The coffee plant (lat. Coffea arabica) is considered to be easy to care for. If you like, you can certainly harvest your own coffee. However, this requires a lot of patience, because the coffee plant grows quite slowly and only flowers when it is a few years old.

The coffee plant likes to spend the summer outdoors

The right soil and the best location

Sunny and warm, that's how your coffee plant likes it best. A partially shaded location is ideal for young plants. You should only slowly get your Coffea arabica used to the midday sun. The same applies if you want to put your coffee plant in the garden or on the balcony in summer. Cool nights can quickly damage the plant.

Water and fertilize the coffee plant properly

A coffee plant is best watered "by feel". Use your finger to test how dry or moist the soil is. Only when the top layer has dried slightly should you water the Coffea arabica again. Occasional spraying with lime-free water or a downpour is beneficial for the coffee plant. Add some liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water once a month or use slow-release fertilizer.

When and how should I prune my coffee plant?

The coffee plant does not have to be pruned regularly. If it gets too big for you, you can definitely use a knife or pruning shears. The plant tolerates a strong pruning. The best time for this is spring. You can then use part of the clippings as cuttings for propagation.

How do I care for the coffee plant in winter?

The coffee plant must not overwinter in the garden. It is not hardy and needs suitable winter quarters. Water your coffee plant a little more sparingly in winter and make sure it is in bright enough light. Both too little light and too much water could result in yellow or brown leaves. Fertilizing is not necessary in winter.

Can I grow coffee plants myself?

If you grow a coffee plant yourself, you should have a lot of patience. The germination of the seeds can take up to four weeks at a temperature of at least 25 °C. Even after that, the coffee plant does not grow particularly fast. Using cuttings instead of seeds makes growing a little easier and less time consuming.

The most important care tips in brief:

  • Location: bright and sunny to semi-shady
  • easy-care
  • grows quite slowly
  • water regularly when the soil has dried slightly
  • fertilize from April to September
  • cut compatible
  • not hardy
  • Temperature not below 15 °C all year round, ideal: 20 °C to 24 °C
  • Propagation by cuttings or sowing
  • well suited as a houseplant
  • Free range possible in summer
  • blooms after a few years

tips

The slow-growing coffee plant is well suited as a houseplant, but can also be in the garden in summer.

Category:

Vegetable garden