7) Little tree clinic

Follow the fate of my tiny arabica coffee tree!

August 2009:

Another fabulous British ’summer’ has not as yet caused the little tree to grow into a cherry bearing giant. But, it’s doing fine, and is having a pretty good year, with regular liquid feed to spur it on. Leaves continue to fall from underneath, as it grows upwards, but maybe this is natural. Also, the little new stem that emerged at the base last winter is doing great, and rapidly forming a convincing second ‘trunk’..!

   

November 2008:

            

This little tree’s full of surprises! It’s been a pretty poor summer for the arabica tree unfortunately; it’s been a wash-out in the UK, especially in Wales, and the tree has not made much progress at all. But it doesn’t give up easily, and has suddenly decided to put out some new shoots from the base of its main (and now last) stem! If these continue to grow well, and don’t just die now that winter’s approaching fast, they’ll really help to bulk-out the tree and counter the frequent leaf-drop from the upper branches… 

February 2008:

                                               

Oh no! The dreaded winter brown-leaf has well and truly set-in again – the leaves are falling at a rate of knots from the bottom upwards. Hurry up spring!

October 2007:  

               

It has been a great summer for the tree – it’s healthier than ever and looking magnificent! The top of the plant has continued to divide of its own accord, and subsequently now has four new shoots growing from the main stem. The leaves are a beautifully rich, glossy, dark green, and some measure a whopping 5 inches! The entire plant is now about 9 inches high, and 9 inches wide. Summer’s fading fast now though, and crunch time approaches – has my little arabica become sturdy enough during the year to cope with the colder, darker months that were so damaging to it last winter…?

September 2007:

My tree has divided! Without any intervention, my little arabica has decided to grow two new side shoots out from the top of the main stem. I had been considering removing the main growing shoot to encourage it to do this – but am glad I left it to it’s own devices! Although it still only has the one main base-stem, this will make the body of the plant bushier and more plentiful.

All the leaves continue to be lush and vigorous – but I still fear the onset of the winter months…

July 2007:

                   

My little tree is currently enjoying a new lease of life! I feel it’s present clean bill of health is due to a number of reasons: First and foremost, I think the heat of the summer sun (not that we’ve had a great deal of it recently!) has been the major factor in nursing the tree back to health. The plant appears to be relishing it’s new location on a sunny, south facing windowsill in our spare bedroom, which has allowed it to take full advantage of the limited rays we’ve been permitted. Also, I’ve been pampering the little fellow with a diet of liquid plant-feed, which seems to have been much appreciated.

However, I fear the plant’s success still hangs in the balance. Because it suffered so badly during it’s first winter with me, it lost all but one of it’s original five stems – and all hope now rests on this last remaining stalk. The leaves are now healthy and vigorous, and have ceased to turn brown and die-off as before, but unless it can become strong enough over the remainder of the summer, I cannot be sure whether or not it’ll make it through the winter to come…

April 2007:

First post.