Coffee Plant

Coffea arabica

Trees & StatementModerateModeratetoxic to pets

Good to know: The real thing behind your latte. Given a few years, good light, and some size (usually 3+ ft), mature plants throw fragrant, jasmine-scented white flowers that ripen into red "cherries," each holding two coffee beans. Young or dim-lit plants stay handsome but fruitless.

Through the year 🗓️

🍂 Fall now

Ease off fertilizer and pull it back from cooling windows as nights turn.

❄️ Winter

Rest it: water a little less but never bone dry, hold it above 55 °F, and run a humidifier against dry heated air.

🌱 Spring

Repot if rootbound, prune to shape, and restart feeding as new growth appears.

☀️ Summer

Water more often in the heat, keep humidity up, and shield it from hot direct sun.

The details

Light & placement

Light: Bright indirect with a little gentle morning sun; strong light fuels dense growth, but harsh afternoon sun scorches the glossy leaves
Ideal PPFD: 200–400 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
Grow-light distance: 12–18 in below LED

Water & feed

Watering method: Keep the soil evenly, lightly moist, watering when the top inch dries and never letting it go bone dry. The leaves droop dramatically when thirsty and brown at the edges if it dries out repeatedly.
Fertilizer: Balanced or slightly acidic feed at ½ strength, every 2–4 wks in spring–summer.

Home & habit

Soil: Rich, well-draining, slightly acidic mix (peat/coco + perlite); pH 6.0–6.5
Humidity: High (50%+); browns at the leaf tips in dry air
Temperature: 65–80 °F; keep above 55 °F, no cold drafts
Mature size: 3–6 ft indoors; prunes easily to stay smaller
Repotting: Every 1–2 yrs in spring as roots fill the pot
Propagation: Fresh seed from ripe cherries, or semi-hardwood cuttings; both are slow and need warmth and patience.

When something looks wrong

Overwatering signs: Yellowing leaves, blackening stems, soil that stays wet and turns sour
Underwatering signs: Sudden droop of the whole canopy; brown, curling leaf edges
Common pests: Mealybugs, scale, spider mites, aphids

Care notes: Steady is the whole trick: even moisture, steady warmth, and bright light with no scorching sun. It sulks and browns from both drought and cold drafts, so keep it clear of radiators and chilly windows. Yes, this is the plant behind your morning cup, but don't expect a harvest soon.

Common problems 🩺

The usual suspects when Coffee Plant looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.

Brown, crispy leaf edges

Likely cause
Dry air or tap-water minerals.

What to do
Raise humidity above 50% and use filtered or rainwater.

Yellowing leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering, or a hungry plant in old soil.

What to do
Let the top inch dry, and feed monthly through spring and summer.

Dropping leaves suddenly

Likely cause
Cold. Coffee sulks below about 60°F and hates drafts.

What to do
Keep it warm and away from doors and windows in winter.

More like this 🌿

Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Bird of Paradise

Calamondin Orange

Corn Plant

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