Arabica Coffee Plant: Overview

The Coffee Plant (Coffea arabica) is a beautiful shrub with bright green, glossy leaves, which produces fragrant, white flowers that ripen into coffee berries. The Coffee Arabica plant can grow in hardiness zones 9-11, but it’s not frost-hardy and cannot survive temperatures below 60°F when grown outdoors as a porch plant.

The Coffee plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family, including the Gardenia plant. The Arabica Coffee plant originally came from Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula. It grows best in bright, indirect light and requires additional care to thrive as an indoor plant. The Coffee tree plant can reach up to 15 ft. in height and live for over 60 years. Indoors, it normally doesn’t grow larger than 6 ft. tall. 

The plant is often seen as a symbol of focus, vigor, and willpower. In Feng Shui, it’s believed to attract health and well-being. If you’re a pet owner, note that the Coffee plant is toxic to cats and dogs.

Coffea Arabica: Benefits

• Excellent air-purifying plant that improves indoor air quality
• Its gorgeous glossy green leaves and star-shaped flowers provide aesthetic value
• Improves concentration and mood 
• Symbolizes focus and determination in reaching your goals

Coffee Plant Care Guide

The Coffee plant has many benefits and is a beautiful green companion for growing at home. That said, it requires some additional effort to keep it thriving and growing. 

Watering

Correct watering is one of the most important aspects of Coffee plant care. Water your plant well, but ensure the soil drains thoroughly before placing it in its decorative pot. Keep your Coffea arabica moist, and don’t let your plant dry out. However, do not allow the soil to stay soggy. 

Light and Temperature

The Coffee plant needs plenty of bright, indirect light for optimal growth. Avoid keeping it in direct sunlight to prevent its leaves from getting scorched by the sun. The ideal temperature range for Coffea arabica plants is 65–80°F. 

Humidity

Your indoor Coffee plant needs high humidity, ideally over 50%. Watch out for browning leaf tips, which indicate that the air in your home is too dry. Increase humidity by keeping a humidifier near your plant or misting it regularly. 

Soil, Repotting, and Fertilizing

When you order a Coffee Tree for sale, you don’t need to repot it immediately. The best time to repot is in about a year, ideally in the spring. The Coffea arabica plant prefers rich soil, so add organic matter or compost to the potting mix to supplement the soil with the necessary nutrients. Also, mix in some perlite to improve soil drainage. Fertilize your coffee tree with a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season. Stop feeding your plant gradually during the fall and winter months when your plant goes dormant.

Propagation

To propagate your Coffee plant, take cuttings from the tips of the branches. Put them in small pots with moist soil, dipping each cutting in a rooting hormone. Then, cover with a transparent plastic bag to increase moisture around the cuttings. The roots will develop within a few weeks.

Pruning, Cleaning, and Common Issues

You can prune your Coffea arabica if it gets leggy. Clipping its branches will encourage your plant to grow more compactly. Remove any wilted leaves or damaged branches. Common problems with your coffee plant include mushy, yellowing leaves, which are signs of overwatering. Ensure good drainage to help your plant’s roots stay healthy. On the other hand, crisp, browning leaves indicate overexposure to direct light and that your plant isn’t getting enough humidity. Regularly check your plant’s leaves to prevent pest infestations.  

Indoor Coffee Plant: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants

Combine your beautiful Coffee plant with other tropical plants, or enjoy it as an impressive centerpiece in your living space. 

Best Locations & Uses

• Excellent air-purifying plant for bedrooms or bathrooms, as it enjoys high humidity
• Great gift plant with a touch of exotic glamor 
• Perfect for plant lovers with no pets
• Suitable for warmer climates if grown as a porch plant
• An ideal plant for experienced indoor gardeners, due to its high-maintenance needs

Companion Plants

When growing a Coffee plant in your indoor living space, it helps to group it with humidity-loving companion plants that will thrive in bright, indirect light, just like your Coffee plant:

• Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata): One of the most popular house plants in recent years, you’ll recognize the remarkable Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree by its unusual, violin-shaped leaves.   
• Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa): A low-maintenance indoor palm tree, the Lady Palm is an elegant and exotic addition to your home or office.
• Petra Croton (Codiaeum variegatum 'Petra'): With its unique colorful leaves, the Petra Croton is an easy-care plant that is highly unusual and cheerful.

Alternative Plants

If you’re a pet owner, you might want to consider other, pet-friendly plants that will beautify your living space while being safe for your pets:

• Calathea Concinna "Freddie" (Calathea concinna 'Freddie'): The vibrant and pet-friendly Calathea Concinna “Freddie” is a prayer plant that will enchant you with its colorfully patterned leaves.
• Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus): The epiphytic Bird’s Nest Fern boasts gorgeous, unfurling foliage and its pet-friendliness makes it an excellent houseplant for pet owners.
• Tuscan Blue Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): If you like the idea of edible plants, you’ll enjoy growing the beautiful Tuscan Blue Rosemary - an easy-care and highly valued herb often used in Mediterranean cuisine.

Get Your Coffee Plant for Sale From Lively Root Today

Upgrade your living space by brightening your home with one of Lively Root’s fantastic Coffee plants for sale!