In their native habitat, coffee plants grow into medium-sized trees, adding inches in just a few months and reaching two feet within their first year. Indoors, the plants are pruned to a more manageable size.
Coffee Plant Care
Whether you grow coffee plants in your yard or indoors, the best environment is one that mimics the plant’s natural conditions on a tropical, mid-elevation mountainside. Here are the main care requirements for growing a coffee plant as a houseplant:
- Place it in a location near a window but not in direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves.
- Maintain a room temperature.
- Use rich, peat-based, slightly acidic potting soil amended with organic matter.
- Water the plant as often as needed to keep the soil evenly moist.
- In spring and summer, fertilize with a diluted liquid fertilizer.
- Prune the plant in the spring to encourage dense, bushy growth.
