Rules for planting and caring for a coffee tree at home, soil selection and cultivation
Caring for a coffee tree at home should be comprehensive. In order to successfully develop a culture, a number of characteristics should be observed. These include timely watering, fertilizing and pruning. Protection against diseases and pests is also important. There are many ways to grow a coffee tree at home. This allows you to choose the appropriate option.
Description and characteristics of the plant
This plant is characterized by large leaves, which are distinguished by a light green tint. During the flowering period, umbrella-shaped inflorescences appear on the culture, which include 75 white flowers. The fruits consist of 2 round-shaped seeds. They are first yellow then turn green.
As they ripen, the fruits turn red. When ripe, a crust appears on the surface, under which there is a sweet pulp and 2 seeds. Their length is 1.3 centimeters.
The coffee tree is able to purify the air of harmful elements. It fills the body with energy, restores the nervous system, copes with stress.
How to plant correctly
This plant should be protected from sudden temperature changes and exposure to drafts. With proper care, the culture will bloom and bear fruit abundantly.
Choice of capacity
It is worth planting a culture in a high pot. A high-quality drainage layer is not insignificant. The roots of the crop grow downwards.
Ground requirements
It is worth growing a tree in a loose, acidic substrate. It is best to mix coarse sand, crushed coal, humus, peat. These components are taken in equal parts.
Landing scheme
It is best to grow a crop from a seed. It should not be fried. To plant a plant, you must do the following:
- Soak the grain in a solution of hydrochloric acid or file lightly.
- Place the grain in a growth stimulator.
- Moisten and loosen the soil. Plant a seed. You don't have to go too deep into it.
- Place the pot in a lighted place. The temperature should be above +20 degrees.
How to transplant correctly
Young cultures under 3 years old require constant transplantation. The procedure is carried out annually. The tree needs a deep pot. After transplanting the culture, it is moved for some time to partial shade and systematically sprayed.
Rules of care
When growing a culture, a number of features should be observed. Thanks to this, it will be possible to achieve success.
Temperature and lighting
For the normal development of a tree in winter, the temperature should be +18 degrees, in summer - +22. In this case, the temperature should not fall below +12 degrees. Otherwise, there is a risk of root problems. Mature trees normally grow at +10 degrees.
Culture should be placed on the south window sill. To prevent the sun's rays from burning the young leaves, they should be shaded a little. Adult crops need adequate lighting. This will ensure proper formation of the ovaries. When embryos appear on the inflorescences, the coffee trees should be shaded.
Ambient humidity
Naturally, coffee trees grow in warm, humid places. Therefore, when growing a culture at home, it must be systematically sprayed. It is recommended to do this with warm, settled water.
Dry or too humid air negatively affects the plant and slows down its development.
watering mode
Watering the plant should be very generous, since coffee is considered a moisture-loving culture. When moistening the soil, it is recommended to control the temperature of the water - it should be warm. It is important that the soil is permeable to water. In winter, the tree needs moderate watering.
Size and shaping of the crown
The coffee tree requires virtually no pruning or crown formation. Experts advise only to remove dry branches and cut off too long shoots a little.
Top dressing and fertilization
From spring to autumn, the plant is recommended to be fertilized with compositions for azaleas or the Rose family. This should be done every 2 weeks.It is allowed to use fertilizers containing a lot of potassium and nitrogen salts. It is not recommended to feed the culture in winter.
Bloom
In the first years of life, the coffee tree does not flower. Inflorescences appear in 3-4 years. They are located in the axils of green leaves. The flowers tend to self-pollinate. At the same time, the plant does not bloom for a long time.
Transfer
It is recommended to replant young plants every year. This is done in the spring. Trees over 3 years old can be moved to a new location every 2 years. A large pot should be used to transplant a plant. It is recommended to lay a drainage layer at the bottom. During the procedure, you need to be careful not to damage the fragile roots of the plant. After transplanting, the tree should be placed in partial shade for 2 weeks and sprayed systematically.
Soil requirements
The plant needs light soil with an acid reaction. For this, a mixture of sour peat, sand and humus is used. It is also acceptable to add charcoal.
Flowering and fruiting
Flowering begins in 3-4 years. It takes 8 months to ripen the set fruit. In indoor conditions, the culture blooms twice a year. If the fruits are kept on the tree, they are removed. This helps to avoid depleting the culture.
Choice of capacity
The plant needs a high pot. In this case, it is necessary to arrange a high-quality drainage layer.
How to start a house
To raise a culture at home, you can use the method from seeds or cuttings.
How to grow from seed
Growing a coffee tree this way is easy. For this, the pot must be filled with perlite or coarse sand.Seeds must be prepared for planting. For this, the grains are peeled and soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
After that, it is allowed to start sowing. It is recommended to deepen the seeds by at least 20 millimeters. The plantation must be systematically sprayed. The first shoots will appear in 1 month. When they grow up and 2 true leaves appear, the plants should be planted. For this, small individual containers are used.
Cutting rules
First of all, you need to prepare the cuttings. To do this, it is worth cutting a few stems. The length of the segments must be 80 millimeters. Each of them should include 2 kidneys. To root the plants, they are placed in a container with a loose substrate and placed in a warm place. The temperature should be +27 degrees.
From above, the container should be covered with a transparent film. It is important to ensure that the substrate in the container does not dry out. To do this, it is systematically moistened. Systematic ventilation of planting material is not negligible. When the roots appear and the culture begins to grow, it is transplanted into individual pots.
How to choose the right one in store
Inexperienced growers can buy a ready-made plant in the store. In this case, the following characteristics should be considered:
- The leaves should be firm and shiny. It is important that they are not stained or damaged.
- The barrel must be solid and resistant. Equally important is the ratio of thickness to height.
- In the presence of flowers and fruits, it is worth inspecting the culture for the absence of diseases.
The seedling is very sensitive to low temperatures. When buying a plant in the cold season, it is packed before transport.
Problems and possible solutions
When growing a coffee tree, there is a risk of various problems. To deal with it, it is important to establish the reasons.
The leaves are turning yellow
This disorder is accompanied by yellowing of the trunk and is considered a consequence of a bacterial infection.
Loss of shine
The leaves lose their shine due to lack of light. They can yellow and crumble prematurely.
Falling foliage
This problem can be caused by replanting a crop with a complete soil change. The tree does not tolerate exposure of the root system.
Leaf blackening
The appearance of black leaves is associated with a violation of the temperature regime. With the formation of a black border on the foliage, freezing of an earthen coma can be suspected. Soot fungus also becomes the cause of trouble.
brown rust
This disease is caused by fungal microorganisms. In this case, the leaves are covered with large brown spots. To prevent the disease, the culture should be sprayed with fungicides.
Varieties
There are several varieties of coffee trees, each with certain characteristics.
Arabica
This tree is short and does not exceed 3 to 5 meters in height. It is distinguished by horizontal branches that cover green leaves. The plant blooms several times a year. This particular variety is considered the most popular.
Robust
It is a powerful coffee that is commonly found in equatorial countries. The culture accepts warm climates well and is resistant to disease. She is considered very unpretentious about the conditions of detention. The bush is characterized by leaves with whole edges that droop slightly. This type of coffee contains twice as much caffeine as Arabica.
dwarf girl
The plant is compact in size and reaches 80 centimeters in height. The culture is characterized by abundant flowering and good fruiting even indoors. Correct pruning helps to give the bush a beautiful shape and improve its decorative characteristics.
Liberian
This variety is characterized by red fruits. They may also have a rich yellow tint. The leaves reach a length of 40 centimeters. The plant has large seeds and white flowers. It grows quite large.
Additional tips and tricks
In order for the plant to develop normally and bear fruit abundantly, it must be well cared for. In this case, it is important to follow these recommendations:
- Water and mist the plant in a timely manner. Culture needs high humidity. If the air is very dry, you will need to use a special device or install containers with water in the room.
- Provide enough light. At the same time, the culture hardly tolerates the influence of direct sunlight. Young bushes should be shaded a little. The coffee tree needs as much light as possible during flowering and fruit formation.
- Use soft water for irrigation. For this, cast iron or rainwater is suitable.
- Apply fertilizers. For this, minerals and organic materials are used.
Growing a coffee tree is not an easy process, but a very exciting one. To achieve success in this area, it is worth taking good care of the culture. It must be watered, fed, cut in time.