Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forum and horticulture in general and I've got a brown leaves problem with my coffee arabica plant and was hoping someone here might be able to help me.

The plant has been having the issue for about 4 weeks now and has lost quite a few leaves and a few stems have dried up leaving me worried that the plant will die.

Initially I thought it was a black leaf spot problem but an antifungal spray I've been using hasnt helped land the problem has continued. I've since then thought it might be a drainage issue so I've changed the soil and put some small stones at the bottom of the pot to aid drainage. The pot also has some holes at the bottom.

Ive been giving the plant a 1/3 cup of water whenever the leaves droop down and some plant food every two weeks but the problem seems to continue and I'm worried that the plant will die.

Any help would be much appreciated! I've attached some photos to hopefully give a better insight.

Cheers

Sean

I dont think your watering enough, you need to give more than 1/3 c of water when the leaves droop, you need to start watering more, water til the water drains out the bottom and let it sit in the sink until it is finished draining, waiting for it to droop is not a good thing, also your fertilizing to often. If you could also state your zone or location that will help us to help you. Other members will have more advice for you

To The Forum

My Coffee Plant looked like that too and I also kept letting it get too dry before watering again. So, I believe Christine may be onto something (by may, I mean that she is)!

I agree with the others that watering is the likely source of the problem. It should be watered before the leaves wilt and watered thoroughly. Unfortunately, changing the soil and adding stones to the bottom of the pot and fertilizing have all aggravated the problem.

I have had a small Coffee plant for 2-3 years now, it seems to use more water than I expect, so I agree, more water. Isn't that actually a cluster of several seedlings?

sallyg said:I have had a small Coffee plant for 2-3 years now, it seems to use more water than I expect, so I agree, more water. Isn't that actually a cluster of several seedlings?

It is.

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips on the coffee plant. Mine is approx 5' tall, and I aquired it about 2 years ago. Mine was doing the same as Sean's. Leaves turning brown and falling off. I don't think I've been watering it enough, but will be vigilant. Thanks again. I too am brand new to this site.

ask us anything
(Best for new questions to make a new thread)

My lovely Arabica bean plant has brown leaves due to my insufficient watering. 😞 That has been rectified. My question is whether or not to remove the leaves with brown on them.
Thanks

Silvervibrations said:My lovely Arabica bean plant has brown leaves due to my insufficient watering. 😞 That has been rectified. My question is whether or not to remove the leaves with brown on them.
Thanks

As long as there is still green on them, I'd leave them. They are still providing the plant with food. They will probably drop off with age in time.

I also have had the same problem, although I water regularly with tepid water as I was told they prefer this. I have recently discovered my plant was pot bound, so have repotted it into the next size pot up. It seems to have worked as there have been no new brown leaves since.

I have the same problem. I was told overwatering is a big risk so i never get it soggy but its not super dry ever either. I dont wait till it droops to water it and i water a small amount often. The weird thing is that i put it outside for the summer and it grows and gets glossy. I basically forget about it half the time and its fine regardless of watering. When it comes in the house in the fall, it starts doing this. ive had it at least five years and its only about a foot tall. This year seems really bad and im not sure its going to make it. Any ideas?

I'm a concerned coffee plant mother myself. I bought my lil one from my local Aldi and kept it in its original coffee mug pot for some time. Started to outgrow it and looked a bit like it needed a new home. I've since planted it in a clay pot, but I'm sad to say it's not looking very happy. A lot of dried leaves and stems along with browning. I water it when I feel as though the soil is dry and I water it in my sink till soil is fully wet and draining. Leave in the sink to allow extra water to drain and get a little extra sunlight from my kitchen window. Can anyone help??? Any suggestions???

Hi
It looks like one with multiple little shoots together. GO ahead and take off any crispy leaves or dead stems. That will help you know if things are still dying off.
Your watering technique sounds good. I wonder, how often?
Clay pots are fine but no longer my preference for most plants. I found they got too dry, too fast, and that I was fooled by the size and weight pf the pot and did not water often enough for some plants.
Not saying you can't keep it in that pot.. just trying to get a better feel.
Where does it sit between waterings? 'A little extra sun' is probably quite fine now and then , but is the other spot really dark?

I still have my coffee, now about 6 years. I still say it seems to like staying moist. It is a single bush with branches. It has never suffered the spider mites or mealybugs or aphids I have had now and then on other indoor plants. Summer is outside in the shade, winter this year is the corner of a room with an east and a south window flanking, but really not a super bright spot, and happy enough.

@Jtina8688 Much can go wrong when plants are repotted. If you removed some of the original soil, that may have torn away some of the critical tiny roothairs. The soil you used may be too dense and retaining moisture for too long. Repotting can also alter the water requirements.

How much of the original soil did you remove?

How far down into the soil does the soil feel dry just before you water? About how often is that?

@sallyg and @willc

I appreciate the tips and information!

My coffee plant stays close to the window, so it gets pretty good light. It's not getting direct sunlight, but I have a table next to a window in my kitchen that faces North where I keep most of my indoor plants.

As for how often I water, I'm not on a watering schedule...should I be? And that's a general question for watering all of my plants...
I typically go a few days if not longer, when needed, and water when things seem thirsty and dry.
I do not use any tools or really stick my finger deep into the soil, I just check the tops and I also check the soil through the drain hole at the bottoms of my pots! If that feels dry I water, if still pretty moist, I let be.

Anytime I transfer plants into a different pot I always keep some of the original soil! I will start with the old as it's closer to roots and then add fresh new soil to fill the pot the rest of the way.

I mentioned the clay pots to my grandmother, and she agreed that not all plants like clay pots... something I will be looking further into and may be doing some repotting in the near future!


I also try to get my indoor plants outside for that fresh sun and air. Maybe I need to do that more often?
I just sometimes wonder if the too frequent temperature change can be upsetting ??

It's just a matter of learning what they like and don't like/ respond to and executing properly!

Again thank you for the advice and I hope to continue to grow my own green thumb

I also hope I responded properly lol

You responded very nicely
There is no hard and fast schedule for water. Too many Variables.

My coffee ep lant leaves stick straight out when happy, and droop when getting dry. I can see this. Maybe you can see this too if you study them.

This one plant may be better ina plastic pot or bigger clay. It may be drier inside than you realize.

I tell you about mine going outside, not because I say it is better, but it is what I do and results I have. I have seen how plants can do fine indoors all year, and can have disasters on going outside. They adapt to where they are, so changes are not always helpful.

@sallyg and @willc

I appreciate the tips and information!

My coffee plant stays close to the window, so it gets pretty good light. It's not getting direct sunlight, but I have a table next to a window in my kitchen that faces North where I keep most of my indoor plants.

As for how often I water, I'm not on a watering schedule...should I be? And that's a general question for watering all of my plants...
I typically go a few days if not longer, when needed, and water when things seem thirsty and dry.
I do not use any tools or really stick my finger deep into the soil, I just check the tops and I also check the soil through the drain hole at the bottoms of my pots! If that feels dry I water, if still pretty moist, I let be.

Anytime I transfer plants into a different pot I always keep some of the original soil! I will start with the old as it's closer to roots and then add fresh new soil to fill the pot the rest of the way.

I mentioned the clay pots to my grandmother, and she agreed that not all plants like clay pots... something I will be looking further into and may be doing some repotting in the near future!


I also try to get my indoor plants outside for that fresh sun and air. Maybe I need to do that more often?
I just sometimes wonder if the too frequent temperature change can be upsetting ??

It's just a matter of learning what they like and don't like/ respond to and executing properly!

Again thank you for the advice and I hope to continue to grow my own green thumb

I also hope I responded properly lol

Thank you for the additional information. Plants should be watered as-needed not by a predetermined schedule. However, it is important that you know when they need water and you then water them thoroughly. Waiting longer to be on the safe side will lead to dehydration and that can be as detrimental as overwatering.

For your Coffee Plant, no more than the top half-inch of soil should get dry between thorough waterings. No need to check the soil at the very bottom of the pot because that should always be damp or wet.

When repotting, always keep all of the original soil and leave that soil and the roots undisturbed. Better yet, avoid repotting altogether unless the plant is badly potbound.

Outdoor sun is many times more intense than even the brightest indoor light. Keep your Coffee Plant close to a sunny window but indoors year-round. Changes in light and temperature can be very stressful.

What month do acer orange dream come out of dormancy please?