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How to Water a Coffee Plant for Healthy Growth

Publicerad November 20, 2025

How to Water a Coffee Plant for Healthy Growth

How to water

Coffee trees love water and do not like to dry out. Feel the soil: it should be a bit moist but not wet when watering it again. Squeeze a bit of soil between your fingers - if water seeps out it’s still wet. There are several ways to water Coffee trees. Choose a way that suits you the best.

If the soil is wet - snooze this action, we will remind you again in 2 days.

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Water over the soil

  1. Pour water over the soil, using, for example, a watering can or put the plant directly under a tap

  2. Continue adding water to the pot until it starts to run out from the drainage holes

  3. If you have a tray under the pot when watering, make sure you remove all the collected water afterwards - never let your plant sit in water

  4. If you watered under a tap make sure that water has stopped running out from the bottom before putting it back

Coffee trees love softened and/or filtered water. Hard water is one reason your Coffee trees might get brown edges and spots on the leaves.
— Planta tip

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Bottom watering

  1. Fill the plant tray with water

  2. Make sure the soil is in contact with the water on the tray

  3. Wait for about 10 minutes

  4. Feel the soil to see if it absorbed enough water —> if the soil is moist throughout, remove any excess water from the tray

  5. If it’s still dry —> add more water to the tray

  6. Wait 20 more minutes before removing the excess

Note

Bottom watering will not wash away salts and other minerals from the soil, so make sure to also give water over the soil every now and then.

Water bath

  1. Fill a bucket or any other vessel with lukewarm water

  2. Lower the whole pot down in the water, stop where the stem of the plant starts. Make sure all of the soil is under water

  3. The water will now start to bubble - wait until it stopped

  4. Lift the pot up and let the excess drain off

  5. Put your plant back in the cachepot or on the tray

  6. After 1 hour, check that your plant isn’t standing in water, if it is it might get overwatered and rot

Coffee trees love the perfect balance between wet and dry soil. They don’t like to dry out completely and they don’t want to be overwatered.
— Planta tip

Vanliga frågor

How do I know when to water my Coffee plant?

Feel the soil; it should be a bit moist but not soaking wet when it is time to water again. Squeezing the soil should not result in water seeping out.

What kind of water is best for Coffee plants?

Coffee plants prefer softened and/or filtered water. Using hard water can lead to brown edges and spots on their leaves.

Can a Coffee plant sit in water?

No, you should never let your Coffee plant sit in collected water after watering, as this can cause overwatering and rot.

Is it okay to only bottom water my Coffee plant?

No, you should also water your Coffee plant from the top occasionally. Bottom watering does not wash away salts and other minerals from the soil.

What is a water bath method for watering a Coffee plant?

A water bath involves lowering the entire pot into lukewarm water up to the stem and waiting for the bubbling to stop, then letting the excess water drain.

How to Water a Coffee Plant from the Top

  1. Pour water over the soil, using a watering can or placing the plant directly under a tap.

  2. Continue adding water until it begins to run out from the drainage holes of the pot.

  3. If you have a tray under the pot, remove all the collected water immediately.

  4. If you watered under a tap, ensure that water has stopped running out from the bottom before returning the plant.