Coffea

The genus Coffee, or Coffee tree (Coffea), includes about 40 species of evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees. As an ornamental plant, the coffee tree was first cultivated in botanical gardens and greenhouses. Thin stems are covered with opposite whole, often leathery, dark green glossy leaves with a wavy edge. In summer, funnel-shaped white or cream-colored fragrant flowers appear, collected in a brush, usually in the axils of leaves. Fruits are bright red berries that contain seeds and ripen very rarely at home. Cherry-like fruits - real coffee plant decoration. The most common type is Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica), which grows in nature up to 7 m in height. About 75% of the world's coffee production is made up of Arabian varieties. In the beginning, these are small non-branching trees; and if they are well cared for, then in the 4th-5th year they begin to bloom and bear fruit. Fragrant white flowers are collected in axillary racemes. The fruits are red, yellow or purple. The shape of the leaves of Congolian coffee, or powerful coffee (C. canephora, or C. robusta), from elliptical to lanceolate; they are pointed, dark green in color, veins are visible, the underside of the leaf plates is slightly pubescent. The flowers are snow-white and fragrant. The Liberian coffee (C. liberica) has very large (up to 40 cm) leathery, papery leaves; dark green on the upper side; lighter on the lower side. The fruits are red or yellow with red. Other species are less common, such as wild racemose coffee (C. racemosa), narrow-leaved coffee (C. stenophylla) with elongated thin leaves.

The genus Coffee, or Coffee tree (Coffea), includes about 40 species of evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees. As an ornamental plant, the coffee tree was first cultivated in botanical gardens and greenhouses. Thin stems are covered with opposite whole, often leathery, dark green glossy leaves with a wavy edge. In summer, funnel-shaped white or cream-colored fragrant flowers appear, collected in a brush, usually in the axils of leaves. Fruits are bright red berries that contain seeds and ripen very rarely at home. Cherry-like fruits - real coffee plant decoration.

The most common type is Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica), which grows in nature up to 7 m in height. About 75% of the world's coffee production is made up of Arabian varieties. In the beginning, these are small non-branching trees; and if they are well cared for, then in the 4th-5th year they begin to bloom and bear fruit. Fragrant white flowers are collected in axillary racemes. The fruits are red, yellow or purple.

The shape of the leaves of Congolian coffee, or powerful coffee (C. canephora, or C. robusta), from elliptical to lanceolate; they are pointed, dark green in color, veins are visible, the underside of the leaf plates is slightly pubescent. The flowers are snow-white and fragrant.

The Liberian coffee (C. liberica) has very large (up to 40 cm) leathery, papery leaves; dark green on the upper side; lighter on the lower side. The fruits are red or yellow with red.

Other species are less common, such as wild racemose coffee (C. racemosa), narrow-leaved coffee (C. stenophylla) with elongated thin leaves.

Cultivation

Outdoors, the coffee tree is grown only in tropical and equatorial zones. In other climates, it is grown as a houseplant. In summer, it is better to keep it in the fresh air: on the balcony or in the garden, in the fall, the plant is removed to the house. Use a substrate consisting of 1 part of fertile land and 2 parts of peat with the addition of a small amount of sand; pH 5.5-6.5. Once every 2-4 weeks, 10 ml of mineral fertilizer for flowers is added to the water for irrigation in a bucket. In the spring, you can perform formative pruning. To restrain growth and development, pinch randomly growing branches.

Location

A very well-lit place is ideal, but not in direct sunlight, except in the morning and evening hours and in the winter months.

Temperature

The optimal air temperature is 18-22 °C. In winter, it should never be below 15 °C, not more than 30 °C in summer. This plant is afraid of temperature changes, because of which it loses its foliage.

Watering

In summer, they are watered abundantly and regularly. It is advisable to pour water into a tray to avoid stagnation of water. Periodic spraying of the plant with water is also useful. To maintain a certain level of humidity, wet pebbles are poured into the tray. In winter, watering is reduced, limited to maintaining the soil in a slightly moist state.

Transplant

Transplanted 1 time in 1-2 years, old plants are much less common. If the container size is very large, you can limit yourself to replacing the surface layer of soil.

Care

Remove dry and damaged parts.

Reproduction

For propagation, it is usually used to sow fresh seeds, freeing them from the pulp. Sow in the spring, deepening about 1 cm at a temperature of 25 °C. Plants are kept in a shaded area. After germination, the light level is increased, and the temperature and humidity are reduced. Coffee seeds quickly lose their germination. Another method of propagation is cuttings. The length of cuttings is 15 cm; they are taken in the summer from branched shoots, and it is desirable that the part closest to the base is lignified. Cuttings are placed to form roots in sand with peat, in a cool place, at a temperature of about 18 °C. After root formation, they are planted in pots, and finally planted in the next spring.

For propagation, it is usually used to sow fresh seeds, freeing them from the pulp. Sow in the spring, deepening about 1 cm at a temperature of 25 °C. Plants are kept in a shaded area. After germination, the light level is increased, and the temperature and humidity are reduced. Coffee seeds quickly lose their germination.

Another method of propagation is cuttings. The length of cuttings is 15 cm; they are taken in the summer from branched shoots, and it is desirable that the part closest to the base is lignified. Cuttings are placed to form roots in sand with peat, in a cool place, at a temperature of about 18 °C. After root formation, they are planted in pots, and finally planted in the next spring.

Diseases

Burning direct sunlight can cause leaf burns. Dry indoor air (below 50%) leads to leaf curling and contributes to pest infestation, especially spider mites. It causes specks to appear on the leaves, which then increase and merge, and "cobwebs" appear on the underside of the leaf. In this case, acaricides are used, and high humidity is maintained around the plant. The coffee tree is also loved by pests such as worms. They are disposed of by removing them with a rag or cotton swab soaked in alcohol, after which they are treated with anticoccidal drugs.

Burning direct sunlight can cause leaf burns. Dry indoor air (below 50%) leads to leaf curling and contributes to pest infestation, especially spider mites. It causes specks to appear on the leaves, which then increase and merge, and "cobwebs" appear on the underside of the leaf. In this case, acaricides are used, and high humidity is maintained around the plant.

The coffee tree is also loved by pests such as worms. They are disposed of by removing them with a rag or cotton swab soaked in alcohol, after which they are treated with anticoccidal drugs.

Acquisition

The coffee tree can be obtained from horticultural centers that offer a wide range of crops. Check that the foliage is healthy, pay attention to the shape of the plant. Some specialized companies also sell seeds.