Also known as Coffea, the coffee plant is one of those plant species that always arouse curiosity. Lovers of the green world know this well and often have more than a few examples.
And let’s get to the point: how to give her the care she needs? In the next lines we will find out more about exposure, irrigation, pruning, repotting and some useful tips to keep the Coffea beautiful and luxuriant at any time of the year.
Coffee Plant: Characteristics And Meaning
It comes from Ethiopia and is part of the Rubiaceae; it has characteristic red berries from which it is possible to extract two coffee beans from each one (you can find many images on the net). The existing species are mainly three:
- Arabica
- Liberica
- Robust
The flowering of the shrub occurs in mid-summer in specimens of at least 4-5 years, when the splendid white, fragrant and star-shaped flowers peek out. It has bright green leaves with prominent veins and a slightly rippled outline.
As for the meaning, we must refer to the exciting power of the nerve substances contained in coffee. The term, in fact, derives from the Arabic “qahwa” and means “invigorating”.
How Is The Potted Coffee Plant Treated?
Exhibition: Where To Keep It
The coffee plant should be kept at a temperature of around 18 ° C (never below 15 ° C and not above 30 ° C), in non-direct light, in an indoor or outdoor area that is suitably shielded from sunlight. This foresight will protect the Coffea from leaf burns.
Watering: how much water it wants
The water supply must be constant and ensure that the soil does not remain completely dry. Dedicate yourself to watering regularly, extending it to the stem and taking care to avoid stagnation and excesses. Also remember to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or spray water over them, especially in the hottest periods.
When To Repot The Coffee Plant?
The coffee plant should be kept at a temperature of around 18 ° C (never below 15 ° C and not above 30 ° C), in non-direct light, in an indoor or outdoor area that is suitably shielded from sunlight. This foresight will protect the Coffea from leaf burns.
Watering: How Much Water It Wants
The water supply must be constant and ensure that the soil does not remain completely dry. Dedicate yourself to watering regularly, extending it to the stem and taking care to avoid stagnation and excesses. Also remember to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or spray water over them, especially in the hottest periods.
When To Repot The Coffee Plant?
The best time is spring, in the month of May. Choose a soil rich in organic substances and a pot slightly larger than the previous one, not too tall. The coffee plant grows best if its roots remain slightly compressed.
Flowering
As already mentioned, this phase takes place in the height of summer, the most appropriate time to keep it outside among your balcony perennials. To facilitate the process, you need to put your jars outside, although it is not excluded that it can flourish indoors, if it finds the right conditions of light and humidity.
Many people wonder if they will actually be able to harvest coffee beans when growing coffee plants. If the coffee plant is grown in ideal conditions indoors, it will eventually flower when it matures, which can take three to five years. Even in the best of conditions, however, you can only expect a few flowers to form, but, if you hand pollinate them, they will produce the berries that contain coffee beans. You may not get enough to brew a whole pot of coffee, but you may get enough to give roasting a few coffee beans a fun try.
Coffee Plant In The Cup
The recommendations just given apply to both potted and cup coffee plants. Since they are often sold this way, we want to give you some additional tips to help them grow at their best:
- this mode is intended for younger and smaller specimens
- if they are not present, make drainage holes in the bottom
- avoid foliar polishes (even for potted plants)
- prune it by making cuts at 45 degrees, close to the attachment of the leaves (armpit).
The coffee plant has a variable price between €5 and €30 and you can find it at florists, the best-stocked supermarkets, some large megastores such as Ikea and many online shops dedicated to those with green fingers.
Before purchasing, we invite you to carefully observe the conditions of the plant; possibly, also get the essential material to treat it, in case you do not have it at home.