Coffee tree at home reproduction and care.

Coffee

Growing a coffee tree at home

Russian name : Coffee tree, coffee
Latin name: Coffee
Family: Rubiaceae (Rubiaceae)
Homeland: Arabian Peninsula, tropical Asia and Africa
Bloom: annual
Height: middle
Lighting: Bright light
Air humidity: Moderate
Ease of growing: Beginner

A young or adult coffee tree will decorate the interior of any apartment. This evergreen tree will delight all household members with its greenery.
It is known that since ancient times, two out of 40 types of coffee have been grown in rooms: Arabic (Coffea arabica L.) and Liberian (Coffea Liberica L.) species.
Arabic coffee, most suitable for growing in rooms, is a small (3-5 m high) tree with a trunk from 8 to 13 cm in diameter. In room conditions, it reaches a height of up to 2.5-3 m.
Coffee is a beautiful ornamental and ornamental evergreen shrub that grows up to 1.5 m in room conditions. The leaves are large (10-15 cm), dark, shiny, wavy along the edge, slightly wavy. Flowers are white and large. The fruit is a berry, when ripe it is bright red in color, similar to the fruit of a cherry. In the rooms it blooms and bears fruit.

According to legend, the drink coffee appeared in Arabia before the 13th century. They say that one Arab mullah, noticing how goats, having eaten the leaves and berries of a coffee tree, begin to jump excitedly over the hills, he began to give an infusion of coffee beans to his students so that they would not fall asleep during the evening prayer. In the 16th - 17th centuries. coffee spread to Persia, Turkey, Europe and America. This drink began to accompany many ceremonies. Some cultures serve coffee as a sign of hospitality. Bedouins pour four sips into a cup as a sign to the guest: "Drink and go." In the East, coffeehouses surpassed mosques in popularity and were banned in places. Italy was the first European country to start drinking coffee. Shortly thereafter, "cafes" appeared throughout Europe. Charles II closed 3,000 coffee houses in England, calling them "schools of rebels", but after a few days he was forced to cancel his edict under pressure from public opinion.

When grown in the house, coffee blooms twice a year: in April-May and October-November. Fruits (berries with 1-3 hard seeds) when ripe, gradually change color from light green to dark red or burgundy. The plant can have flowers and fruits at the same time. But with a small pot, there may not be enough nutrition for the formation of new fruits and the leaves will suffer. The leaves along the edge will dry out due to the fact that nutrients are taken from them for the development of berries. Therefore, before the coffee blooms, the ripe fruits are removed.
The coffee tree is an unpretentious plant that adapts well to home conditions, but it loves moisture and is afraid of drafts.
The disadvantages of the coffee tree include the fact that it does not tolerate neighborhood with any other plants at all.
In the rooms, the coffee tree blooms beautifully and bears fruit regularly. Each coffee fruit contains two coffee beans. Fruit ripening takes 6-7 months.
Growing a coffee tree in an apartment is not difficult!
With proper care, the coffee tree (or bush) does not get sick, and it is practically not affected by pests. The coffee tree loves moisture and is afraid of drafts. Therefore, if you decide to decorate your living room with this exotic plant, consider its features. And then the cup fragrant coffee from your own coffee plantation you are guaranteed.
From an adult plant at home, you can get up to half a kilogram of green grains per year.

Coffee tree care

Location and temperature

Light: bright diffused. Shade the plant from direct sun.
Successful cultivation requires a bright, well-ventilated area, protection from direct sunlight, frequent spraying with water at room temperature.
The windows facing west and east are best for the coffee tree. The tree loves space and Fresh air.
The temperature from spring to autumn should be around 22-24°C, but not lower than 16°C, in winter it is reduced to 16-18°C.
In order to avoid in winter period excessive overheating of plants and drying out of the soil, it is recommended to install them at some distance from heating devices.

Watering

The coffee tree requires regular watering, especially during growth. Do not water the plant until the top layer of soil is slightly dry. Too much watering, as well as insufficient watering, can lead to leaf fall. In winter, watering should be limited.
Watering in summer is plentiful, regular, with soft settled water, as the top layer of the substrate dries up, in winter watering is reduced, watered moderately.

Air humidity

Humidity is high.
The coffee tree prefers high humidity in spring and summer. It is recommended to regularly spray it with soft settled water at room temperature or slightly above temperature.
It is especially important to maintain high humidity in the summer. The plant is sprayed regularly.

top dressing

Feeding coffee begins in late spring - early summer and is carried out once every 1.5-2 weeks. They are fed with nitrogen and potassium salts at the rate of 3 g of potassium salt and 5 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 liter of water. Each adult tree should receive up to 1 liter of this solution in the spring during the period of active growth. You can alternate this top dressing with organic fertilizer. Since autumn, feeding is stopped, in winter they are not fed.

Pruning and crown shaping

To enhance bushiness, young shoots are pinched. Dried young lateral shoots are removed by cutting them out at the very petiole of the covering leaf.
When grown indoors, the coffee tree does not need special crown formation. However, in the spring it is necessary to carefully examine it, cut off excess branches and dry shoots, as well as those that thicken the crown. Slightly shorten too long shoots that sag, given that fruiting occurs on the branches of the first order.
We must try to interfere as little as possible in the independent life of the plant. Pruning is required only as a last resort - when the bush becomes too large for the room that you are ready to give it.

rest period

Rest period: weakly expressed, in winter. The plant is kept in a bright place, at 16-18°C, watered sparingly.

The first flowering of the plant occurs at the age of 3-4 years. The coffee tree blooms in early spring, small white flowers appear in the axils of the leaves, which have a pleasant aroma reminiscent of jasmine. After a while, round fruitlets are tied, which are green at first, and then turn red and resemble cherries. Each such fruit contains two grains, which are known as "coffee". At home, the fruits of the coffee tree ripen in about a year. An indicator of ripeness is the color of the fruit shell - at this time it becomes dark brown-red.

Transfer

Young plants are transplanted annually in the spring until new growth, older than 3-4 years - once every 2 years, tub plants - as the tub rots, but annual soil is required.
It is better to change the soil in the spring.

The soil

The best soil is mixed with acidic peat, as well as humus mixed with coarse sand. The soil should be acidic, as coffee does not tolerate neutral soil. The soil should be fertilized regularly, once a month, with a solution of fertilizers intended for the rose family. A very useful dry mullein, which is sprinkled on the surface of the soil in a pot.

reproduction

By sowing seeds, the seeds are sown immediately after harvesting the fruits and removing the pulp, as they quickly lose their germination capacity, the seedlings bloom for 3-4 years of cultivation;
. sowing must be covered with a jar or plastic bag, since only in moist air the seed coat softens and the seedling easily sheds it, but in dry air this does not happen and the young plant may die;
. semi-lignified cuttings, although they are difficult to root, plants grown in this way bloom and begin to bear fruit much earlier than those obtained from seedlings.

Usually coffee trees are propagated by seeds, propagation by cuttings is rarely used due to the poor ability of the cutting to form roots.

Growing coffee from seeds
Coffee seeds during storage quickly lose their germination; green coffee beans sold in the store will also not sprout. For propagation, it is better to take fully ripened fruits with two seeds, from which you can guaranteed to grow young plants if you sow them immediately after ripening.
1. Freshly harvested and de-pulped coffee seeds are thoroughly washed in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection and complete cleaning of the mucous membrane; floating grains are discarded.
2. Two weeks before sowing the seeds, a loose water- and breathable substrate is prepared: the soddy soil is steamed, mixed with sand and sifted peat in a ratio (1:2:2).
3. The cleaned coffee seeds are laid out in a pot filled with the substrate, flat side down at a distance of 3 cm from each other. After pressing the seeds into the soil to a depth of 1 cm, water the substrate with a pink solution of potassium permanganate and cover the crops with glass.
4. A pot with sown seeds is placed in a warm place and moderately watered; at a temperature of about 20 degrees shoots appear in 1-1.5 months.
5. Every day, the crops are aired, the glass is wiped and turned over; when shoots appear, the ventilation time is gradually increased.
6. After the formation of 2-3 pairs of true leaves, coffee seedlings are planted in small individual pots (7 cm in diameter) and shaded until rooting; then put in a bright place with a constant supply of fresh air.
7. The lignification of a growing coffee seedling is unusual: first, unsightly brown spots appear on the green bark, increasing in size and merging with each other; soon the spots lighten, and the bark acquires a color typical of the coffee tree. Coffee trees developing from seedlings do not need to form a crown: at first they grow with one trunk, and in the second year, skeletal branches grow from the awakened lateral axillary buds of the trunk. Too long side shoots of coffee are pruned to ensure crown splendor and abundant flowering. The fruiting of coffee trees grown from seeds begins in 3-4 years.

Reproduction by cuttings

When planting cuttings, certain rules are observed, if several cuttings are planted side by side, then the leaves should not cover each other.
Plants obtained by cuttings can bloom immediately after rooting; they retain all the properties of the mother plant, the fruits are larger and more numerous. However, coffee trees from cuttings grow more slowly than from seeds; they require the formation of a crown (usually rounded).
1. To obtain cuttings, shoots of last year's growth from the middle part of the crown of a fruit-bearing coffee tree, apical branches are used.
2. The stalk is cut obliquely with two pairs of leaves; a piece of branch about 2.5 cm long is left under the lower node, which is scratched from below with a needle to stimulate root formation.
3. The bases of the cuttings are placed in a solution of heteroauxin (a quarter of a tablet per 0.5 liter of water) for approximately 4 hours; then dust the lower cut of the cutting with charcoal powder.
4. Cuttings are planted vertically in a mixture of sifted high-moor peat and perlite, spilled with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate; the petioles of the lower leaves of the cuttings are half buried in the substrate, preventing neighboring cuttings from touching each other.
5. After planting the cuttings, the soil is again watered with a solution of potassium permanganate and a mini-greenhouse is built in a pot.
6. A pot with coffee cuttings is placed in a bright place protected from direct sun, the temperature of the substrate is maintained at a high temperature (optimally 25-27 degrees).
7. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated by spraying the cuttings; after about 40 days, their upper kidney awakens.
8. Transplantation of cuttings into individual pots with a diameter of 9-12 cm is carried out after the formation of a new pair of leaves in them. For rooted cuttings, a mixture of soddy soil, peat and sand (4:2:1) is prepared with the addition of wood ash. A shard is placed on the drainage hole of the pot with the convex side up, coarse-grained sand is poured on the bottom of the pot with a layer of 1-1.5 cm. bright place without direct sun.
9. If buds appear on rooted cuttings, they do not need to be removed: the fruits will be full-fledged and will not slow down the development of plants.

Possible difficulties

If the soil is not too acidic, the leaves may discolor.
The tips of the leaves dry up with a lack of moisture in the air.
The leaves turn yellow, brown spots of dead tissue appear on them in case of a sunburn.
With excessive watering, the leaves rot and fall off.
When watering with hard water, the tips of the leaves curl up a little and brown spots appear on them. To prevent this from happening, the water is softened using special tablets, or a bag of peat is kept in 3 liters of water.

Pests and diseases

The main pests are scale insects, spider mites, and sooty fungus from diseases. If in winter in the room where the coffee tree is installed, the temperature is in the range of 10 - 12 C, then a black border will first appear on the leaves, and why the whole plant will begin to die.

How to make coffee fruit?

Plants only bear fruit with year-round care, which includes weeding and regular treatment of trees with fungicides and insecticides to protect them from pests and diseases, such as bean borer or coffee rust. A young plant begins to bear fruit in at least two years.

Healing properties

A drink made from roasted coffee seeds relieves headaches and fatigue. Acts as a vasodilator. Used for some types of poisoning.
At home, the seeds are freed from the pulp and dried in the open air indoors. Dried seeds are fried until brown, crushed and brewed with boiling water at the rate of one tablespoon per glass of water. Insist 60 minutes.

Due to the extraordinary diversity of coffee trees and shrubs, their exact classification is rather difficult.

Back in the 18th century, the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus classified coffee varieties, identifying three main types of coffee trees: Arabica, Robusta and Liberica, which are used only to breed new varieties of coffee.

Two of these make up the majority of commercial coffee types:

Coffea Arabica (which has quite a few subspecies);
- Coffea canephora. Robusta, which received this name ("strong, strong").

Among other types of coffee tree, Coffea Liberica, discovered in Liberia in 1843, and Coffea Dewevrei, the most famous subspecies of which is excelsa. Both of these varieties have the qualities of robusta and quite acceptable, albeit rather mediocre, taste. A lot of effort has been put into creating various coffee hybrids, but one has to take into account the fact that, despite high yields, high resistance and longevity, many hybrids produce coffee of much worse quality than the original types of coffee trees.

ARABIC

The most famous view.

A tree 6 to 8 meters high (however, the tree is not allowed to grow more than 4 meters for the convenience of harvesting), with outstretched branches; leaves are glossy, 14 centimeters long, oblong or ovate oblong, pointed.

Flowers in bunches of 3 and 7 in the corners of the leaves, white fragrant - five; the oblong fruit is red, and finally purple, oval, 14 millimeters long.

The grains are oblong, flat-convex, facing each other with flat sides, on which a longitudinal dollar-shaped cut is noticeable. It usually grows on mountain plateaus or on the slopes of volcanoes at an altitude of up to 800-1200 meters above sea level, where the average annual rainfall reaches 1500-2000 mm, and where warm days are replaced by rather cold nights with average fluctuations in average daily temperatures from 15 to 24 degrees Celsius.

Arabica coffee trees bloom after each rainy season, after which the fruit takes approximately nine months to mature.

In a year, an Arabica tree usually produces no more than 5 kg of fruit, from which about 1 kg of finished grains is obtained. Beans are larger, longer and even than those of Robusta, and also less caffeinated, Arabica beans have a delicate sour aroma. Arabica contains: 18% aromatic oils, 0.5 -1.5% caffeine. The taste of coffee made from Arabica is sweet, with a slight sourness.

Arabica makes up almost 70% of all coffee produced in the world, but growing it, because it is very sensitive to diseases, pests and frost, is quite difficult, and therefore it is more expensive than other varieties of coffee.

ROBUSTA

Unlike Arabica coffee, Robusta coffee has less aroma and greater strength, and besides, plants perfectly resist diseases and insects. However, the strength of coffee is far from the most important characteristic of this drink, and the taste of Robusta is valued lower than Arabica. In this regard, it makes up only 30 percent of the coffee produced in the world.

Despite the fact that Robusta trees need to be artificially pollinated and cared for literally from the first days of their life, it is still easier to grow Robusta, and when in the second half of the 19th century numerous arabica plantations were destroyed by a disease, it was mostly planted instead. robusta. Currently, it is grown in the tropics, but most of all Robusta is supplied to the market in East and Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Brazil.

Robusta grows at an altitude of 200 m to 900 m above sea level and is more resistant to changes in temperature and rainfall. Plantations do not require much maintenance and are characterized by high yields.

Robusta withstands a very humid climate with a rainfall of 3000 mm or more, but in no case should water be allowed to stagnate under the trees. In addition, Robusta survives at very high air temperatures, although it prefers 24-30 degrees Celsius. Robusta trees bloom randomly and rather irregularly; their fruits take 10-11 months to mature.

Robusta beans contain: 8% aromatic oils, an average of 4.5% caffeine.

On sale, Robusta is used mainly in mixtures, where it is a very valuable component - due to its high strength, it is used in various mixtures, as well as for the production instant coffee.

In Italy, it is added to mixtures to obtain a more stable and dense foam in espresso.

LIBERICA

The Liberica coffee tree comes from West Africa, more specifically from a small state called Liberia.

Liberian coffee was first discovered in the 18th century. Today, Liberica is common in virtually all African countries, and is also grown in Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Liberica coffee trees have very large leaves, while coffee beans reach 3-3.5 cm in length and 1-1.5 cm in width. The height of the coffee tree can be from 6 to 10 meters.

Liberica is a rather unpretentious type of coffee tree and is very resistant to various adverse factors, however ideal conditions for its cultivation are high air temperature and high soil moisture.

Also, Liberica is very resistant to various diseases of coffee trees, the only exception is a rust fungus.

The taste qualities of Liberian coffee leave much to be desired. Therefore, Liberica is not used as an independent coffee variety, but is used only in combination with other varieties.

EXCELSA

Excelsa is even less common than Liberica. As cultural tree excelsa cultivated in Vietnam and the Philippines.

The coffee tree of the excelsa type reaches a height of 20 meters. The fruits of the tree are large in size and have a persistent aroma. Excelsa, like Liberica, is resistant to various diseases of coffee trees, but at the same time it is whimsical to growing conditions.

Excelsa coffee has no industrial value and is used only in a mixture with other types of coffee beans.

The coffee tree is beautiful and unusual houseplant, which not only perfectly decorates any interior, but also proper care will give fruits from which it will be possible to prepare a natural invigorating drink. In this article, we will tell you how to grow a coffee tree at home and what recommendations you need to take into account, and the photos will help you get acquainted with this process more clearly.

Characteristics of the coffee tree

The birthplace of coffee is hot Africa, and specifically Ethiopia. From there came all the species known today. But out of 50 varieties, only one is suitable for indoor decorative cultivation - it has the name Arabian. Its main differences are wavy, elongated oval-shaped leaves with rich green tint and pointed tip. The flowers are white, formed into a bunch, then turn into greenish berries, which turn reddish when ripe. From these fruits, grains are collected, which are then turned into a famous drink.

Where to put the plant

A young indoor coffee tree requires a lot of light, so it is best to set the pot on a windowsill in a warm room. Coffee also grows well on a north-facing window, but a south-facing window is best for it. One of the most important requirements is not to change the location of the plant and not to turn the pot. This will cause the foliage to fall off, and the flowering tree may lose buds and subsequently not bear fruit.

Suitable temperature, humidity and lighting for coffee

For the normal development of the seedling, it needs the following air temperature:

Summer period - up to +22 degrees;
Winter period - up to +18 degrees.

In winter, the temperature in the dwelling should not fall below +12 degrees, because if the temperature is lowered, the growth of a young green pet is inhibited and its roots rot. Not quite comfortable conditions for overwintering are quite suitable for an adult plant. acceptable temperature in winter season for him +10 degrees, you definitely need good lighting, and a small rare watering of the root zone.

The seedling loves very much when its leaves are regularly sprayed with settled warm water. This procedure is carried out at all times of the year. The home coffee tree should grow in moderately humid air. If it is dry or too wet, it will depress the plant.

The growth of the seedling on the northern window will be long, flowering will be late, and fruiting will be delayed. Southern lighting also has its drawbacks. The leaves of the coffee tree can easily get sunburned, so in the summer season the plant is slightly shaded. To do this, a newspaper sheet is attached to the window glass with adhesive tape. The rays of the sun falling on the coffee, becoming scattered, do not burn the leaves.

If there is no good sunlight, then the adult "green resident" cannot form a full-fledged ovary. It is necessary not to miss the moment of the formation of fruit embryos by the flower brush, after this process the plant must be shaded.

Soil, watering and top dressing for a coffee tree

The most favorable soil for coffee is loose, breathable. Water when watering this soil well moisturizes the roots of the plant, does not stagnate, its excess drains into the pan due to drainage.

Used substrates:

Combining leafy turf, shabby peat and river coarse sand in proportions 1:2:2;
Chernozem, sand, leaf turf and humus are mixed in equal proportions. Two parts of sour peat are mixed with them.

It is also desirable to finely chop and add sphagnum moss. It will ensure the retention of moisture in the soil and maintain its normal friability and acidity. Do not forget about good drainage at the bottom of the pot, otherwise moisture stagnation can lead to the death of the roots.

It is necessary to transplant a coffee tree up to three years every spring, and when it reaches four years and beyond, once every 2-3 years.

A grown coffee tree at home should be regularly watered abundantly in summer, and slightly reduce the supply of moisture in winter. It is best to "drink" coffee with rain soft water.

To obtain additional moisture, the tree needs to be sprayed or wiped with a damp sponge. You can also occasionally give your "green friend" a warm shower or put the pot in a pan of water.

As fertilizers for top dressing are used:

Potash, phosphorus and nitrogen mineral mixtures;
Horn shavings;
Mullein.

Planting a coffee bean tree

To start growing a coffee tree with your own hands, you need to prepare a deep pot so that the tap root is comfortable and free. The grain must be slightly compressed with pliers or cut deep with a knife so that the outer shell cracks. Then germination will begin faster. Otherwise, the grain will not be accepted until its outer shell decays.

Planting material prepared according to the above scheme is soaked overnight in a growth stimulator (for example, Zircon);
To plant a tree from coffee beans, we allocate a deep pot with good drainage, filled with a slightly damp loose soil mixture;
We plant in the ground by 3-4 cm with intervals between each grain of 3-5 cm;
We water the soil, then cover the pot with a plastic bag or glass and put it in a warm room;
Once every 14 days, we open the pot, remove the condensate and air the crops. The first sprouts "hatch" after 50-60 days.

It is better to choose fresh seeds. They are more likely to germinate. But from seeds that have lain down for a long time, only 2-3 out of 100 can begin to grow.

Propagation of a coffee tree by cuttings

It is easier to propagate the plant with green cuttings. To do this, you need to prepare a soil mixture from equal parts of marsh sour crumbs based on peat and perlite. It will pass oxygen and moisture well. It is also necessary to disinfect the soil with a solution of manganese.

Next steps:

In an adult tree, we select a twig with four leaves from the middle part of the crown. It is better to take a cutting from a branch with bud germs that grew last year. So the future plant will enter the phase of branching and flowering earlier;
We cut the cutting from the mother tree three centimeters below the foliage with a blade or a sharp knife;
On freshly cut blanks under the last two leaves, we leave longitudinal scratches with a needle. This will contribute to the accelerated formation of roots;
Then we place the cuttings vertically with the lower scratched part for 3 hours in a root-forming mixture of a tablespoon of honey dissolved in a glass of water;
Next, we plant the blanks in a pot with soil 2-3 cm deep (to the leaves) and cover with a perforated plastic bag. Through the holes it will be possible to spray and ventilate the seedlings;
You also need to protect the cuttings from the sun.

The most optimum temperature for rooting - + 25-30 degrees with high humidity. The main sign that the cuttings have taken root is the growth of the upper buds. And when a new pair of leaves appears, you can transplant into a separate container.

Cuttings have a number of advantages:

The young tree will have the same characteristics as the mother plant;
Flowering occurs in the first year of planting;
The first fruits appear in a year.

You can buy a young plant in a flower shop. Its cost will depend on the type, height and diameter of the pot. For example, the average price of a small specimen 30 cm high in a 12 cm pot is approximately 1000 rubles in online stores.

Diseases of the coffee tree

The main cause of ailments in a plant is improper care. Diseases of the coffee tree can be eliminated as follows:

If the foliage dries, curls and becomes stained, you need to carefully inspect the plant and remove the affected areas;
In order to get rid of pests, it is treated with a solution of actellik and karbofos (10 drops per half liter of water);
If the leaves are damaged by a scab, they must be gently wiped with alcohol;
From fungal diseases, treatment with insecticidal soap, copper sulfate or antifungal drugs will help.

Now you know how to care for a coffee tree. If everything is done correctly, then in 3-4 years you will be able to get not only a beautiful indoor plant, but fruits in the form of berries, from which grains are extracted. When processed, you get a real natural coffe. And when grown from a cutting, a tree can begin to bear fruit in the first year.

Video: How to grow a coffee tree at home

Otherwise, the coffee tree is called coffee- This is a representative of the large Marenov family.

The genus Coffee has about 90 species of evergreens, among which you can find both large shrubs and sprawling trees reaching 8 meters in height and above.

All species are united by one common feature - the presence of caffeine in fruits and foliage.

So where is the birthplace of the coffee tree? The province is considered the birthplace of the plant. Kaffa in Ethiopia where they first began to use coffee drink which later gained worldwide popularity.

Under natural conditions, coffee is found in Asia and Africa. It is cultivated in almost all countries with a favorable tropical climate. In which countries is coffee grown? The largest plantations of the famous plant are located in Brazil, India and Sri Lanka.

At room conditions, coffee is a compact tree no more than one and a half meters in height. Its branches grow in a horizontal direction, forming almost symmetrical tiers. This makes it easy to create an attractive standard tree shape with a dense crown.

Large dark green coffee leaves are arranged oppositely on the stems. foliage shape oblong elliptical or lanceolate with wavy edges and pointed tip. The leathery surface of the leaves of the coffee tree casts a beautiful glossy sheen.

The tree blooms with small cream or white five-petal flowers, collected by 4-7 pieces in dense bunches-inflorescences. The flowers bloom in the axils of the leaves on annual shoots. They are exude a very pleasant aroma, reminiscent of jasmine. The flowers are in the bud stage for about a month and only then bloom. The plant begins to bloom and bear fruit in the third year of life.

REFERENCE! The flowers of the coffee tree are bisexual, which makes it possible for the plant to self-pollinate. This property allows you to grow a tree and harvest from it in greenhouses and indoor greenhouses.

After flowering, the fruits of the coffee tree appear in the form of first yellow-green, and then, as they ripen, reddish berries with a diameter of about 1.5 cm. appearance and in color they are similar to cherries, but with a more elongated shape.

Berries of the coffee tree grow on very short stalks and are located on the branches in groups close to each other. under thick skin fetus can be found sweet and sour pulp and two coffee beans, closely pressed flat bases to each other. The ripening of the fruits of the plant lasts from 4 to 6 months.

One mature tree grown on a plantation produces up to 3 kg of grains per year. In room conditions, for the same period, almost 500 g of fruit can be harvested from a tree. The collected ripe berries are withered for several days, then they are peeled and dried in a ventilated room or in the fresh air under a canopy.

REFERENCE! Ripe dried grains are light beige in color, tasteless and odorless. Only after roasting do they acquire their usual dark brown color and characteristic coffee aroma and taste.

Your attention is a coffee tree - a photo of the fruit:

Kinds

Only a few, among them the following types are popular:

, otherwise Arab or arabic, in Latin Coffea arabica- the most popular type, occupying 90% of the area of all world coffee plantations. It is Arabica that is most popular in room culture. In shape, it is a spreading tree with long and flexible branches. The leaves of the plant are dark green with a shiny corrugated surface, reaching a length of 15 cm. In nature, its height is from 5 to 8 meters, and when grown indoors - from 1 to 1.5 meters. On the basis of Arabica, a dwarf form of Nana (Nana) was derived, most adapted to room content. It takes up little space, blooms profusely and bears fruit well;

robusta or Congolese, in Latin coffe robusta,- the name of the plant is translated as "powerful" or "strong". Trees of this species are long-lived, tall (up to 10 meters in height), unpretentious and highly resistant to diseases. They are grow well in hot weather in flat conditions where Arabica cannot grow. However, in terms of the quality of the grains obtained, the Congolese is inferior to the Arabian, occupying only about 30% of the total world production. The plant differs from its relatives not only in growth, but also in large foliage up to 32 cm in length and up to 8 cm in width. The underside of the leaves is slightly hairy. Fragrant snow-white flowers are decorated in the center with a light brown star. Robusta grains are used basically for the production of instant coffee or mixed with Arabica to give the drink a more pronounced and strong taste;

liberica or liberian, in Latin coffea liberica,- much less commonly cultivated species with large, up to 40 cm in length, leaves. The upper side of the foliage is dark green while the underside is lighter green. Liberian coffee resistant to almost all diseases coffee trees, is afraid only of a rust fungus. However, Liberica fruits are not of high quality and are bitter and less refined taste. They are used only in confectionery production and to create coffee blends;

excelsa, otherwise tall, in Latin coffee,- This is an even less common species than Liberica. Coffee grows in countries such as: Philippines, Kenya, Venezuela and Vietnam. In nature, excelsa trees are very tall - up to 20 meters. The plant has a lush and dense crown with thinner leaves, the tip of which is not pointed, but rounded. The young leaves of the tree are purple at first, then turn green as they grow. High coffee is resistant to diseases of coffee trees, but very whimsical in care, requiring special growing conditions. this variety is necessary with a rich organic composition and high humidity. Excellence has no industrial value, since its fruition is not permanent and it is very difficult to predict the yield. Nevertheless, its fruits are highly valued. They differ in larger size and unusual rich aroma. Excelsa grains in pure form are not used. They are complemented only by elite coffee blends, for unique flavors.

Care

In room culture coffee unpretentious, develops beautifully and turns over time into a sprawling, fairly tall tree, occupying almost the entire window sill. In order to successfully grow a green pet and harvest fragrant grains from it, two main conditions are required - heat (but not more than 30 ° C) and bright diffused light.

REFERENCE! The plant loves fresh air, so in the warm season it can be placed on a balcony or veranda, but always with light shading. It is necessary to protect coffee from drafts.

Regular watering(moderate in winter, abundant in summer), frequent spraying to create moisture and prevent pests, summer top dressing twice a month - these are a few more simple rules under which the coffee tree will grow, bloom and bear fruit beautifully.

Of course, the coffee tree deserves to settle in your home greenhouse.

The plant is unpretentious and caring for it will bring only one pleasure. And most importantly - you will get not only a charming and fragrant home decoration, but also own "coffee plantation".

Useful video

To your attention a useful video about the coffee tree and caring for it:

The history of human use of coffee beans has a long history.

Description of the coffee tree

The coffee tree belongs to the Rubiaceae family. This plant is actively cultivated in tropical countries, and Ethiopia is its homeland. In the highlands of Asia and Africa, the plant can be found in the wild. About ninety species of the coffee tree are known, but not all of them are of high value to humans. To obtain an aromatic drink, grains (seeds) of Arabian and Congolese coffee trees are used (all known varieties of Arabica and Robusta coffee). Bengali and Cameroonian coffees are also of interest.

Most of the species of this plant are large evergreen shrubs or small trees (plant height does not exceed eight meters). Coffee can be grown at home - in this case, the plant takes the form of a compact bush. Caffeine is present not only in seeds, but also in all parts of the plant - this substance is designed to repel pests. caffeine concentration in different types coffee trees is significantly different.

White coffee flowers exude a strong aroma. They contain both pistils and stamens (they are bisexual and capable of self-pollination). It takes 3-4 months for coffee berries to ripen. In most types of coffee, ripe fruits are burgundy or bright red, but breeders have bred varieties with a different color of berries. The ellipsoid-shaped fruits have a short stem and are located directly on the branches. Each berry has one to three grains inside. The color of raw seeds is close to yellowish-gray-green.

The chemical composition of coffee

Raw coffee beans contain proteins, caffeine, fat, sucrose, monosaccharides, fiber, pentosans, tannins and minerals, organic acids (citric chlorogenic, tartaric, malic, oxalic, coffee). Coffee contains vitamins B2 and PP.

The benefits of coffee

According to research, when drinking coffee greatest influence the alkaloid caffeine has an effect on the human body. Coffee invigorates, increases efficiency, regulates blood glucose levels, speeds up blood circulation (including in the cerebral cortex), improves concentration, increases physical endurance and reaction speed. Coffee is known to affect serotonin production(hormone of joy), due to which the drink from the grains is excellent remedy from depression, has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system. The drink normalizes digestion, improves bowel function (it has mild laxative properties). Coffee helps relieve swelling and reduce muscle pain after intense physical exertion.

Harm of coffee and contraindications

When coffee powder is steamed or brewed with boiling water, caffeol and coffeestrol are released - these substances increase cholesterol levels in blood. Roasted grains contain benzene, a substance that has carcinogenic properties. Frequent use coffee increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It is contraindicated to abuse fragrant drink people who have high blood pressure and serious illnesses cardiovascular and nervous systems . Do not get involved in coffee during pregnancy and lactation. It is important to remember that caffeine is an alkaloid and is addictive.

Growing a coffee tree

Before planting coffee tree seedlings, the soil is treated with fungicides and insecticides, and then dug up and fertilized. The plant needs light shading - coffee trees alternate in a checkerboard pattern with other plants - with eucalyptus, dates, etc. Two-year-old seedlings are considered optimal for planting (coffee trees begin to bear fruit in the fifth or sixth year of life). Leave at least 1.8-2.2 m between rows of seedlings. coffee trees consists in weeding, treatment with insecticides, watering and top dressing.

Coffee preparation

The harvest of ripe coffee berries is removed once a week. They do this either individually (manually) or in bulk, simply by shaking the berries to the ground (they are raked from the ground with a rake, and then freed from impurities). The berries are either dried in the sun, and then the seeds are freed from the shell, or, without drying, the pulp is washed off with a strong stream of water. The released coffee beans are dried in the sun (the process takes 1-2 months) or in dryers (optimal temperature: 50-60 ° C).

Drink made from coffee beans is very popular among residents different countries peace. Coffee brings great benefits to the body, it is only important not to get carried away with it unnecessarily.