Exotic and yet easy to care for - if you love something special, then the coffee plant is an excellent houseplant for you. With a little patience, you can even harvest your own coffee in a few years.
What are the basic care requirements for a coffee plant?
The coffee plant prefers a warm, bright location without drafts, well-drained soil and regular watering. Fertilize every 3 to 4 weeks and allow winter dormancy in cooler temperatures. Propagation is possible through seeds and cuttings.
Planting the coffee plant correctly
A suitable location for the coffee plant to thrive is at least as important as care. She likes it warm and bright, without drafts or wind. The soil should be fairly permeable so that waterlogging cannot occur in the first place. This is also ensured by a drainage layer made of pottery shards or coarse gravel at the bottom of the planter.
Water and fertilize the coffee plant
The tropical coffee plant needs water relatively regularly, always when the soil is already slightly dry. You can fertilize about every three to four weeks if you use liquid fertilizer. On the other hand, you give long-term fertilizer less often, as stated on the package. If you have just repotted the coffee plant, you should not fertilize it at all for a few months.
The coffee plant in winter
The coffee plant is happy to hibernate if you give it the opportunity. Instead of overwintering in a heated living room, it should be kept a little cooler. Limit watering and avoid fertilizing until around April. Too much water can lead to brown leaves and too many nutrients can lead to horny shoots.
Grow a coffee plant yourself
You can grow your own coffee plants from seeds and cuttings. However, this requires a lot of patience and an even heat of around 25 °C. It's best to try growing in a mini or indoor greenhouse (€29.00 on Amazon).
The most important things in brief:
- Location: warm and as bright as possible
- permeable soil
- water regularly
- fertilize every 3 to 4 weeks
- Winter rest likes cooler, but not below 15 °C
- water little in winter and do not fertilize at all
- Propagation possible by seeds and cuttings
Tip
Give your coffee plant time and opportunity to rest in the winter so that it can recover and gather strength for the subsequent growth and flowering period.