Cocos in So Cal

[Don Little]

All the talk of Ashton going for his try at a coconut in his planter, and Steve's success that he's had got me wanting to give it a try.  Last week walked into HD and to my surpise they got a whole shipment of coconut seedlings.  I thought why not give it a try now.  Won't be completely disappointed if it doesn't work out but will me more disappointed if I never give it a try.  I took some of the suggestions from those who posted on Ashton's thread and Steve's thread.   It is currently in a terra cotta pot which I painted black to absorb as much heat during the day.  Used 70% pure sand and 30% cactus palm mix for good drainage, covered soil with black rocks and placed in south facing location against a wall.  Planted it on 12/24/06 and took picks today 12/31/06.  Will see how it goes and post picks later if it makes it thru the winter.

[Palmateer]

Great, Cucamonga

[Jeff Searle]

Don,

  Looks like you 've done all your homework, and a few tricks of the trade. Good luck!

Jeff

[Don Little]

Thanks Jeff and Tom,  now I just hope we've had the worst of any cold spells.

[spockvr6]

(Don_L @ Dec. 31 2006,17:09)

QUOTE

 Last week walked into HD and to my surpise they got a whole shipment of coconut seedlings.  I thought why not give it a try now.  Won't be completely disappointed if it doesn't work out but will me more disappointed if I never give it a try.  

With HD's one year warranty...it costs you nothing to try!

[Urban Rainforest]

Don, I like what I'm Seeing! You definately did all the right things. Also seeing those golden petioles it looks just like the one that I am growing in Del Mar. Lets all hope for a mild winter and best of luck with your Coco. Steve

[Don Little]

(spockvr6 @ Dec. 31 2006,19:55)

QUOTE

With HD's one year warranty...it costs you nothing to try!

Larry, thats the nice thing about HD, its almost a win/win situation except of course for the time involved.  The last time I had a plant from HD die within a year, got the reciept and found that it had faded so much that you could'nt even read it anymore.  I wonder how many people actually take advnatage of their gaurantee?

Thanks Steve for your comments, especially since your doing the same thing although you have yours in a better location.  I agree, lets hope the worst of the cold is behind us.

[Palmy]

They have shipments of small coconuts all over california. We have them at ever homedepot. Im debating whether to buy one. My mom says no palms inside   although she does have a majesty inside. I would have to keep it in the greehouse.

[MattyB]

Just take it inside on those super cold nights and you should be fine.  I've wondered about those fading receipts too......is it by design?

[Don Little]

(MattyB @ Jan. 02 2007,18:03)

QUOTE

 I've wondered about those fading receipts too......is it by design?

Matt

I've thought that before also, I'm sure there counting on most people not bothering to return it, but in my book a gaurantee is a gaurantee.  Iv'e actually thought of making a photo copy of the receipt and stapleing it to the fading one just in case.

[Cristóbal]

put the cocos in a coco condo when is less then 1.5 meters high to keep rain off, but keep out side in winter for it must become use to our climate. dont put in side.

and don't water ! only 1 time per month and on warm day.

i put in next week end a foto of my coco condo of one i have right now and i am to put this in the ground in this spring.

i have grown cocos in tijuana since 1999 and have learned much of these experiences. its not few cold nights that kill the cocos its wet cool soil for long time, when the cocos are small they die fast in the winter if the soils wet. keep it dry and it will be ok.

[Randyp]

From storebought coconuts, how deep do you plant them. I found one with a small intact button and I may as well see how far I can get with it.

Should the button be just slightly beneath the soil level or is it that critical.

Randy

[Scott]

If I ever see one for sale, it's mine! Their guarantees are good. A month after I bought my Bizzie, I exchanged it for a larger, healthier one.

[AS in SA]

Good Luck Don.  I've had two growing outside in pots in a configuration similar to your since last February - they've almost made it a year   They're both in the 5 or so ft. range.  Definitely some variablity in the hardiness of these.  One of the two is doing so, so - while the other is seems much hardier (of note - the one that's peforming better and seems less effected by the cold has larger proportions - i.e. petioles, trunk base etc. are all comparitively larger).  On a whim I marked this palm with a sharpie pen to see if it was growing at all (expecting zilch this time of year) and was suprised to find about a quarter inch difference a few days later - was very suprised with this especially since it's getting almost no water right now.

[DoomsDave]

(Don_L @ Jan. 02 2007,19:09)

QUOTE

(MattyB @ Jan. 02 2007,18:03)

QUOTE

 I've wondered about those fading receipts too......is it by design?

Matt

I've thought that before also, I'm sure there counting on most people not bothering to return it, but in my book a gaurantee is a gaurantee.  Iv'e actually thought of making a photo copy of the receipt and stapleing it to the fading one just in case.

I would!

If they won't pay, take 'em to small claims court . . .

dave

[Don Little]

Cristobal,

thanks, I'd like to see your little coco condo.  So far the weather has been great with highs in the mid to low 70's and lows in the upper 40's  and low 50's and nothing but clear skies with the exeption of a some rains that did not really get the coconut because the house served to block it to some extent.  Lets hope the weather stays pretty mild from this point on.

Randy,

Mine is planted in the sand planted probably just over 1/3 up which is just to the base of the palm, I imagine it shoud be the same for yours.  I was actually thinking of buying one in the store after reading some of the posts of others in one of the threads.  Still might, just for the experience.  I'm curious as to where places like lowes and HD get their seedlings.

Scott,

it's nice to know that they will honor their word even it's just because you want to exchange it for something bigger. I'm hoping that I won't even need the gaurantee but will definately use it if I have to.

AS in SA,

Thanks, I would love to see some pics of yours, especially if they are in the 5' range.  Even though your climate in Santa Ana is better because of being closer to the coast, I'm hoping that I could pull it off too.  

(Dave)

quotes: (If they won't pay, take 'em to small claims court . . . )

             

Dave,

I'll just apply a little pressure and I'm sure they will give in or Judge Judy it is.

[AS in SA]

Here's two pics of them I took in mid October  - the one in the foreground being the more robust of the two.  Only real change is the fronds in the center have fully developed and a new spear is working its way up - the lower leaves have also yellowed/spotted a bit more.

[AS in SA]

#2

[Cristóbal]

good fotos. they can go in the ground in spring, beginings of april. only make sure there in 70% sand and 30% soil for pots (do not put in clay soil!!!!). put this mix deep 1 meter and wide around area in where you plant them, and if the sands more big then the sand from the ocean beach, this is better. try to find some sand from a river, these sands drains fast and drys fast for the particules are large. i put a foto of the cocos condo in this weekend.

i cant say enough times what kills cocos is clay soil thats always wet and cool in winter

[AS in SA]

Yea, I'm planning on putting them into the ground this spring.  I was considering pot planting them to help avoid the shock of going into the ground... opionions??  digging a large hole, break/crack up the pots a bit, and fill the hole with mostly sand.  We'll see how it goes...

[Howeadypsis]

(spockvr6 @ Dec. 31 2006,19:55)

QUOTE

With HD's one year warranty...it costs you nothing to try!

wow you guys get guarantees on your plants and get a refund if they die? wish we had that over here !

[Cristóbal]

hi don i take yesterday some fotos of the cocos condo, you can see i put some plastic on seed part of cocos that can become wet in rain. i have learned if you keep the cocos dry in winter, any cold temperatures are no problems. when the cocos are larger - like 2 meters - they are ok with no protection from rain or cold, but the young cocos are sensative to cold wet soils. i water 1 time month, no more. this cocos is fine and growing one new leaf you can see this in the foto.

i plant this in 70% sand 30% regular soil. in the spring - april - i put in the ground. about 1 meter high. it has sun all day, south wall. this cocos i dont bring inside in the most cold days/nights, or in santa ana winds. i believe the cocos alone and without much help must become acustom to the climate. just keep it dry.

im more south then you, 32 N, tijuana méxico so we are much more dry and little bit more warm then los angeles in winter. before i have 3 cocos much more then 2 meters high and some trunk, i lose these in march 2005 when i transplant them and little bit later have very high santa ana winds for more than 1 week i wish i have fotos of these to put on the board they were beautiful.

[Cristóbal]

foto of cocos not in condo

[Cristóbal]

new leaf

[chiett]

Thanks for all the great info in this thread as I too bought an early birthday present for myself in the form of a HD cocoa

I am keeping indoors for now, (sorry Cristobal) in a south facing window  with those kind of horizontal window blinds that I (manually) track the sun.

When and if it gets the size of AS's in Santa Ana (okay that's the possessive form, don't kick me off the board!) I will move it outdoors.

With reference to what Cristobal referenced in sand grain size, any concerns with river sand/gravel in the form of bacteria / mold?  Being the thrifty (cheap) guy i am, I was planning a trip up to local mountian streams to gaze and gather.

[Don Little]

Thanks cristobal for the pics.  The last rain we got coconut stayed dry because of a large over hang on the roof, but of course it also depends on how the wind is blowing as well.  I remember those winds vividly from last year and although not as strong as some that we have had this year they seemed to go on forever and it made some of my palms look terrible. I hope yours makes it thru winter to be planted in the ground.  I marked the spear on mine and I've noticed 1/4 inch growth on it, so it hasn't stopped yet.  I will post a pic once we get into spring to updated on how it did.

Chiett, with mine I went to HD and paid 4$ for a bag of sand and 5$ for bag of cactus & Palm soil and I still have alot left over for future use.  IMO you would probably spend more in gas driving up to the mountains and back and there's much less risk of any dangerous organisms.  Is HB Huntington Beach, is so your climate is better than mine.  Just down the way in Newport is the Famous Newport Coconut that has a good amount of trunk and has been there for a while now.

[chiett]

Don,

Probably right re: sand cost versus driving to the mountians, went to OSH Hardware today but they didn't have the large grain sand I was looking for.

As for the Newport Coco, I do the Dave from So Cal swoon every time I drive by, which is often.

[AS in SA]

Well - after the freezing weather in the greater socal area over the last few days - my attempt at growing coconuts in california may be over.  The only protection I was able to offer my potted palms (teddy-bear, coconut, bizmark, triangle, purple-king) was having them under a portable gazebo/awning.  I checked them out Sunday morning and was bummed - coconut and purple-king had serious leaf burn - both cocos and the purple king had serious leaf burn.  The coconuts emerging spears actually still look green/undamaged, but the purple king looks like toast all over.  Teddy bear, bizmark and triangles all looked ok though.  I guess it's time to "hope for the best and prepare for the worst" - or did that time already pass?

[Cristóbal]

my cocos didnt have any problem with the cold there was no frost freeze it looks the same. but the colds not good for it i hope we have some more warm weather soon because if no then the palm cant metabolise and it can die.

[Trópico]

Does anybody know how the Newport beach coconut fared through this cold blast?

[palmazon]

(chiett @ Jan. 10 2007,21:08)

QUOTE

went to OSH Hardware today but they didn't have the large grain sand I was looking for.

Chris - #12 Silversand? Try South Coast Supply at 18851 Goldenwest

[Urban Rainforest]

A silver lining in an otherwise gloomy couple of days. I went to work today in Del Mar fully expecting my Coconut to be keeled over as it has not seen this kind of cold yet. To my surprise it had almost no additional cold damage! This freeze has been very random and unpredictable affecting palms I did'nt think it would like kings and Howeas and not touching my Kentiopsis Oliviformis, Cyphophoenix Elegans and Cocos. Hope it's over soon! Steve

[LJG]

Steve, are you Kentiopsis Oliviformis small? What temps did they take?

[Urban Rainforest]

LJG, Both my Kentiopsis Oliviformis and Cyphophoenix Elegans are over 5 ft. tall and saw temps. in the high 20's. A trunking Allosmidia Glabrata nearby that was flawless is now down to a spear and the same for my Burretiokentia Villardii. My 1 gal. Kentiopsis Pyroformis in my unprotected shadehouse was untouched as was my K. Magnifica which I brought into my patio. Looks like I'm going to see frost again tonight   . Steve

[LJG]

That is good to know about these:

Kentiopsis Oliviformis and Cyphophoenix Elegans

I am looking at adding these but after this freeze I wanted to verify then can handle a low of 28.

Thanks.

[Don Little]

(Steve from San Diego @ Jan. 15 2007,23:54)

QUOTE

A silver lining in an otherwise gloomy couple of days. I went to work today in Del Mar fully expecting my Coconut to be keeled over as it has not seen this kind of cold yet. To my surprise it had almost no additional cold damage! This freeze has been very random and unpredictable affecting palms I did'nt think it would like kings and Howeas and not touching my Kentiopsis Oliviformis, Cyphophoenix Elegans and Cocos. Hope it's over soon! Steve

Steve, you are absolutely right on it being unpredictable.  All of my pinangas, my A purpurea, A myolensis, A maxima and even my B hapala, foxtails, majesty's etc were unscathed and don't even look like there was any cold, however my C gigas suffered minor leaf burn and my Ch hookeri suffered major leaf damage and will most likely lose all its leaves but will be ok, and even my kentia suffered some burn.  The latter three I would have thought wouldn't be touched especially before the others I mentioned previously.  I wonder how much the dry winds that we had earlier which in each case the three damaged were certainly exposed to had a part in them being vunerable to cold damage.

By the way, I'm glad your coconut made it thru unharmed.

[AS in SA]

Below is a shot of my coconut after the lows last weekend - I took this shot today.  Seriously sunburned - both were burned 80+ % of the leaves.  The only thing that's giving me hope is that both coconuts were(are?) working on new spears that didn't appear to have any significant damage (image below)...crossing my fingeres.  Am I hopeless or what???  Seriously, has anyone seen a palm recover from this type of damage???  Should I cut off the leaves and just leave the spears??

[Urban Rainforest]

Those pics are hard to look at because it reminds me of my own sorry looking garden. While my Coco made it through the cold it's biggest test will be tonight. I've been dreading this day for sometime but today they wrapped the 2 story building next to it for termite fumigation. I told the guys soon as they showed up that the Coconut stays outside the tent but still it is right next to it and even though it has'nt shown it I would think it would have to be stressed from the cold. Anyhows I should know in a day or two. Steve

[BS Man about Palms]

AS-

DON"T CUT OFF THE OLD FRONDS!  Wait, it helps the palm with "protection". If it makes, you'll have time to cut.....

[Don Little]

I broke down and moved mine into the garage late sat night, even though I said this was just an experiment, I just never imagined the temps getting this low even when they called for the forcast I still didn't believe it.  It's going back out tomorrow.  I hate to see the damage on your coco AS but don't give up on it.

Steve,

If your coco can make it thru tonight then I think yours will be ok, they're calling for a slight warm up over the next several nights so lets hope it holds out