Coffea arabica "Obata" seeds, Arabica coffee tree

**Coffea arabica**, or coffee plant, is a tropical plant grown for its coffee beans. Sowing its seeds can be a rewarding experience, but it requires a little patience and specific conditions. Here is a step-by-step guide to successfully sowing **Coffea arabica seeds**.

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### **Materials required:**
- Coffee beans.
- Light and well-draining substrate (seedling compost, coconut fiber, sand, or perlite).
- Pots or cups.
- Plastic film or mini greenhouse (optional).
- Lukewarm water.
- Vaporizer.

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### **Sowing steps:**

#### 1. **Seed preparation:**
- **Cleaning:**
- If the seeds are still surrounded by pulp (coffee cherry), remove it carefully, then wash the seeds in lukewarm water.
- **Soaking:**
- Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for **24 to 48 hours** to rehydrate their shell and activate germination.

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#### 2. **Substrate preparation:**
- Mix seed starting soil with sand or perlite to ensure good aeration and drainage.
- Fill the pots or cups with this substrate and press down lightly.

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#### 3. **Sowing the seeds:**
- Place the seeds flat (flat side down) on the substrate.
- Cover them lightly with a thin layer of substrate (approximately **1 cm**).
- Tamp lightly to hold the seeds in place.

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#### 4. **Watering and humidity:**
- Moisten the substrate with a spray bottle or a fine rain watering can. Make sure it is damp but not soggy.
- Cover the pots with plastic wrap or place them in a mini greenhouse to retain humidity.

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#### 5. **Germination conditions:**
- **Temperature:** Maintain a constant temperature of **25 to 30 °C**. Coffee plants need warmth to germinate well.
- **Humidity:** Ensure constant humidity by regularly checking that the substrate remains moist.
- **Light:** Place the pots in a bright place, but away from direct sunlight.

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#### 6. **Germination:**
- **Coffea arabica** seeds take time to germinate. Germination can take between **1 and 3 months**, or even longer, depending on conditions.

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### **Maintenance after germination:**

#### 1. **Remove the cover:**
- Once the seedlings appear, remove the plastic film or open the mini greenhouse to avoid excessive condensation.

#### 2. **Exposure to light:**
- Place the young plants in a bright place, but without direct sunlight, to prevent them from burning.

#### 3. **Watering:**
- Keep the substrate slightly moist, without excess water to avoid rotting.

#### 4. **Thinning:**
- If several seeds have germinated in the same pot, transplant each seedling into an individual pot when they reach approximately **5 to 10 cm** in height.

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### **Transplanting and growing young plants:**

#### 1. **Replanting:**
- When the plants reach about **15 cm** in height and develop several leaves, transplant them into larger pots with a rich, well-drained potting soil mix.
- Optionally add a little compost or organic fertilizer to encourage their growth.

#### 2. **Growing conditions:**
- **Exposure:** The coffee tree prefers indirect or filtered light, especially in its early years.
- **Temperature:** Maintain a temperature of **18 to 25°C** for optimal growth.
- **Watering:** Water regularly, but allow the substrate to dry slightly between waterings.

#### 3. **Growth:**
- The coffee tree grows slowly. It will take **3 to 4 years** for it to start producing flowers and fruits in good conditions.

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### **Additional Tips:**


1. **Ideal climate:**
- If you live in a tropical or subtropical climate, the coffee plant can be planted outdoors. Otherwise, grow it in pots indoors or in a greenhouse.

2. **Fertilizer:**
- Add a fertilizer rich in nitrogen and potassium to stimulate growth and flowering.

3. **Wintering:**
- In winter, place the coffee plant in a bright place and maintain a temperature above 15°C.

4. **Patience:**
- Growing coffee is a long-term project, but it can be very rewarding.