Coffee Plant
Coffea arabica
Glossy dark-green foliage plant that occasionally produces fragrant white flowers and red berries indoors. The same species grown commercially for coffee beans. Makes an attractive bushy houseplant with proper care.
Best rooms for coffee plant
Light requirements
Best near a window with filtered light — avoid harsh direct rays.
How to care for coffee plant
Bright indirect light, away from harsh direct sun. Keep compost moist but not waterlogged. Use ericaceous (acidite) compost as coffee plants prefer slightly acidic soil. Mist regularly for humidity. Feed fortnightly spring-summer with an acid-loving plant fertiliser. Minimum 15°C.
Watering
Water when the top 2–3cm of compost feels dry. Roughly weekly.
Propagation
- Seed from fresh ripe berries
- Semi-ripe stem cuttings in summer
Toxicity
All parts except the ripe fruit are toxic to pets. Caffeine causes vomiting, hyperactivity, and increased heart rate.
Common problems
- Brown leaf edges from dry air
- Leaf drop from cold draughts or underwatering
- Spider mites
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