Tropical beauty - coffee tree
It is quite difficult to find a person in the Northern Hemisphere who would not like to visit the tropical latitudes of the planet. A pleasant warm climate, delicious exotic fruits, evergreens and, of course, a coffee tree. For many people, this is a pipe dream. But don't despair! Some plants thrive in colder latitudes when grown at home.
One such tropical beauty traveled around the world for a long time until she came to Europe. Nowadays it is cultivated as a houseplant, but it is in no way inferior to its distant relatives.
First meeting with a guest from the tropics
The tropical beauty belongs to the Madder family and has up to 40 different species. Its main feature is glossy leaves located on thin stems of a small indoor shrub. They are oblong in the form of an ellipse with serrated edges, fleshy, dark green. The upper plate of the sheet is glossy, the back side is pale. As a result, the bush shimmers in different shades.
When the flowering period begins (from May to June), inflorescences appear on the young roots in the form of miniature bouquets. They consist of many small white flowers, similar to jasmine. The buds open gradually, so the process continues for a long time. From the side it seems that the tree is covered with snow, which does not melt at high temperatures. At this time, the flower is especially impressive for indoor plant lovers.
The fruit of the coffee tree is rounded. At first they are yellowish, and over time they acquire a rich green hue. When fully ripe, they become bright red or burgundy. The outer shell of the fetus is dense. Inside there is a sweet and sour pulp, in which seeds are hidden. Usually there are two of them. The length of each of them is approximately 13 mm.
A delicious invigorating drink can be prepared from the fruits of the indoor coffee tree.
Common varieties of an amazing plant
Despite the fact that there are many different types of coffee trees, only a few of them are grown at home.
Arabian
The species is a compact plant growing with elliptical leaves. They are painted in a dark olive color. The upper part of the leaf plate is shiny with a glossy finish, the back is matte with a dull color. The buds are small, approximately 2 cm in diameter. They are collected in bouquets of several pieces. After they bloom, they remain fresh for only a few hours, and then wither. But, since they unfold in turn, the flowering process takes a whole month.
When the flowers are pollinated, fruits similar to berries are formed in their place. After 7 or 8 months, they mature, taking on a burgundy hue. From them you can make an excellent drink with a pleasant aroma.
Dwarf species "Nana"
This plant can only grow up to 85 cm, therefore it is considered a dwarf species.Like other coffee trees, it is abundantly covered with snow-white buds during flowering. The leaves are also glossy, in the form of an oblong ellipse with wavy edges.
In order for the tree to have a beautiful shape, it should be periodically trimmed and pinched off the top.
Liberian
The species is considered especially tall, therefore it needs regular pruning of the crown of the tree. Large foliage reaches 40 cm in length. Has a fleshy character, dark green in color. The upper layer of the plate is glossy. The back is matte with a lighter shade. Snow-white inflorescences are collected in small bunches. The fruits resemble large beans and are colored red or orange.
Congolese
This coffee tree has pointed, lanceolate or elliptical leaves. They are painted in dark green tones. The lower part of the plate is slightly lighter, which gives the plant a certain charm. In addition, light tubercles of veins are visible on each leaf plate. The tree blooms with snow-white buds, reminiscent of jasmine inflorescences. During this period, the home is filled with a delicate aroma.
Rules for growing a tropical beauty at home
Of course, every greenery lover would like to grow a coffee tree with his own hands. To do this, it is important to adhere to simple rules and very soon a unique beauty from the tropics will appear in the house. There are two ways to grow a coffee tree: from a stem or a seed.
Growing with a scion
This method provides for the presence of the original planting material. It can be purchased from those who have been growing a coffee tree at home for several years. Usually cuttings are made in late winter or early March. The advantage of growing an exotic plant using cuttings lies in the following factors:
- 100% rooting;
- retains all the properties of the mother plant;
- the first fruits are large.
First, you need to prepare the soil, consisting of the following components:
- humus;
- sour peat;
- sand;
- greenhouse soil;
- leafy land.
Each component is taken in one part, and two parts of sour peat. Mix everything well and fill the prepared container.
Since in the natural environment the plant prefers acidic soil, finely chopped sphagnum moss is added to the mixture.
In order for the cutting to take root in the new environment, several cuts are made at a distance of about 5 mm from the cut. As a result, it will release more roots. The shoot is placed in a special solution to stimulate growth for several hours. Then they are planted in a small container and covered with a plastic bag with holes. Once a day, the plant is ventilated and sprayed with summer water. The container with the coffee tree is set in partial shade. The room temperature should not be higher than 25 degrees. When the plant is rooted, it is transplanted into a beautiful flower pot.
Secrets of growing from seed
For this method, regular coffee beans are suitable, of course, not roasted. Since the shell of the grain is hard and very tough, it is destroyed with hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. If this is not possible, you can slightly cut or file the seed.
Then, the grain is soaked in a special solution of potassium permanganate for several hours and planted in separate small containers. Each of them should have soft and loose soil. The pots are placed in a sunny place, covered with plastic and controlled room temperature. It should not exceed 20 degrees. Once a day, the plant is ventilated and watered as the soil dries.
Competent care and loving care
It is truly a pleasure to grow a plant that produces such beneficial fruits at home. In addition, it is considered an original decoration of a residential or office interior.
Home care for a coffee tree consists of the following important points:
- Suitable lighting.The plant likes a well-lit place, but without direct sunlight. The best option is to place an exotic tree near a south-facing window. In the summer, you can take it out to the balcony if it faces north, or to the loggia. The main thing is that there are no drafts there.
- Optimal microclimate. During a warm period, the room temperature should not exceed 25 degrees. In winter - not lower than + 15 ° C. Violation of the temperature regime leads to shedding of buds and yellow foliage.
- Humidity. Since the coffee tree is native to the tropics, it prefers high humidity. To achieve this goal in a living space, the plant should be regularly freshened with a spray bottle.
- Competent watering. When it's spring or summer outside, the plant likes to get enough moisture to thrive and bear fruit successfully. In the cold season, it is enough to water the tree once every 7 days.
- Generous feeding. Like any plant, the coffee tree needs feeding. It is carried out with the onset of spring and until autumn. Fertilizer is applied to the soil no more than 1 time in 14 days. The main thing is that potassium and nitrogen salts are included in the top dressing. In winter, the plant does not need feeding.
- Regular transplant. The majestic coffee tree can grow up to 5 m in height, so it needs periodic replanting. The procedure is performed in early spring. If the plant is not yet 3 years old, the transplant is carried out annually. Older copies - once every two years.
In order not to flood the tree with water, it is advisable to control the depth of the dried soil. It should not exceed 1 cm.
As you can see, caring for a tropical beauty does not require any special skills. But following these rules, you can constantly enjoy a fragrant drink from the indoor coffee tree.