If you could choose a plant as your “superhero,” which would you pick? Perhaps a soothing herb? Quite possibly.
But what plant should we call our “friendly neighbor Spider-Man”? The one that makes us feel a little better every day? The one that’s always there for us, no matter the circumstances? It may not wear a mask, but it still deserves the aura of a hero. We’re about to reveal its secret: it’s Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica).
Ready to learn more about it?
Arabica Coffee
Coffee belongs to the Rubiaceae family and originated in Ethiopia. It grows on tropical hillsides, regions that are typically rainy and foggy. It is an evergreen perennial plant.
Its fruit, called a drupe, resembles a berry, changing color from green to red as it ripens, eventually turning black. Growing coffee beans is very difficult in Italy, except in the warmer southern regions. These drupes develop into two seeds, which, after processing and roasting, become the beloved coffee beans.
Three to four years later, in spring, it will bloom with delicate, fragrant white flowers—like tiny stars twinkling on the branches.
This is a highly ornamental plant with glossy green leaves that curl at the edges and a compact form. In its natural environment, it can grow into a medium-sized tree, but gardeners will prune it to make it easier to manage. Indoors, through pruning and the use of enclosed pots, it maintains a compact shape.
Arabic coffee (Coffea arabica) has been cultivated for over a thousand years and is currently the most famous and widely planted coffee variety (accounting for approximately 60% to 80% of global coffee consumption) because it produces coffee with a sweet, fruity aroma. In fact, this genus contains about 120 species. Another well-known variety is Robusta coffee (Coffea robusta), also known as C. canephora, which produces coffee with a richer, fuller flavor.
Caring for Coffea arabica
Coffea arabica is a rather simple and resistant plant, it also has a long lifeeven if you don’t expect to be able to produce your own coffee, as we have already said, it will hardly be possible to produce the drupes in Italy, even if you have taken care of it like expert farmers.
Light
He prefers screened or semi-shaded light positionsin well-ventilated places. It is advisable to avoid direct sunlight, especially during the hottest hours of the summer months as it could burn the leaves.
Waterfall
Coffea needs frequent watering from spring to autumnin particular, young plants need more water than those that are already developed. You need to make sure that the soil never dries out completely, always remaining a little damp. However, to avoid water stagnation, it is important that the surface layer of earth is dry before proceeding with wetting.
In summer, when the demand for water is greater, a trick is to leave some water in the saucer for the plant to absorb, but after 30 minutes it is necessary to remove it.
In the cold months, however, wetting can be reduced, always paying attention to the humidity which must be constant.
It loves humidity very much, it is a good practice to vaporize it, particularly during the warmer months, at least once a day.
Land
The soil for Coffea should be well-draining, rich in organic substances and predominantly acidic, with a pH between 5 and 6.5. A peat-based soil is a good solution, to be added especially if you see that the plant is struggling to grow, as it makes a possibly calcareous soil more acidic. Some lovers of this plant suggest spraying lemon juice on the soil every now and then.
Temperature
The ideal temperature is around 19-24°C. During the winter the plant goes dormant and this allows it to tolerate lower temperatures ranging from 12 to 20°C.
Fertilization
From March/April to September, the coffee plant must be fertilized every two weeks, preferably with liquid organic fertilizer. By avoiding mineral fertilizer you will not risk the soil becoming too saline.
In winter fertilization can be suspended or reduced to once a month.
Be careful though, newly purchased or transplanted plants do not require fertilization for about 1 year.
Propagation
The propagation of Coffea can prove to be slightly insidious, it is in fact possible to duplicate it from seed but it is It is necessary to make sure that the seeds are fresh because their germination capacity is lost within 4 weeks of harvest. Furthermore, the seeds are contained inside the berries which are difficult to develop in our climates. It is impossible to propagate the plant through beans purchased in supermarkets, as they are already treated to produce coffee.
It is also rooting by cutting is possible, for which the ideal period is the beginning of summer.
The cuttings taken should be 20 to 25cm long, then remove all the leaves other than the two apical ones. Then place the cuttings in a pot with soil suitable for propagation. Moisten the soil, as for Peperomia, cover with a glass jar that can act as a bell to retain the humidity. Finally, keep the pot in a warm, semi-shaded place until rooting occurs, which usually occurs within a couple of weeks.
Pruning
Coffea is a plant that, especially in favorable conditions, tends to grow a lot and very quickly, so it is necessary to prune it in order to contain its size and help it grow thickly.
The ideal period for pruning is spring and the point where the stems must be cut is the one slightly above the junction point between the stem and the leaves.
I repot
Coffea plants develop strong roots which leads the plants to have fast growth. Spring is the best month to carry out this action.
Threats
There can be many problems you may encounter:
- Falling leaves
if the plant loses a leaf or two there is no need to worry, like all plants it performs a normal leaf replacement. If, however, the plant begins to lose more leaves than normal, the cause could be thermal shock or too wet soil. - Leaf spots or loss of color vibrancy
brown spots are usually caused by excessive exposure to sunlight which ends up causing burns on the leaf blade. If, however, the spots are yellow or slightly yellow, they could be an indication of a deficiency (or excess?) of iron or manganese (in this case you will need to look for a suitable fertilizer).
Insects can also become a problem, in reality Coffea is a plant that is quite resistant to parasites but if it is found in less than ideal conditions it is possible that it may encounter infestations.
- Worms
They attack particularly in winter and are recognizable by small brown scales or bumps and their secretions which produce a sort of thick and sticky liquid. Worms thrive when the plant is in areas that are too hot or cold or without adequate soil or leaf moisture. In these cases it is useful to treat the plant with a mixture of soap, water and alcohol on the leaves. - Mites
they develop especially if the air or soil is too dry. They are identified by the yellowing of the leaves.
One way to combat mites is to mist the plant as they hate humidity. In any case, a specific insecticide is always advisable.
Furthermore, it can also be attacked by scale insects and aphids.
Toxicity
Unexpectedly it is a fairly toxic plant. In fact, with the exception of the ripe fruit (our beloved coffee bean), all parts of the plant are toxic to both humans and our four-legged friends.
Ingestion does not have lethal effects but can still cause discomfort.
Are we therefore ready to offer asylum to our dear “friendly neighborhood Coffea”, a superhero ready for anything, even to say good morning after an alarm ringing too early?