How to Grow and Care for Coffee Plants—a Glossy Houseplant That Can Live for Decades

The coffee plant (Coffea arabica) is a tropical evergreen shrub with glossy leaves that will add lush green color to your home or garden. Though it can take a few years, the plant eventually forms fragrant, white flowers. These blossoms produce a pod called a coffee cherry, which contains the seeds processed by coffee farmers to become coffee beans.

When cared for properly, the coffee plant can live upwards of 60 years. In their native habitat, coffee plants can be grown outdoors, but they also make for a beautiful and rewarding houseplant.

How to Grow a Coffee Plant Outdoors 

Coffee plants can be grown outdoors in zones 10 to 11. They will do well in areas with daytime temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. You can grow them outdoors in a pot—or plant them in your garden by following the steps outlined below. 

1. Dig a hole that is no deeper than the height of the rootball. The width of the hole should be two to three times the width of the root ball. 
2. Lay the pot on its side and gently roll it to loosen the root ball. 
3. Place one hand on the edge of the pot and another on the top of the soil and turn the pot upside down. The plant should slide out. 
4. Loosen any circling roots and place the plant in the center of the hole. 
5. Backfill in the hole with soil. 
6. Water well when done. 

How to Care for Coffee Plant

When given proper care, coffee plants can live for decades.

Water

Keep the soil consistently moist, but don’t water it so frequently that it becomes waterlogged. Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings. 

Soil 

Coffee plants need rich, organic, well-drained soil that mimics their natural environment. Andisol, loam, or sandy soils are best. “The roots of these plants are porous and need more oxygen in their roots,” says Langelo. “They also retain water, but the type of soil allows the roots to have the right balance of oxygen and water, as with any plant that is planted in the proper soil.”

Light

These plants prefer part shade outdoors and bright indirect sunlight indoors. Ensure they don’t receive direct sunlight, which can cause the leaves to turn brown. 

Temperature

Since coffee plants are tropical, they should be misted regularly with water to increase humidity. Additionally, they like temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, says Langelo. 

Fertilizer

Fertilize coffee plants every two weeks from March through October, then monthly from November through February, says Langelo. Use a general all purpose fertilizer with a 10-10-10 ratio. 

How to Prune a Coffee Plant

Coffee plants only require pruning to maintain their shape. “When you prune to shape the tree and keep it the size you want, make your cuts on each stem at a 45-degree angle just above a leaf joint,” says Langelo. “Prune in the spring.” 

How to Propagate a Coffee Plant

Producing more offspring from your coffee plant can be done through cuttings at any time of the year, says Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 

1. Cut off a stem at the top of the plant, roughly 6 inches long. 
2. Remove all the leaves except for the top pair.  
3. Dip the bottom end of the stem where you made the cut into a hormone solution.
4. Fill a two-inch pot with well-draining potting soil. 
5. Make a hole in your soil and place the cutting in the hole about halfway up the length of the stem.  
6. Water the soil well. 
7. Cover the container or pot with a plastic bag to create a greenhouse-like effect.
8. Place the pot in a warm area that’s about 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and water to keep it moist. 
9. In four to six weeks, gently tug on the plant. If it is rooted, the cutting will stay in place. 

How to Get a Coffee Plant to Bloom

A coffee plant must be three to four years old to bloom. To encourage it to bloom, scale back your watering schedule during winter, and it will bloom in spring. “Overwatering can stop your plant from blooming as can underwatering,” says Langelo. “It will bloom in May through June.” If your coffee plant reaches maturity (five years old) and it doesn’t flower, then repot it and place it in a warm location with bright, indirect light.  

How to Repot a Coffee Plant 

If your coffee plant becomes too big for its current container, it’s time to repot it. Select a pot that is about 1 inch wider than the pot it is in, says Langelo. 

1. Fill the new pot 1/3 of the way full with organic, rich soil. 
2. Remove the old plant from its pot by placing the pot on its side and gently shaking it out. 
3. Remove old soil and gently loosen some of the roots. 
4. Place the pot in its new container. 
5. Add soil around the roots and continue filling the pot with soil until it’s just below the rim. 
6. Gently tap the bottom of the pot on the table or counter to allow the soil to settle without compacting it. 
7. Water thoroughly and let it drain before placing the place in its original location.
   

Common Problems With Coffee Plants

Although they're relatively low maintenance, there are some common problems you may encounter when caring for coffee plants.

Bacterium Xyella

Bacterium xyella (Xylella fastidiosa) causes dieback and leaf scorch and will eventually kill the plant. "The bacterium clogs the vascular structure or the xylem of the plant," says Langelo. "The xylem transports water and nutrients to the plant. Leafhoppers such as sharpshooters and spittlebugs spread the bacterium. There is no cure currently."

Red Spider Mites

Red spider mites feed on the sap of the plant. "Look for webbing on the leaves and stems and eggs on the underside of the leaves," says Langelo. "Eggs look whitish round and are found around the leaf veins." Prevent spider mites by spraying your coffee plant with insecticidal soap every two weeks. Biological controls like ladybugs and lacewings can also help when used on outside plants.

Scale

Scale, which lives on plant sap, appears as small black bumps on the undersides of leaves. "They can cover a plant with honeydew which is really their waste," says Langelo. "A water solution with neem oil can help treat the scale, but it may take a few weeks."

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats can occur if you've kept the soil overly moist. "Gnats eat decaying plant material such as dead leaves and stems on top of the soil," says Langelo. "So, remove any of those and cut back on watering. Young gnats feed on plant roots that can rot or die from overwatering."

Browning Leaves

Brown leaves on your coffee plant may occur for a few reasons, including low humidity, too much direct sunlight, and too little water. Try increasing the humidity and moving the plant away from harsh light. If that doesn't work, adjust your watering schedule. "Create a watering plan where you use 1/3 cup of distilled water in the watering schedule," says Langelo. "This helps to reduce the salts in the water. Or alternate watering with just distilled water every other watering."