3 year old potted coconut palms: need some advice

[ando.wsu]

Yes, another coconut thread. However, just need some insight. I've had two coconut palms for going on about three years. Do you experts think it is still okay to keep them outside with lows in the mid 50's for a few hours, and back up to the upper 70's mid 80's? Or should I be bringing them inside at night, where indoors are at 78 degrees, and back outside in the morning before I leave for work letting them enjoy the warming up of the day?

They are beginning to get a little big and awkward inside.

[ando.wsu]

Here is a photo of my two coco trees. I didn't mention that I am in Phoenix, Arizona. We had a cold front come in today, which brought the temps down to the low 70s. Feels like winter today. However, back to the mid 80's beginning tuesday for the next couple of weeks.

[MDPalm]

I am in Maryland and the temps have gotten down to 40 at night and days in the 50's to 70's.

I have a coconut about the size of your smaller one and it has been outside with temps down to 45, lower than that I have brought it inside. So far I have not seen any damage. My guess would be that they would be happier if you brought them into the warmer temperatures but probably wouldn't hurt them to leave them out.

But being in Maryland I don't know a whole lot.

[Hammer]

You should be fine with those temps. But I wouldn't let them get too much lower while leaving them outside. If you want to be extra sure, you may want monitor soil temps. If soil temps dip below 60 that is a solid signal they should be inside.

You might consider potting them up. The pots look small relative to the size of the plants.

[ando.wsu]

thanks for the replies. In the past I have babied them taking them inside even when its in the 60s at night. Seems to me from your advice, they should be fine outside for a while longer. And yes, they totally need to be repotted. Just have not found the right sized pot that suits my needs. I guess I should really be suiting their needs instead right...ha! Thanks to both of you above.

[wimmie]

Small pots are not a problem for your Cocos palms, as long as you feed them regularly. Outsite, the problem could be that your palms are beeing blown down, so a heavier clay pot would do better, but that doesn't have to be a lot bigger than the plastic containers you are using now!

Regards,

Wim.

[Kostas]

Be careful though, I lost my 3year old coconut from being just a night too late for bringing it in... dipped to 0C or less unexpectedly it seems and just got brown within a couple days after bringing it inside...Don't risk with lower than 45F or with such temperatures plus wind, they hate it.

[ando.wsu]

I'm all too familiar with the wind and the two toppling over. This was the first summer I fertilized them. And what a difference in growth rate. I should have been doing it all along.

[Ken Johnson]

They are so cute in the house like that! They also look healthy. If you can keep up what you have been doing you should be good except for the getting too big part. To keep them smaller remove them from the pots and like bonsai's cut a bunch of roots! That will slow them down and keep 'em small!

[JT in Japan]

I have my one coconut palm here in Japan, where houses don't have central heating. We heat all of our rooms individually, with wall mounted units. So in the middle of winter, the temp in my office in the morning can easily get down to 5C (about 42F, I guess). From the comments above, is he going to make it, two months of those night temps? During the day, with the sun in the window, the room temp can easily become 20C (72F), so daytime is not an issue.

The pic is from this spring. He's a foot taller now.

Cheers,
JT

[Stelios]

Here is a photo of my two coco trees. I didn't mention that I am in Phoenix, Arizona. We had a cold front come in today, which brought the temps down to the low 70s. Feels like winter today. However, back to the mid 80's beginning tuesday for the next couple of weeks.

What are the coldest temps and do you get a lot of rain there in the winter? Your are still OK with temps. Here in Cyprus we have around 73F in the day and 57 in the night. I didn't protect my coconut yet which is going for it's 3rd winter out in the yard. I will start to protect it from December. The last 2-3 days we had some rain but because is planted in full sand the water is draining quickly under full sun. Your palms look very healthy.

[ando.wsu]

Here is a photo of my two coco trees. I didn't mention that I am in Phoenix, Arizona. We had a cold front come in today, which brought the temps down to the low 70s. Feels like winter today. However, back to the mid 80's beginning tuesday for the next couple of weeks.

What are the coldest temps and do you get a lot of rain there in the winter? Your are still OK with temps. Here in Cyprus we have around 73F in the day and 57 in the night. I didn't protect my coconut yet which is going for it's 3rd winter out in the yard. I will start to protect it from December. The last 2-3 days we had some rain but because is planted in full sand the water is draining quickly under full sun. Your palms look very healthy.

coldest temps I have seen in Phoenix would be about mid 20's. Cold snaps usually last a few days, and we might have 5 a year. Daytime averages in November is mid 70's for highs, and mid to low 50's for average lows. It is dry here in Phoenix, we average less than 10 inches a year.

Unfortunately, it is too cold in Phoenix to grow cocos in the ground.

[Peter Pacific]

Coconuts love it warm but, if you have any concerns, why don't you try one outside and leave the others inside. If they burn, you won't loose them all. They are also resilient and may come back after a cold snap.

[wrigjef]

Guys, I love this thread. I live in Phoenix and have a Coco in a pot I've kept since I signed up for palmtalk. I have grown them in all ways since the late 80's. AZ has a lot of qualities they love. I'm convinced low humidity levels don't bother them as long as heat is present during the day like the AZ climate. I'm betting I can grow it in the ground with some help with heat coils and a low budget green house over it in winter until it reaches too tall to do anything. I dream of being the first person to fruit a coco in AZ but I think that's just a pipe dream

[Donald Sanders]

When I lived in S. Cal I grew coconuts in big pots. I left them outside in full sun about 9 months a year and brought them in for the 3 cold months. They looked pretty good and lasted years. Here on the big island I am often surprised to see coconuts growing in places I would least expect. I've seen them look good here on the west side at cool altitudes even over 2000'. I am often amazed at how many dwarf coconuts there are and how small they can be and still bare fruit. I don't know how true but in several conversations with others here it has been mentioned that the dwarf Samoan evolved small because they are often found in the cooler mountain areas. I don't know how accurate these observations are.

I personally think you have a chance in AZ especially if you keep it warm during your coldest periods. Try a dwarf, especially if you are going to use a temp green house for the winter.

Good luck and I hope you are the first one to grow coconuts in AZ.

Aloha, Don

[Tropicdoc]

I moved my potted coconuts into a greenhouse and have not heated it yet. Temps have gone to high 40s so far. The top fronds are staying green, but the lower/ older fronds rapidly turned chocolate brown. Supposed to flirt with freezing tonight... will have to activate the space heater. Last year, the heaters cost me about $1000 to run. I'm not doing that again. Especially since the local box store has been getting cocos about 5 feet tall every spring and selling them for $40. Its just amazing how fast they grow in our hot, wet summers. But, alas we have the polar vortex phenomenon. I'm about done with these damned coconuts!

[ando.wsu]

no polar vortex in Arizona. But it is cooling off fast. Gonna have to pack in the two cocos in for the winter soon. They look nice in the house. I bought a larger sized black pot and potted them both up with cactus mix together. Much easier hauling only one pot in and out. And they take up half the space now that they are combined.

[ando.wsu]

The day after I posted pics of my cocos, I decided to repot them. And I repotted them together. Container is much larger than their original pots, and I added some cactus mix soil for good drainage, and lava rock on top just for looks. They have each pushed about 16 inches of new spears this winter indoors in the bathroom. Lately i have been taking them outside in the day to get sun since we have been in the mid 70's and back inside at night to keep the soil warm.

I don't remember them growing so much like this last winter. I contribute this to me watering them more. Last winter i watered them very little. This winter so far, i have been watering them in the tub to let access water drain out with very warm water about once every two weeks. I drilled about 8 holes on the bottom to have good drainage to discourage water sitting on the bottom and to prevent rotting. Anyhow, they seem good still. Almost time to keep them outside for the rest of the year.

both pics taken with iPhone, and not edited to enhance color. They are very green.

[wimmie]

They look great, Bryan. To keep the pot steady with wind outside, you could consider to use two or three iron walking sticks to fix it in the ground.

Succes,

Wim.

[ando.wsu]

They look great, Bryan. To keep the pot steady with wind outside, you could consider to use two or three iron walking sticks to fix it in the ground.

Succes,

Wim.

Thank You Wim. This pot is much heavier, and the lava rock also adds to some weight. Our summers here are months of over 100 degrees F. I keep these guys on the patio where it is covered, and protected from wind. Intense summer heat and sun seem to scorch the fronds a bit, combating that with the containers drying out very fast. In the spring, I put these out in the sun, So i will definitely use that trick with the stakes to keep them from knocking over. That was always a problem when they were in their smaller plastic containers. These plants have fallen over too many times to count. Gets old quick.

Bryan

[DoomsDave]

Bryan, so far so good.

Keep us apprized.

Coconuts will grow on the Arabian peninsula, to high summer heat isn't necessarily a barrier.

[ando.wsu]

It has been about 6 months since my last post. I had these two cocos indoors for about two months in the winter and once night time temperatures stayed above 45 degrees F, I kept them outside on the sunny south facing covered patio. Both have opened two new fronds and each have a third poking up. I also removed the older strap leaves since they were hanging so low taking up a lot of space. So far they have endured some triple digit weather and I have them placed in a spot where they get some afternoon dappled shade. Definitely slow growing compared to other ideal places.

[Moose]

It has been about 6 months since my last post. I had these two cocos indoors for about two months in the winter and once night time temperatures stayed above 45 degrees F, I kept them outside on the sunny south facing covered patio. Both have opened two new fronds and each have a third poking up. I also removed the older strap leaves since they were hanging so low taking up a lot of space. So far they have endured some triple digit weather and I have them placed in a spot where they get some afternoon dappled shade. Definitely slow growing compared to other ideal places.

As Ken mentioned earlier in the thread - you've got a bonsai coconut. When planted - coconuts develop a pretty extensive root system. Think about it, a 60 ft. Coconut would require a large base of roots to stabilize it. Your slow growth it to be expected from impeding the root expansion. You can continue on your path (they do look extremely happy) or roll the dice and get them planted.

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

Bryan,

Your coconut palms look good. They look like they are Golden Malayan Dwarfs due to the golden color of the petioles. Where did you get them from?

John

[ando.wsu]

The tall one is from Lowes, and the smaller one a Homedepot purchase. I thought one was a dwarf and the taller one a tall variety. They have put out the exact same number of fronds since I've had them and there is a difference in size. Perhaps cocos are variable like that. The petioles on the taller one are more green, however the most recent pic they both look yellow. In person there is a definite color difference. Scroll up to the photos in my living room and you can sort of see a difference in color. Anyhow, maybe they are both dwarf varieties. Guess I'll find out when they fruit. Lol

[MKIVRYAN]

Those look great! Mine have always gone down hill when I bring them inside for the winter. How often did you water when inside?

[ando.wsu]

Watered twice a month with very warm water. Felt like this helped to keep soil warmer. Also had inside on a south facing window. So lots of sun. Even with the occasional fertilizer since they were still actively pushing spears all winter long. Just very slow.

[Pal Meir]

Those look great! Mine have always gone down hill when I bring them inside for the winter. How often did you water when inside?

In the 1970s I have grown up a coconut in Germany totally inside a living room for almost 9 years. I left always water in the saucer (»wet feet«) under the container, even during winter. To avoid rotting of the substrate I used a humus free coarse loam composed of weathered granite. In 1981 I lost this palm because it got too large for my living room which had a ceiling only 280cm (110”) high. Here a link to photos of this palm 1974 and 1977, just almost 2 resp. 5 years old:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/palmeir/14625399720/in/album-72157636010262104/

[Patrick Palms]

My coconut never gets under 15c year round..i got it from green house, but weeks after planted outside, all leafs went brown. Still kicking, but not looking its best..i used very good soil. Maybe sun and wind  shock , and taking a long time to recover.

[Patrick Palms]

When first planted

[Patrick Palms]

After few weeks. Always over 15c ..sometimes very windy, here in Canary islands.  But sub tropical island..why is my coconut struggling? Is it simply because it was green house grown, and gone into shock, at sun and wind ?

[sandgroper]

15c is a very low temp for a coconut, they can happily cope with it if that is the minimum so long as it warms up during the day. Coconuts are usually really good in windy conditions but if your little one has come straight from a protected greenhouse it might get a culture shock outdoors experiencing strong winds for the first time.

[UK_Palms]

On 11/3/2014, 2:21:01, ando.wsu said:

We had a cold front come in today, which brought the temps down to the low 70s. Feels like winter today. However, back to the mid 80's beginning tuesday for the next couple of weeks.

 It feels like winter here as well. Our high was 39F today. Low of 33F. 

I would kill for your weather!

[UK_Palms]

@Patrick Palms How much water are you giving that thing? Coconut palms come from the tropics where rainfall is abundant year-round and pretty high, like 50+ inches. The Canaries get like 4-6 inches of rain a year and are borderline desert climate, with no rain for 3-4 months over the summer. Your soil looks pretty darn dry/arid. 

It could also just be shocked from the transplant as well like you say, or from the cooler than required temps. 

[palmsOrl]

I am now located in Pa but decided I just have to have Cocos.  Recently I ordered two tall variety sprouts and I have been keeping them in my very small bathroom.  I have 5 lights using incandescent bulbs and this is sufficient to keep the room between 80-82F.  Also, I have a bulb positioned close enough to each to give them strong light.  They are growing really well so i think i am going to have success with wintering these indoors until they get larger.  Then I will try to keep them healthy but outbound and see if this works in the long term.

[Patrick Palms]

Yes 15c is only for a few weeks per year at night time, in winter. Day time, around 20c in winter. But very windy...

[Patrick Palms]

Not sure , if its the tall variety,  or the dwarf ones?  How can you tell ?  Our soil is that red volcanic clay type. Before planting, dug big hole, using quality soil, quick draing of course.. Christmas palms grow easily here. I think time, i will buy sun ready palms only.

[Patrick Palms]

They place on top, that black picon gravel rock stones. Apparently its help keep moisture?? 

[redant]

For all you trying to keep coconuts indoors, here is the answer.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmFls0pfZgM

[sashaeffer]

Hint: when inside for the winter place them on a heated grow mat typically used for seed germination. Palm collector I know in Kansas has a super nice coconut he's grown from seed and it seems to grow at a very quick rate. He puts his outside in the summer and on the grow mat indoors in front of a window for the winter, waters it often and it has rewarded him with a great looking palm