Taking Care of Kona Coffee Trees Indoors

Location

• Keep your Kona coffee plant in a location where temperatures range between 65 degrees and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant should receive bright light, but no direct sun. Artificial indoor plant lighting will provide adequate lighting for the coffee plant. If you place the potted coffee plant outside during the summer, keep it in light shade. Bear in mind that Kona coffee plants are not tolerant of freezing temperatures; do not keep the plant on an unheated sun porch during the winter months if you live in a cool climate.

Fertilizer

• Your Kona coffee plants will produce coffee cherries without using fertilizer, but to ensure a maximum yield of fruit and a vigorous plant, feed the plant every two weeks during the late spring and summer. Use a soluble, all-purpose, balanced liquid fertilizer such as 10-10-10 diluted by half. During the fall and winter, feed the coffee plant monthly.

Water

• The key to watering your Kona coffee tree is to keep the soil moist and to provide good drainage. Water the plant twice a week. Be sure that the pot has a hole in the bottom for drainage. Keep the soil thoroughly moist during the spring and summer months, but not soggy, and make sure it stays lightly moist during the fall and winter. Coffee plants do not tolerate drought; do not allow the soil to dry out. The leaves of the tree may fall if the soil is too dry or too wet.

Humidity

• Coffee plants require moist air to thrive. The presence of humidity aids water retention. If the humidity is too low, the tips of the plant's leaves may turn brown. Make sure humidity remains high. Misting your coffee plant with a spray bottle once or twice a day may suffice, or use a humidifier for the best results.