A well-groomed coffee tree in the interior of the apartment always looks very unusual and beautiful. Some flower growers, having experienced the sad experience of growing coffee, never undertake a second experiment. However, growing a coffee tree at home is not such a difficult task, feasible even for beginners. You just need to know what conditions this plant needs to create for its prosperous existence.
A bit about coffee.
Since time immemorial, only two of the varieties of existing types of coffee trees have been used for indoor cultivation: Liberian and Arabic.
Legends say that coffee as a drink appeared in Arabia in the 12th century. He discovered the miraculous properties of this mullah plant, which noticed the unusual liveliness of goats, the full leaves of a coffee tree. Mullah began to brew coffee beans to his students before evening prayer for good spirits. In the 17th century, coffee as a drink became popular in Europe, America, Turkey and Persia.
Coffee tree at home.
At home, a coffee tree blooms twice a year - in spring and autumn. The coffee berries are initially green in color, and as they ripen, they turn dark red. A coffee tree looks very attractive, since its branches can simultaneously have fruits and flowers. If the coffee tree grows in a small pot, the edges may dry out on the leaves. This indicates a lack of nutrients in the soil. The fruits for their ripening take nutrition from nearby leaves, causing them to be depleted. Therefore, when buds appear on your tree, it is better to collect ripened fruits so that the future harvest is good.
Features of cultivation and reproduction.
In order to grow a coffee tree with your own hands, you need to know some features of this plant. Coffee grows well at home, but loves moisture, good lighting and is afraid of drafts. It should be noted that coffee at home does not tolerate the neighborhood of other indoor plants.
The fruits that adorn the coffee tree at home ripen for more than six months. Each berry contains two grains. They are cleaned of the shell, dried and used after preliminary frying to prepare an invigorating drink.
Proper care, the guarantee that your coffee tree at home will not hurt and be affected by pests.
The coffee tree “loves” windows facing east and west. The ambient temperature in the apartment should be at least 22-24 degrees. In winter, a temperature drop of up to 16 degrees is allowed. In winter, place the plant away from batteries, as they contribute to the drying of the soil and leaves.
As soon as the topsoil dries, the coffee needs to be watered. Too much moisture in the soil in the pot can lead to leaf falling. Water the tree with water, which was left in the bank for a day, preferably with a wide throat. Useful once every two days.
Topping up coffee at home is done in the spring once every two weeks. To prepare a nutrient solution, take 3 grams of potassium chloride and 5 grams of nitrate per one liter of water. For one coffee tree of fruiting age, one liter of such a solution is sufficient for the entire feeding season. You can buy top dressing in specialized stores. The alternation of mineral and organic dressing will greatly benefit the plant and provide its abundant flowering. In winter, you do not need to feed.
To form a beautiful crown, pinch the tops of the shoots. Branches that have dried up for some reason are cut.
A coffee tree at home blooms at the age of 4 years. This occurs in early spring, when fragrant white flowers bloom.
Young coffee trees are transplanted every year in spring, and plants older than four years of age once every two years.
Light acidic soil consisting of peat, sand and humus is best suited for coffee.
You can propagate the coffee tree at home and seeds planted immediately after collection and cleaning. After planting the seeds in the soil, the pot needs to be covered with a bag of polyethylene, since it needs high humidity to germinate the seed . You can propagate the tree and cuttings with dense bark. Such reproduction is more laborious, but these plants bloom earlier than those obtained from seeds.