Coffee in Your Backyard: How to Successfully Raise a Coffee Plant

Many people do not know that growing coffee plant (as a commercial plant the produces nice beans for brewing a fresh drink) can make a great houseplant for their interior as well.

But, don’t worry. You just need a small pot to grow this distinguished plant and make a unique addition to your décor.

Coffee leaves have a deep green color and great texture, and if you care about this plant, eventually it produces white flowers that turns into cherries.

Can everyone grow coffee plant?

Yes! But, if you want to enjoy the beauty of green leaves of plant and produce white flowers, it is important to follow the instruction for growing coffee plant.

Because, like other houseplants, there are several defining factors like light, soil, water, temperature, and humidity that will impact the speed of growth and overall health of coffee plant.

Coffee plant care

Many coffee lovers know how to roast and brew coffee beans, but don’t know how they can grow coffee plant and care for it, or how to have an excellent house plant in their home.

What is the best condition for growing coffee?

If you need to care about the plant, it is essential to learn about the following factors. Why they are important?

They help you to choose best place and provide best condition for growing it in your house.

Light

A bright and indirect sunlight is the best choice for developing the plant. If you expose the leaves to the direct sunlight, it can hurt the plant and brown the leaves.

Water

Frequent watering is a good way to keep the leaves fresh and healthy. But, too much water will hurt the coffee.

So, if you feel that more than 20 percent of soil is dry, it is time to give it some water until it flows from bottom of the pot. Don’t forget to check the drains.

Humidity

Remember that low humidity can lead the leaves to turn brown. Perhaps, a daily misting or using a humidifier will help the leaves to stay in a humid condition and turn green.

Temperature

An ideal temperature for coffee plant to grow is something between 65 to 80 degree Fahrenheit. But, some people recommend 70 to 85 F.

Fertilizers

Fertilizing in spring and summer is necessary. It can help the coffee plant to grow faster and stay healthy.

To do this, you just need a liquid fertilizer. Then, you can dilute and use it every month to provide some nutrients for the roots of plant.

Pruning

Pruning is not necessary for coffee plant. But, sometime, especially in springs, you can trim the plant to make sure it grows better in the next summer.

Is there any common issue with coffee plants?

Remember that are several common issues that many coffee houseplant growers may experience. One of them happens when leaves are turning brown.

Other main issue is that many coffee plants do not produce flower indoor.

Of course, in countries that are not in coffee belt, and do not have the suitable condition for growing coffee plant outside, it is not easy to produce strong plants with flowers that turn into beans.

But, with a bit of experience and providing the right condition, you can prevent the leaves from turning brown.

In the following, we’ve answered several common questions that people ask about how to grow or care for coffee plant. Before, let’s introduce coffee:

What is coffee plant?

It is flowering shrub native to Ethiopia. The plant is known for producing seeds that are used all over globe for preparing a fresh and flavorful drink.

Is coffee a houseplant?

Yes, it has unique features that makes it an attractive choice for interior décor.

But, is there a difference between how to grow coffee plant outdoor or indoors?

Yes. As the conditions indoor and outdoor are not the same, coffee plant in suitable condition outside the home and in farm lands can grow quite large. But, they cannot grow large indoors.

How long does coffee tree live?

In coffee growing countries, it will bring its flowers after 3 to 5 years. Coffee plant may even live for 50 years.

But, if you grow coffee in a pot, it is not easy to have large plants that live more than several years.

How tall will it grow indoors?

In the right condition, it is easy to grow plants that are several feet tall.

Does coffee plant need sunlight?

Yes. But, it needs indirect sunlight. This means that somewhere near the window is a good place for your pot.

In fact, as a plant that is from Ethiopian forests. Coffee prefer light shade. Therefore, it’s better to place it in the shade of trees or similar places.

How often does coffee plant need water?

Some people advice to water every week. But, it depends on the humidity of the soil. If the soil is dry, it is time to give water.

Remember that coffee plants don’t want to stay wet. This means that daily watering is not recommended.

Is it easy to care for coffee plant?

Yes. It doesn’t need frequent trimming or watering. Also, you do not need to fertilize it every week. Even, once or twice a year is enough for having a healthy plant.

But, the right humidity, light, and water is a must for having a great addition to your home.

Can we grow coffee plant indoor by following instructions?

Yes, just don’t forget not to put it in direct sunlight. Also, follow the instructions to get the best result.

What is the best fertilizer for coffee plant?

A fertilizer with a high amount of nitrogen is an excellent choice that helps you to keep your plant healthy.

Keep in mind that using coffee grounds that are left after brewing the coffee drink is the best choice for fertilizing the plant. Because, coffee ground has the exact nutrients that a coffee plants need to grow and stay healthy.

This means that if you are a coffee lover who drink it every day, you will never have problem providing micronutrients for your houseplant.

Why is coffee plant dying?

Several factors may hurt the coffee plant. For example, if the drainage is not good or enough to let the water out, or in the case of frequent watering, you may put the roots at risk.

Because, the roots of coffee may rot in humid soil and turn the leaves brown.

So, always let 20 percent of soil to dry. Then, it is time to give water. Also, check the drainage.

How long does coffee plant live?

It may even live up to nearly 100 years. But, if you want to have a productive plant outside, the first 5 to 20 years are the best time for harvesting coffee beans.

But, in general after 20 years of high yield, they can produce coffee bean for 30 to 40 years.

It’s important to note that different varieties may grow and give different volume of yield.

How tall does coffee tree grow?

It can grow larger, but farmers do not let the tree to grow taller than 6 to 7 feet. To do this, they remove the branches in the spring and leave the best branches on the trunk.

How much coffee does a tree produce?

The interesting point about coffee tree is that regular trees give around 10 pounds of cherry. Finally, you coffee growers can have 2 pounds of beans after processing the fruits.

How does coffee plant bloom?

Coffee blooming happens when the plant is mature. In the coffee growing countries, it usually happens after heavy rainfalls.

Even some countries, it is even possible to witness flowering twice a year that in turn gives the opportunity to have two harvest in each year.

How to trim coffee plant?

By cutting and removing the top of tree, you can trim it to become 1 to meters. Leave the tick branches and cut the small ones to get the best result.

How to grow coffee plant in pots?

By providing the best condition for the coffee plant, it is straight forward to grow the tree.

Remember that they may outgrow their container. Therefore, regular up-sizing can help you to have an attractive houseplant.

What is the best soil for coffee plants?

A well-drainage soil is the best choice for growing the roots. Also, a PH of around 6.5 can be ideal place for the roots of plant to grow.

How big can a coffee plant grow indoor?

It depends on you to decide about the size of plant in the interior. Coffee plant can grow to a tree that is up to 8 feet tall. But, you can trim it to be a bush with about 3 to 4 feet height.

Does shade is better for coffee?

As traditionally this plant was shade grown, many varieties can’t grow in direct sunlight. A sun filtering shade can provide a perfect condition for the plant.

How long does it take for a coffee to grow?

As we mentioned above, it takes 3 to 5 years for coffee tree to grow and produce flowers. So, you need to wait for at least 3 to 4 year until it grows enough to give its white flowers.

Final thought

Many people just know about to use coffee beans (or coffee grounds) to brew and prepare a fresh drink for their daily drink.

But, keep in mind that growing coffee plant in pots is not as difficult as you think.

Don’t forget! This plant brings broad and sturdy leaves with hard stalks which creates a great statement in every space inside your home.