Coffee (Coffea arabica)
Coffee plants make a great houseplant. Native to Ethiopia, coffee is an evergreen with green shiny leaves and small, fragrant white flowers. This plant was grown from beans harvested from coffee plants in Biosphere 2’s orchard and will produce yellow or red fruit.
LIGHT: Coffee plants do well in bright light. Avoid direct sunlight, however, as it may cause the leaves to brown.
WATERING: Keep the soil in your coffee plant moist but not too soggy. It is okay to let the top inch or so of the soil to begin drying before watering again. Water less in the winter.
SOIL: Any well-draining potting soil will be suitable for the plant.
FERTILIZING: Coffee plants can be fertilized every couple of months with a general purpose fertilizer. You can also fertilize more frequently if you choose to by diluting down your fertilizer. No fertilizer is needed during the winter.
TEMPERATURE and HUMIDITY: The preferred temperature range for coffee plants is 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit. They may go dormant if regularly exposed to lower temperatures. Coffee plants are tropical in origin and do better in somewhat humid environments of 50% or higher. You can use a small humidifier or spritz the plant with water to help keep it moist.
PRUNING: Pruning can be done in the winter just before new growth occurs.
REPOTTING: Plants can be repotted into slightly larger pots each spring, unless it is regularly pruned.
SIZE AT MATURITY: 6-15 feet tall and wide.
TOXICITY: With the exception of the coffee beans (seeds), coffee plants are toxic to humans and animals.