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Coffee plant · Coffea

What are these bumps on my coffee plant?

If you see small, hard brown bumps on the stems or undersides of leaves, you likely have scale insects. These pests suck the sap and weaken your plant over time.

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pests on a plant
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Scrape a bump to see if it moves or detaches.
  2. Look for sticky residue on the leaves below the bumps.
  3. Check the undersides of leaves where pests hide.

Likely causes

  1. Scale Insects

    Most likely

    How to tell: You will see small, raised brown bumps that can be scraped off with a fingernail. They often leave behind a sticky residue called honeydew.

    What to do: Gently scrape the insects off with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Treat the entire plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap once a week for one month.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your coffee plant

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

Scale can spread quickly to other plants in your home. Isolate the coffee plant immediately to prevent an infestation.

Stopping it coming back

Wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks to keep them clean and discourage pests.

Coffee plant: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your coffee plant and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Can I just wash them off?
Washing helps, but scale have a hard shell that protects them. You must use alcohol or oil to kill them effectively.
Will my plant recover?
Yes, coffee plants are resilient. Once the pests are gone, the plant will resume normal growth.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Coffee plant

Back to the Coffee plant guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.