Are you absolutely sure that's the diagnosis, or are you guessing - I only ask because it's a bit unusual for house plants to get 'rust', though it's common for them to develop brown dry patches for various reasons. I don't know what to use if it is rust, though I imagine a good garden ctre will have various things, though they may be made for large trees outdoors.

No I am not absolutely sure what it is. It is an un-educated guess on my part and the garden center's part. I took a leaf there and looked in the book after talking to several people in the center. It looks like rust. One leaf will get it and fall off, then another, working from the bottom up. The top puts on new leaves and it put leaves on the stems as well. I have transplanted this plant and moved it in the shade outside, it didn't like that at all so it is back inside. Nothing I have done has helped. We have only one garden center so I am between a rock and a hard place right now.

Would you know spider mites if you saw them? I ask because something like that is far more likely to be the problem. You almost need a mag. glass to actually see them, but you can see their tiny webs between trunk and stems, etc. Can you describe the problem as precisely as possible?

In 23 years of working in horticulture I've never seen rust on a houseplant.

Got pics?

Coffee plants don't belong in shade..they like bright direct sunlight.

The plant is in bright indirect light in a window.The instructions on it say, NO Direct Sunlight. I have removed all the leaves with the rust and it is much improved. If they should redevelop I will post a picture of a leaf for you to see.

buyorsell888: I see no instructions on this site on how to post the picture I just took of another leaf turning the rust color.
I have emailed you and if you can email me directly I will attach it and send it to you.
Or if you could tell me how to post the picture I can post it here,it is a jpeg image

Book, you can't always go by the tags that come with a plant..More often than not, the tags are mislabled. Coffee plants like sun, humidity and moist soil, (not soggy)
We've discussed labels on plants here many times.
Since your plant is in shade, and if you decide to move, I wouldn't put it in blazing sunlight now cause it'd burn. I'd say it needs bright light, that should be sufficient. I've seen them growing at the conservatory, in a gh that gets direct light. So, they're getting direct sun and have grown into beautiful trees.
Most tags are generically printed..go to the lirbrary or pick up a couple good plant books that have info on coffee plants..Toni

The leaves look like the coffee plants I have seen on the Internet.
Could I email someone the picture of the plant I took?
It is way too complicated to upload it and the forum won't let me cut and paste it.

Book, I'm not saying your plant isn't a coffee tree..it's the other info I'm refering to. The care instructions. I think they make up a list of tags, then stick them in the soil for the customer.
If you'd like to send a pic of your plant I'd be glad to view it..my addy is hopefulauthor@sbcgobal.net Toni

Thanks toni....The picture is on its way, maybe we can find an answer.

Book,
Do the leaves look like this?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:93220}}

Yes they do only they were worse...I cut the top off as there was new growth on the stems on the bottom. Put it in the sun and fed it miracid, repotted it in cactus soil. Some of the tips of the little bottom leaves are brown and dead. I have done all I know to do.

Book,
Don't put it in the sun!!!!!! Here are some pics of my 10 year old Kona coffee tree grown from a seed brought back from Maui. I had it in the sunroom for the first few years and it survived, but did nothing. I put it out on the sundeck one year, thinking coffee tree/ Hawaii/ needs lots of sun. Right? Wrong!!!!! Nearly lost it to sun scald. I moved it to the living room, in front of the patio doors to the deck and it just exploded. Never sees the sun, but gets lots of bright light. Flowers and fruits continuously year round. After your plant is three years old it should start flowering. If not give it some epsom salts, 1 tablespoon to a gallon of water. That leaf pic I posted is from this tree. I just pic them off and don't worry about it, as long as you have the new growth.

{{gwi:93221}}


{{gwi:93222}}


{{gwi:93223}}


{{gwi:93224}}

Hey bookbaglady, you can put pics directly in your post if you know a little about html. Otherwise, use a picture hosting forum such as Yahoo photos or Photobucket, which are very user friendly and use the "browse" options to look for your pic file on your computer, or in Yahoo photos, you can even use drag and drop. Then just copy the URL for the uploaded image from the address bar and paste it into the "Optional Link URL" in the GW site under your message and it will create a clickable link so that others can just click on it and view your photo...if you would like additional help, please e-mail me at elfinnplants@yahoo.com, and I would be happy to help you walk through the process :)

I did have it in bright light when it pulled its shennagins. You know, it might have been soggy soil that didn't drain very well that caused the leaf browning. I moved it in a south window that is getting a little sun now as the days shorten. Soon I will move it with the orchids on a table by the window.

I can't post a picture cause I cut the top off so it is now a baby again. I sent the last one directly by email cause I can't figure out the process altho I do editing on Adobe and take pics....just draw a blank when I cant attach them on garden web

It definately looked overwatered to me....

Igee, your coffee tree is absolutely gorgeous. Look at those berry's!! I'd like to find the type you have but wouldn't even know where to begin searching. I have the standard coffee arabica, sp., and it's slow-growing..It's outside now but will soon be bringing plants indoors for winter..I love your tree..Toni

Hi Toni,
The way I understand it, a Kona coffee tree is basically a "Coffea arabica" tree, only grown on the island of Hawaii, which gives it the Kona taste. So, essentially, your tree and mine are probably distant cousins. Do you put your tree outside every year? How old is it. I see you are in a Zone 5. I am in Zone 7a here in Campbell River, BC, Canada. Mine never leaves my living room, but it is right in front of the patio doors which are open most of the summer.
Here is a pic of one of the grandkids. Gonna be 2months old on the 25th of August.

{{gwi:93225}}

Jgee, yep my tree is taken outside every spring/summer. Actually I think there is a difference in appearance..You notice how your plant has lines? Mine doesn't possess them or if it does, they're barely visible. I've had other coffee trees before and they grew the same way. W/o the lines. If I get a chance, I'll take a pic tomorrow and you'll see what I mean..Toni

Hi Toni, and everyone else,

Thanks again Toni for answering my Orange tree question in the citrus forum. Now, I'm curious about my coffee tree. I've read varying opinions on how to best care for it. The days are getting shorter up here in Vermont, and I'm curious as to whether supplementing the tree w/ artificial light is beneficial. If so, what would you recommmend? Again, I'm looking for the best bulb for a clamp-on fixture with an ordinary "incandescent bulb" socket.
Thanks again for your help. And,jgee, your Kona tree is stunning...I can only dream that one day my little guy will approach that stature....
~Michael

UPDATE On COFFEE PLANT:
The coffee plant has completely recovered. What I did was cut it down to a few leaves, repotted it in a soil that gave it more drainage (I added a lot of peat) then I used some Miracid and Superthrive. It is in a South window with plenty of light and about 1/2 day of sun. It looks wonderful and I have to thank all of you for a life saved.
Hopeful, my tree is like jgees with lines and pointed leaves. It came from a flower shop in Cheyenne, Wyo., so maybe you could check the flower shops for this type.

Michael, I've seen incandescent grow lights at Home Depot..They come in different watts from 25 to 150, maybe higher. Check your clamp-on..it may have a warning specifying not to exceed certain watts. The bulbs at HD stay cool when on. Also, check the fixture size before looking for a bulb. Most come in standard sizes, but I have seen clamp-ons that require smaller bulb sockets..Whatever the thing is called that screws into the outlet..

Booklady, thanks..Believe me, I've checked many-a-nurery but couldn't find the coffe tree you and Jgees has..I think they're so pretty, much nicer than the coffee arabica I have..not that that particular type isn't nice, but I like yours better..LOL..I've even checked online, no luck there either. I wonder if a regular florist would sell this type. I normally don't shop at florists because they charge so much money, but if I can find a small speimen, I'd be happy..thanks. I'm happy to hear your coffee tree is doing better..a great accomplishment. Toni

Toni,
I did venture out to Home Depot today, and came home with three different compact fluorescent bulbs -- the spiral fluorescent energy saving ones. One 30 W (120 W equivalent), 2000 lumens, bright white (they didn't have full-spectrum); a 23 W (100 W equiv.), 1600 lumens, warm white; and a 19 W (75 W equiv.), 840 lumens, "daylight."

I was thinking of using the 30 W, on my orange tree, and either of the other two bulbs for the coffee plant and my passiflora vines. Am I on the right track? Or, do you recommend a different strategy?

Lastly, I have timers for the lights, but am not real sure how much supplemental light to give the plants. They're all in a Southern exposed window, though due to the angle of the sun and an abundance of trees, they don't get too much direct sunlight. The orange tree has 5 small to medium-sized oranges, and an abundance of tiny ones (the plant had gone to bloom just at the end of the summer....It's about 3 years old. The coffee plant is about a year and a half old.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! for sharing your knowledge. I greatly appreciate it!

Hi - my 2 c's worth... My coffee's are under 40w Syl. Gro-lux full spectrum lights, though 12-15" away (vs 6" for my other trops), and they're doing really well. One thing - I'd go easy on the Miracid, but would add a very little bit of lime to the soil - they like it and it's recommended.

OK, Lime sounds good. What do you all fertilize your tree with? I just use a bit of Miracid now and then. The Coffeetree loves Superthrive but so do all my plants.

Hi Michael,
My coffee tree never gets any additional light in the winter, and is doing fine. It tends to go a little dormant in the winter months, but that is not such a bad thing.
More than light, the thing to watch in the winter months is that you do not over water it. I also do not feed it from Oct till Feb. Hope this helps,
John

Toni,
Are you sure what you have is a 'Coffea Arabica' tree?
Could you send a pic?
John

Here is an email I sent to a coffee plantation owner in Hawaii, earlier this year, and his response.
----------------------------------------------------
Comments: I was wondering if there was any difference between Arabica and
Kona Coffee trees, or is a Kona coffee bean basically a bean from an Arabica
coffee tree grown in Hawaii?
Thanx
----------------------------------------------------
Aloha J. Xxxxxxxxx,

You are correct on your second assumption. The coffee cultivar grown in
Kona, Hawaii is an Arabica variety, from Guatemala, that has been in Kona
for over 150 years. It is now referred to as a Kona Typica variety of the
old fashioned Guatemalan Arabica.

I hope that is clear.

Sincerely,

Xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx

jgee, what a fantastic coffeeplant you have!!
Mine is three years old and is not too happy, some browny leaves and far from the flush green leaves as yours.
Location is half day in full sun, north facing, southern hemisphere.
I will relocate mine to indirect sunlight and will add some epson salt and wait what happens.

Regards Raymond