Cocos del Hollandia ...

[Exotic Life]

Hi,

I the garden centra you see a lot of Cocos nucifera selling for livingroom plants. Mostly the life then a half year or some longer and then it will die. Because the are so cheap, i have buy one and planted it out in the garden.

I'm just curious how long it does takes when it will die.. and if grows, the plant or roots. It's planted at the south wall, normally that corner stay's warmer then the rest of the garden.

Robbin

[Jeff Searle]

Robbin,

    I think what will happen is, before one good cold day/night comes to kill it, it will slowly decline to it's death due to a long period of cool weather. It will just wear it down, you might say. But, enjoy it as long as you can.

Jeff

007

[oppalm]

I am with Jeff, give it as much sun and heat as you can provide for it now and enjoy.   I have a cocos that I overwinter inside.   They are fun to grow.

[Carlo Morici]

I can only tell you bad stories about these "cocoteros de Holanda"

They are often sold in garden centers and supermarkets throughout the Canaries for a dozen euros.

Los cocoteros de Holanda just can't take the open field in the Canary Islands. Almost all of them will melt down at the first cold, or bake to death in direct summer sun or a during a weak drought. I saw them dying at 11 C (52 F). These cocoteros can only be "saved" if toughened in a nursery for a few years.

I assume they are produced by selecting the smallest nuts to reduce shipping costs, pot size and final price. Germination surely happens in weak light.

Professionals and palm people here buy 2-3 years old local plants which are uglier but tougher and stronger, available at 30-60 euros. Local Cocos is able to take "any" cold or drought.

Carlo

[redant]

They actually grow pretty well inside in a sunny location. Keep it in a pot and keep inside over the winter. You may get many years of enjoyment before it becomes to big to handle.

[Trópico]

I like that variety, green and superlong leaves. What variety is it?

[mlovecan]

(Carlo Morici @ Jun. 12 2007,18:35)

QUOTE

Local Cocos is able to take "any" cold or drought.

Interesting statement Carlos.

I could not get a single spindle palm to survive the winter here in Southern Greece. They all were from Holland, as a matter of fact, and the first problem was always the sun adjustment. Later, they just got fried when the rains and coller weather came.

When I was in Teneriffe I picked up a Spindle that breezed through the winter and is growing quite well ( and obviously had no issues with the sun ).

Do you think my chances would be better if I try a Tenerrife coconut tree? Are you aware of any of them being attempted in Souhern Spain in places like Malaga ( which has a very simular climate to mine )?

[Carlo Morici]

Tough, hardened palms are doubtlessly the best to try in marginal areas. Here too we need to harden the most tropicals before planting out in the field.

H.vershaffeltii is on the limit in the Mediterranean, and you surely hit the nail with the plant brought from Tenerife. But Cocos is basically a no-go in the Mediterranean. I heard of various coconut trees surviving some winters in hotter So.Spain but as far as I know none has lived on the long term. Maybe you can try a Canarian coconut in a special spot of your garden, but how can you take home a 3-4 years old Cocos in a 30-40 cm pot ?

Carlo

[mlovecan]

Thanks for the info Carlo. I will definitely be picking up a Canarian Cocos next time we're in Teneriffe.

The cocos I have tried so far ( I gave up two years ago )have responded in precisely the manner you describe ( normally dead by Christmas ). My belief has always been the defoliation they go through when adjusting to the sun is by far the biggest handicap they have when facing their first ( and last ) winter. Perhaps all of the california coconut fans would have better luck with a more hardened coconut. I do recall the famous Huntington Beach Coco is from Hawaii.

As for getting a cocos back home - fortunately I have a 40 kg limit with my favourite little charter airline. I take packing tape with me on any such trip and boxes are always available at the nearet supermarket. a 30-40 cm pot is not a problem provided the thing is shorter than a windsurfing board. I imagine at 3-4 years old they are not likely taller than 2 meters ( or are they?).

[The Germinator]

Is it still alive its been 3 days since your post

Netherlands....huh!

Looks like we have ourselves another Extreme Gardner.

[Exotic Life]

Still alive ... After planting them in the ground ... he have got a sunburn on the leaves... But it looks weird but i'm thinking now he has growing a little in that time since i post ... because a new speer come on ...

But like i say ... lot of brown on the leaves... That happend a lot. Plants that always's standing in greenhouse's and then directly in the full sun, gives burning.

Robbin