How to Grow Coffee Tree Plants

About Coffee Tree Houseplants

Have you ever thought about growing a Coffee plant? You can grow it outdoors, as long as you have a tropical environment, where there is never a frost, and the low temperatures do not go below 65 ° F for any length of time. For the rest of us, we know it and grow it as the Coffee Tree houseplant. It is indeed a tree. And, it’s easy to grow indoors. So, let’s explore how to grow coffee trees inside of your home.

Native to the Mediterranean, Coffee plants are evergreen and do not annually shed their leaves. As a result, it makes an excellent indoor houseplant. These attractive indoor trees have bright, glossy leaves and grow in a compact habit. It is hardy and easy to grow, a great choice for beginner gardeners. Coffee tree houseplants are attractive plants and will be a conversation piece for your visitors to your home.

The tree takes about 4-5 years to reach maturity and first begins to produce flowers. The sweetly scented white flowers are long-lasting, about a month. Coffee beans emerge and grow after the bloom dies off. Don’t expect an abundance of indoor blooms. But, with a little luck, you can get enough coffee beans to produce a “cup of joe” after the beans have grown and ripened.

Did You Know? The flowers produce pods which are called “cherries”. Each cheery contains two coffee beans. It takes 2,000 cherries to produce 4,000 beans. This makes one pound of coffee beans.

Coffee Tree Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: White.

Flowers Bloom: Outdoor plants bloom in the spring.

Plant height: Up to 30 feet tall outdoors.

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial sunlight.

Ideal Soil pH: Grow these acid-loving plants in the 4.0 to 7.0 range.

Toxic?: all parts except the beans are toxic to humans and pets.

Edible?: Only the beans.

Number of Species: Numerous.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 9 – 11

Native To: Africa.

Plant Type: Perennial

Botanical Name: Coffea arabica

Other Names: Coffea tree

Are Coffee Bean Trees Edible?

YES! The beans are edible.

NO!! All other parts of this plant are toxic to humans and pets.

Medicinal Benefits of Coffee

Too much coffee can give you the jitters. However, that morning cup of Joe just might provide you with several health benefits. And, it might lead to a longer and healthier life. Coffee beans contain powerful antioxidants. Here are some of the benefits of coffee:

All coffee drinkers know that coffee contains caffeine. This drug boosts energy levels and makes us more alert.
Coffee has cancer-fighting properties.
It can help to regulate blood sugar for those with Type 2 Diabetes.
It can support brain health and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Studies suggest it lowers the risk of depression.
Just a cup of coffee aids in cardiovascular health.
Coffee lowers the risk of liver disease.

Coffee Tree Plant Light Requirements

Coffee trees grown outdoors in the wild, or on commercial farms receive full, direct sunlight.

Provide much smaller trees grown indoors with bright, indirect light.

If you bring this tree indoors for the winter, gradually acclimate it to lower light levels. Provide the plant with an increasing amount of indirect light over a period of a couple of weeks prior to bringing it indoors. This adjustment period helps to minimize and avoid leaf drop. More on Houseplant Leaf Drop.

Coffee Tree Plant Propagation

Growing coffee trees is a novelty for most home gardeners. They are grown from coffee beans, the same ones you use in your morning coffee. But, you can’t take a bean out of the bag you use to make your cup of coffee, as they have been roasted. Rather, you need a mature, raw coffee bean that has been dried and is ready for planting.

The plants can also be propagated from cuttings.

Most people look to purchase a coffee tree seedling, that is available in some garden stores and online. They are usually 3-4 inch seedlings that you can take home and plant in 4″ pots. Later, you can transfer it to a larger flowerpot, as needed.

Coffee Tree Plant Care and Maintenance

Coffee Tree plants are easy to grow indoors as a houseplant. The plants are long-lived. The tree requires about 4-5 years to reach maturity before it blooms and produces coffee beans.

Temperature: Normal to warm indoor temperatures. It is native to warm climates. So, do not let the indoor temperature drop below 65°F overnight, or for long periods of time.

Soil: Use rich, organic potting soil that is well-draining.

Light / Sunlight: The plants grow well in bright, indirect light. You can provide full morning light, but avoid direct sunlight in the afternoon. Plant leaves can burn indirect lighting, and it can kill the plant.

Water: Use warm water for the plants regularly, keeping the soil moist but not wet.

Fertilizer Regimen: Use a light fertilizer every two to three months. As it grows to maturity, it needs a fertilizer high in nitrogen, to fuel the plant’s growth. As it matures, switch from high nitrogen to a fertilizer higher in phosphorous to promote blooming.

Humidity: Plants like high humidity.

Pruning: Prune your coffee plant if you want to keep the plant in a shorter, bushier shape. Many people prefer the bushier appearance. Pruning is best done in the spring. Remove any dead or dying leaves and branches.

Pollination: The flowers will appear on mature trees. They are self-pollinating. Trees grown indoors will produce fewer flowers. Hand pollination will ensure more successful pollination of the flowers that bloom.

Potting and Re-Potting Coffee Tree Houseplants

Most people buy 3–4-inch seedlings. There are usually several plants with the roots balled together in the package. Place the root ball in water overnight, to make it easier to separate the individual plants. The next day, carefully separate each coffee tree, and plant them in 4″ pots. Do not plant more than one per pot. As the plants grow, they need to be repotted twice more. After they outgrow the 4-inch pots, repot them into 12″ pots. Then, as they become really big, they will outgrow the 12-inch pots. Finally, repot them once more into 24″ or larger pots. It is important not to let them get root-bound, allowing the roots plenty of room to grow. Otherwise, you can stunt their growth.

Trimming and Pruning Coffee Tree Plants

Commercial growers trim their trees on a regular basis. They keep the trees six to eight feet tall. This facilitates harvesting the beans without the use of a ladder.

For indoor and home container plants, give them a trim every spring. Prune and trim them to keep them at a desirable height.

At any time of the year, remove any dead or diseased leaves and stems. Cut off the leaf stem where it meets the main stem of the plant.

Insect Pests and Plant Disease

Occasional insect infestations include aphids, mealy bugs, and mites. Treat the plants with an insecticidal soap or neem oil as needed. For outdoor plants, use organic insecticides.

Browning of leaves is often the result of too much direct light. This is especially true with houseplants when they are accustomed to indirect lighting.

Leap spot can also occur. Remove the affected leaves. Thinning the plants to allow better air circulation also helps.