Are you a coffee lover who dreams of having your own coffee plant at home? Or perhaps you're just looking to expand your collection of tropical plants? Either way, growing coffee plants from seed can be a challenging, but rewarding and fulfilling experience. In this Seed Journal post, we will guide you through the process of growing coffee plants from seed, step by step.
1. choose and prepare your seeds
Select your seeds, make sure they're fresh and from a good supplier. There are a few varieties out there, but the most popular are Coffea Arabica seeds, which are a popular choice for home cultivation due to their superior flavor and aroma. We also have Coffea Catura seeds, which are a dwarf variety and grow particularly well as small indoor plants.
Coffee seeds need a lot of moisture to germinate, so it's important to pre-soak them. The standard approach is to soak them in warm water for 12-24 hours(just pour some warm water in a jar or cup, place the seeds, and leave them in there). As an additional precaution, you can pre-soak the seeds in hydrogen peroxide for 1-2 hours to sterilize them.
2. prepare the soil
To start the seeds, we recommend using coconut fiber soil pods- they provide a great sterile and moist environment for the seeds. You can use potting mix as well, though! Just make sure it's fresh and sterile. Keep in mind, coffee plants thrive in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH level between 6 and 6.5.
Make sure the soil is very moist or the seeds won't germinate. The benefit of using coconut fiber soil pods is it's basically impossible to over-water, as long as you're using a container with good drainage.
3. plant the seeds
Place the coffee seeds on top of the soil, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gently press the seeds into the soil, ensuring they are in contact with the soil but not buried too deep. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, approximately ¼ inch thick.
Make sure the soil feels very moist to the touch- your fingers should feel wet when working with the soil. If needed, add more water.
4. the setup
Coffee plants require a warm and humid environment to thrive. Place the pot in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight(or under grow lights).
Maintain a temperature between 70°F and 85°F and keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. To maintain the right warmth, it's best to use a heat mat. Temperature fluctuations can harm the viability of the seeds, so make sure they're consistently warm.
Finally, these seeds require a humidity dome of some sort. You can purchase a greenhouse with a humidity dome, or you can simply cover the container with a ziploc baggie or plastic wrap. Make sure to leave it on and only open the dome ~1 a week to check on the soil moisture levels.
5. be patient!
Germination can take some time! Depending on the conditions, they can take months to germinate, but the usual range is 1-2 months. Once the seedlings emerge, you can start to acclimate them to fresh air by removing the humidity dome for a few hours at a time Keep them very moist, warm and brightly lit(avoiding direct sun until they're a little older).
7. care and maintenance
As your coffee plants grow, they will require regular care and maintenance. Keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid overwatering. Fertilize the plants every 2 to 3 months with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer(we recommend Noot bio-organic plant food!). Prune the plants to promote bushier growth.
8. harvesting
It takes approximately 3 to 4 years for coffee plants to start producing cherries, and even then, they need lots of good light and fertilizer, so it may take an indoor coffee plant even longer!
By following these steps, you can successfully grow coffee plants from seed and enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own coffee beans. Remember, growing coffee plants requires patience and dedication, but the reward is well worth it. Happy growing!
