidity and lighting for coffee

For normal development of a seedling, it requires the following air temperature:

Summer period – up to +22 degrees;
Winter period – up to +18 degrees.

In winter, the temperature in the home should not fall below +12 degrees, because if the temperature is lowered, the growth of the young green pet is inhibited and its roots rot. Not entirely comfortable conditions are quite suitable for an adult plant to overwinter. The acceptable temperature for it in the winter season is +10 degrees, it definitely needs good lighting and a little infrequent watering of the root zone.

Diseases and pests

The coffee tree gets sick occasionally. The main reason can only be incorrect care. Pests, attacking this plant at one moment, can completely kill it in a short time. If they are seen at the right time, the tree can be saved. Well, diseases, if identified in time, are not scary:

If you notice that the leaves have begun to turn yellow, spin, their number has sharply decreased, or spots have appeared on the surface, the reason is unfavorable living conditions. In this case, all warped branches are cut off, and a painstaking check of the soil and root system is carried out.
If rottenness is detected, proof of a suspicion of a fungal disease, all unhealthy shoots are cut off from the root with a knife, and then the sections are sprinkled with charcoal. The leaves are treated with products suitable for combating rot. After drying, the plant is planted in new soil.
The whitefly likes to parasitize plants. It's impossible not to see her. A whitish coating similar to a network appears on the leaves. If you don’t start fighting the pest right away, the tree cannot be saved. Soapy water will help in the fight.
Often the tree is affected by powdery mildew and scale insects. It will not be easy for the owner of the plant to cope with these parasites. Special care is needed here. Alcohol, Karbofos or Actellik should be on hand just in case.

Top dressing

The coffee tree blooms and bears fruit intensively, so it needs increased nutrition. It is best to buy a complex fertilizer. The universal organic fertilizer “Miracle of Fertility Sapropel” is well suited for feeding the coffee tree, as well as fertilizers for indoor flowers based on chicken droppings. During the flowering period, the tree can be watered 1-2 times with water infused with straw ash: it is rich in potassium.

Feeding schedule:

from March to October – once every 2 weeks;
from November to February – once a month.

If the leaves become dull, wipe them with water and lemon juice (2-3 teaspoons of juice per 1 liter of water). Water the plant with the remainder of the solution (but not more than once a month).

How to plant correctly

This plant should be protected from sudden temperature changes and exposure to drafts. With proper care, the crop will bloom and bear fruit profusely.

Selection of capacity

The crop should be planted in a tall pot.

A high-quality drainage layer is of no small importance. The roots of the culture grow downwards

Soil requirements

The tree should be grown in a loose and acidic substrate. It is best to mix coarse sand, crushed coal, humus, and peat. These components are taken in equal parts.

Planting scheme

It is best to grow a crop from a grain. It should not be fried. To plant a plant, do the following:

Soak the grain in a solution of hydrochloric acid or lightly saw it.
Place the grain in a growth stimulator.
Moisten and loosen the soil. Plant a seed. It should not be deepened too much.
Place the pot in a lighted place. The temperature should be more than +20 degrees.

Propagation of a coffee tree by cuttings

It is easier to propagate plants using green cuttings. To do this, you need to prepare a soil mixture of equal parts of acidic marsh crumbs based on peat and perlite. It will allow oxygen and moisture to pass through well. It is also necessary to disinfect the soil with a manganese solution.

From an adult tree, select a twig with four leaves from the middle part of the crown. It is better to take a cutting from a branch with bud embryos that grew last year. This way the future plant will enter the branching and flowering phase earlier;
We cut the cuttings from the mother tree three centimeters below the foliage using a blade or sharp knife;
On freshly cut pieces, under the outer two leaves, we leave longitudinal scratches with a needle. This will contribute to the accelerated formation of roots;
Then we place the cuttings vertically with the lower scratched part for 3 hours in a root-forming mixture of a tablespoon of honey dissolved in a glass of water;
Next, we plant the blanks in a pot with soil 2-3 cm deep (to the leaves) and cover them with a perforated plastic bag. Through the holes it will be possible to spray and ventilate the seedlings;
You also need to protect the cuttings from the sun.

Pruning and crown formation

Seedlings of coffee trees are suitable for growing in standard form. Seedlings obtained from cuttings, over time, if you do not form a standard, turn into a dense bush of a spherical shape.

Arabica coffee tree blooming

In the first year, the shoot grows straight upward; there is no need to pinch it. The tree begins to branch in the second year. If you want to form a trunk with a thick crown, you can make a constriction:

the operation is carried out in late February - early March;
when the central trunk grows to 25–30 cm, it is tied tightly with reinforced wire at a height of 15–20 cm, 1 cm below the internode;
pinch the upper bud; if necessary, trim the shoot so that 2 internodes remain above the wire;
subsequently, all branches above the constriction that grow upward are cut off. The remaining branches are trimmed to your liking to make the tree look aesthetically pleasing;
after 3–4 years the constriction is loosened, and after a month it is removed. As a result, with a tree height of 50 cm, the crown diameter can reach 1.5 m.