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Hi, I'm Judy Mirro, a UVM
Extension Master Gardener,

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coming to you from the University
of Vermont Greenhouses.

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And I'm here to help you
become a houseplant hero

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by providing some guidance on
caring for your house plants.

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Today our focus is on the Coffea arabica,

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or the coffee plant.

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The coffee plant is a small,
upright evergreen shrub

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or small tree that's
grown in tropical climates

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around the world.

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Grown indoors, the coffee plant

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requires bright indirect
light and high humidity.

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The plant will provide you

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a gorgeous glossy green leaf year round.

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After three to four years,

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you'll be rewarded with
small white fragrant flowers

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that appear from late
spring to early summer.

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The coffee plants can mature
to a height of 15 feet.

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The one here at the UVM
Greenhouse is about six feet tall.

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But don't worry, you can cut it back

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anytime you feel it's getting too large.

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Pinch the top to keep it bushy

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and small if it's gotten out of hand,

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or just cut it right off the top,

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leaving at least two
feet of the main trunk.

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Berries are edible with a
pulpy grape-like texture,

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but it's the seeds of the coffee plant

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or the beans that are sought after.

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Coffee plants like water.

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Water thoroughly once the top
half inch of soil feels dry.

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Avoid soggy soil, and ensure
the pot has good drainage.

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A mix of two parts peat, one part compost,

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and one part perlite
is a good growing mix.

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But you know, if you have just
a great regular potting mix,

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you'll do fine.

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Because the coffee plant
prefers richer organic soils

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and more moisture than most plants,

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they can be prone to attracting

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that annoying soil fungus gnat.

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So, be on the lookout
for this little pest.

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If the pest finds its way
into your coffee plant soil,

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reduce the problem by
using yellow sticky paper,

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just like this that you can buy

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at your local garden center
or even hardware stores now.

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These are great for larger plants,

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and these little guys are
great for smaller plants

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like this one.

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You really wanna get the larvae too,

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so potatoes are the best way.

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So I find if you cut them

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and maybe again 'cause
this is a small plant.

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They're nice and juicy,

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make sure you get a good juicy potato

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and then put them right in the soil,

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get the juicy part buried,

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and then come back in another day

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and all the little larvae

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will be attached to that moist potato.

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Take it out, throw it out.

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Fragrant star shaped flowers

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bloom in the late spring to early summer

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in clusters of two to nine.

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Flowers are self-fertile
and self-pollinating.

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It will take about 10 months
from bloom to cherry harvest.

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Wait until the cherries
are fully developed

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into a deep dark red

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before you are able to
harvest your cherries.

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The jelly-like fruit within
the cherries tastes sweet,

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and eating them is one way to clean up

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the two coffee beans inside.

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Otherwise, you'll need to push the beans

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out of the cherries and
wash them thoroughly

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before planting or drying
the beans for roasting.

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Cherries start out pale
green and turn yellow,

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then red, then deep burgundy

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when it's time to harvest them

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I should roast my coffee harvest,

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but I continue to start new
coffee plants every year

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from the cherries I pick.

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While money might not grow on trees,

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coffee certainly does,

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so why not grow some yourself?

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Remember that by providing your plants

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with the conditions and care they need,

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you too can be a houseplant hero.

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For more information on
plants and home gardens,

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visit the UVM Extension
Master Garden website

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and see our Garden Resources page,

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or contact an Extension
Master Gardener volunteer

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at the helpline.

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The phone number is on our screen.

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This is Extension Master
Gardner Judy Mirro

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wishing you happy growing.