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Is my coffee plant happy?

Elodie_Elodie_ Posts: 6
in Problem solving

Good morning everyone,

I own an arabica coffee tree since 2018 and am wondering if it is doing fine since some leaves are getting stained and it sort of lost its deep green colour.

I confess, I moved houses a couple of months ago and made the mistake of leaving it by a bright sunny window for a couple of weeks and burnt some leaves … I am apologising to it everyday and try to spray its leaves from time to time.

I’m not sure if I am over thinking this as it is still growing, but just want to make sure this little guy (actually it’s a girl and her name is Gaviota) will be fine. Also, not sure how to deal with the younger branches growing under the main canopy.

Please see picture attached and thank you for any recommendation!



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Posts

  • valerierobertsvalerieroberts Posts: 726
    @leyroy.elodie.    It doesn’t look happy at the moment so you will have to do something. 
    Unfortunately, as no one has answered your question I can only think moving it to a better position,  as it was before, either repotting or scrapping the top four centimetres of soil off and replacing with new potting compost and then feeding it. Do you know if it needs lime free compost or not. Google it for information and maybe you will be able to make it happy. 
    Valerie 
  • Elodie_Elodie_ Posts: 6
    Hi Valerie, thanks a lot for your message! I've done a bit of research on the compost type and indeed it doesn't like lime. I will try repotting it, hopefully it will revive. Thanks again.



    valerieroberts said:
    @leyroy.elodie.    It doesn’t look happy at the moment so you will have to do something. 
    Unfortunately, as no one has answered your question I can only think moving it to a better position,  as it was before, either repotting or scrapping the top four centimetres of soil off and replacing with new potting compost and then feeding it. Do you know if it needs lime free compost or not. Google it for information and maybe you will be able to make it happy. 
    Valerie 

  • valerierobertsvalerieroberts Posts: 726
    Perhaps try feeding it first and then if it doesn’t get better , repot it. It may shock it repotting when it’s not thriving. Have you moved it to the position it was in before. I would remove the two leaves that are brown. Valerie 
  • Elodie_Elodie_ Posts: 6
    valerieroberts said:
    Perhaps try feeding it first and then if it doesn’t get better , repot it. It may shock it repotting when it’s not thriving. Have you moved it to the position it was in before. I would remove the two leaves that are brown. Valerie 
    I have moved it back away from the window already, that was about 3 weeks ago. I was just concerned of the leaves growing brown. I will remove the damaged leaves though and try feeding it. I have not repotted it for a couple of years though and it did grow in size.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Are the new leaves coming through healthy? If so, the older ones on the outside could have been damaged in the move (bumped or squashed, or exposed to a cold draught). It should settle down if you have it in a place right amount of light and temperature. Feeding would be good if it's been in the same pot for a while.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Elodie_Elodie_ Posts: 6
    The new leaves are coming healthy, yes, though the bigger they grow to more they loose their green color. In overall, the plant is not as dark green as it used to be. Here are few pictures after removing the dead leaves:
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It doesn't look too bad :). Try a feed and see if that helps it to green up (follow instructions on the packaging, don't overdo it - you can always feed again later).
    Here's what my trusty old houseplant book says about coffee plants.




    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Elodie_Elodie_ Posts: 6
    Thanks a lot Jenny (And Valerie). I will try the feed. May I ask the reference of your book? It looks interesting!
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's a very old one called, funnily enough, The New House Plant Expert (well I suppose it was new when they named it). Author Dr. D. G. Hessayon. It's showing on Amazon 2nd-hand https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-House-Plant-Expert/dp/B001KTG8T2 but I wouldn't pay what they're asking for it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Elodie_Elodie_ Posts: 6
    Thanks Jenny, I just ordered The House Plant Expert by the same author for £4, the content seems close enough ... also from 1991 ;)
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