How to Grow and Care for Coffee Cup Plant

The Coffee Cup Plant (Colocasia esculenta ‘Coffee Cups’) is a striking tropical plant known for its unusual foliage. As a member of the Elephant Ear family, its large, olive-green leaves are held on dark stems and curve upwards to form a cup shape. This structure collects rainwater, which spills over as the weight bends the stem. This plant is a clumping variety, growing in a contained group rather than sending out runners.

Coffee Cup Plant Care

Light

Proper lighting is a significant factor for this plant. It thrives in conditions from partial shade to full sun, but a spot with bright, indirect light or direct morning sun is ideal for the best growth and color. While it tolerates direct sun, shield it from the harsh afternoon sun, which can scorch or fade the leaves.

Soil

This plant prefers a rich, well-aerated soil that also retains consistent moisture. You can improve standard potting mixes by amending them with organic matter like compost, peat moss, or coco coir. This enriches the soil with nutrients and helps it hold the water these plants require for lush growth.

Water

Consistent moisture is the most important element of care for this plant. It has a high water requirement and performs best when its soil is kept evenly moist. Many Colocasia are native to boggy areas and can even be grown in water gardens. When watering in a pot, keep the soil damp but not saturated for prolonged periods to ensure the roots receive oxygen.

Temperature and Humidity

As a tropical plant, the Coffee Cup Plant flourishes in warm, humid environments. It is suited for outdoor growth in USDA hardiness zones 8-11. In colder climates, it can be grown as an annual, or the tubers can be dug up and stored over winter. To increase humidity indoors, you can mist the leaves or place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water.

Fertilizer

To support its fast growth, the Coffee Cup Plant benefits from regular feeding. During the active growing season of spring and summer, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks. As growth slows in the fall and winter, reduce or stop fertilizing to allow the plant to rest.

Propagating Coffee Cup Plants

The most common method for propagating a Coffee Cup Plant is by dividing its underground tubers, or corms. This process is best done in the spring as the plant begins its active growth cycle. Division encourages fresh growth and helps manage the size of a clumping plant.

To begin, carefully remove the plant from its pot or garden bed, disturbing the root ball as little as possible. Once the tuber is exposed, you will see smaller offset corms attached to the main parent tuber. Gently break or cut these smaller corms away, ensuring each new division has some roots attached.

Place each new division into a container filled with a fresh, appropriate soil mix. Water the new plants well and keep them in a warm location with bright, indirect light to encourage them to establish. Keeping the soil consistently moist will help the new roots develop quickly.

Common Issues and Solutions

Drooping or wilting leaves are almost always a sign that the plant is not receiving enough water. The large leaves lose moisture quickly, and any period of drought will cause them to sag. The solution is to check the soil more frequently and increase watering to ensure it remains consistently damp.

Yellowing leaves can indicate a nutrient deficiency but are often caused by either too much or too little water. If the soil is soggy and waterlogged, the roots can suffocate, leading to yellow foliage. Conversely, severe underwatering can also cause lower leaves to yellow. Always check the soil’s moisture level before watering to determine the cause.

In dry indoor environments, Coffee Cup Plants can become susceptible to spider mites. These pests thrive in low-humidity conditions and are identified by fine webbing on the undersides of leaves and a stippled appearance of the foliage. To combat them, increase humidity by misting or using a pebble tray. Treat an infestation with insecticidal soap or neem oil, coating all leaf surfaces.