Sickly coffee plant?

[sandspider]

Hi all

We have a coffee plant in our bathroom, with sentimental value. We've had it a few years now, potted it on once or twice and I give it the odd feed of general purpose fertiliser. Generally it's grown pretty well and healthy.
However, in the past week or so it's lost its lustre, the leaves are drooping and going brown, and some are dropping off. I did give it a dilute feed or two of liquid gpf, but I'm not sure how this could have caused the problem. It looks a bit like it's not taking up water. I've drained off the fertilised water and watered it with fresh water a couple of times to try and help it recover (in case the fertiliser was the problem) Is there anything else I could try, and can anyone guess what may be wrong with it?
Pic hopefully attached.
Thank you.

[Nicos]

I’ve just spent a while doing some interesting reading on tinternet about this plant as I’d absolutely no knowledge of them

They all suggest that they need high humidity , with damp but well drained soil in semi shade conditions.

The plant otherwise looks really healthy - and you’ve clearly done the right things to it previously if you’ve grown on for the past few years.

My gut feeling is that it’s been sitting in its own water and some of the roots have rotted?

Why not take it out of its pot and look at the state of its root? At least then you’ll know if that’s part of the problem. There should be plenty of white/ cream healthy roots. Could it be in need of repotting again if they are crammed together?

Is it able to freely drain? It looks like it’s just in a pot so if it’s been overwatered it’ll just stand with its feet sopping wet.
If that’s the case it may be best to have it in a pot which freely drains standing on a tray so the evaporating excess water can help keep it humid?

These are just a few thoughts…but as I said , I’ve never had a coffee plant - but I do have something similar happening to one of my house plants when it’s overwatered.

Are you also experiencing this heatwave?…..maybe caring for it in your usual way might need temporarily adapting?

Hope this helps as some ideas to bounce off at least!

Do let us know what you eventually work out is the problem- it looks a beautiful plant.

[sandspider]

Thanks nicos! It does have damp feet, but usually has so not sure if that can be a change. It has been hot for a couple of days here, which is rare ! I'll go and have a look at the roots...
Thanks for the kind words, it is a pretty plant and would be good to keep it going if I can.

[sandspider]

Just to update, I investigated today. The roots seem white and healthy and plentiful, though there's a bit of a damp and mouldy smell coming from the pot. It's a bit pot bound, but not too bad. I've potted it on anyway, and put it in a saucer that's tighter so most of it will be out of any standing water. It doesn't seem too happy, alas,
but fingers crossed.
Thanks for the thoughts again, Nicos! We shall see...

[Nicos]

Fingers crossed that will do the trick…do let us know how you get on - you never know, one of us might decide to grow one ourselves!

[sandspider]

Not looking good still, alas. I did see somewhere that wilt is about, and it does look like that. Maybe it will recover in time.

[Babru]

How about taking some cuttings. If the plant has sentimental value, there will be nothing to lose.

I've had a coffee plant for about 20 years, so interested in your thread. Mine looks fine so far.