How to care for coffee plant (Coffea arabica)

Coffea arabica · Arabica coffee

Coffee plant (Coffea arabica) — an evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy dark green leaves in opposite pairs; kept indoors at about 1.2–1.8 m. Fragrant white flowers appear from about the fourth year and are followed by green berries that ripen through yellow to deep red. Coffee plant needs partial shade. Water it about every 5 days while it grows and about every 10 days in the winter rest.

Checked against sources: November 5, 2026

Watering and repotting coffee plant through the year

It lives indoors all year, so it has no sowing or planting dates: it grows from March to September and rests from October to February (the other way round in the southern hemisphere).

Repot it about every 30 months.

When to plant coffee plant?

Plant or repot coffee plant in spring, as it starts into growth; early to midsummer also works. It is a houseplant, so it has no outdoor planting date and no frost decides it: just avoid autumn and winter, when growth slows and fresh compost stays wet too long. After that, move it to a slightly larger pot about every two and a half years, or sooner once roots circle the pot or grow through the drainage holes.

Watering in the growing and resting halves of the year: Watering and repotting coffee plant through the year.

Sources: RHS: How to repot a plant · Penn State Extension: Repotting houseplants

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Latin name	Coffea arabica
Family	Rubiaceae
Also called	Arabica coffee
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Repotting	every 30 months
Grown in	At home

Coffee plant care by growth stage

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 5 days	—	balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 28 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 42 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 56 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 70 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 84 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 98 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 112 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 126 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 140 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 154 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 168 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 182 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 10 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright indirect light; if put outdoors in summer, it prefers partial shade.

Soil

Organically rich, well-drained, peat-free loam-based potting compost, kept consistently moist but not soggy.

Care

Water freely in the growing season, keeping the compost evenly moist but not soggy, and more moderately in winter. It likes moderate to high humidity and protection from draughts. Daytime temperatures of 21–27 °C and nights of 16–18 °C suit it; leaf drop can occur below 13 °C. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser every two weeks in the growing season. Repot every 2–3 years in spring. It may need restrictive pruning to stay compact. Watch for scale insects, mealybugs, thrips and spider mites.

Pests and diseases of Coffee plant

2 problems are recorded for coffee plant; each has a page with symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Pests

Other plants of the Rubiaceae family

Coffee plant belongs to Rubiaceae; 1 other plant of this family has a guide here.

GardeniaGardenia jasminoides

Plant lists it is in

Part of: Houseplants · Thirsty houseplants

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.