19yo Potted Coconut

[DesertCoconut]

I brought my coconut outside for its annual shower! It gets dusty indoors here in Phoenix, AZ. This is my pride and joy. This palm is where my screen name comes from. I bought it from Home Depot in the summer of 2000. It's been moved around the valley from house to apartment back to house a total of 7 times. It gets so neglected I really have no idea what's keeping it alive. It's never been fertilized with anything but dirty aquarium water.  I only started doing that in the past 4 years. It's never been repotted. I just fill in the top with new soil when it gets low. It sat in a dark apartment for a few years. It's almost always parked under an AC vent. It currently sits by a south facing window that only gets direct sun in winter. I used to have king palms and foxtails in pots sitting right next to it, but they did not survive. The small pot next to it is a dying coconut. In fact, that little one is the 4th one I have tried. The previous 2 died in about a year. This thing is a miracle and I hope it outlives me because it is truly like a child to me. I've often thought about putting it out on the patio you see in the photos. It's south facing and gets shade all summer. I'm just afraid of killing it. It seems happy indoors. I only remember one or 2 leaves ever turning brown. The lower ones usually get chewed by my escaping parrot or jumping dog or just break from the weight. You can see in the pictures I have it staked to keep it from falling over from the weight. I just can't show this beauty off enough. What can I say? I'm a proud dad!

[PalmTreeDude]

That's crazy! I hope mine gets this big some day! 

[Rickybobby]

Absolutely amazing! You give me hope. Obviously I don’t have as many sunny warm days as you do. But none the less it can be done!

[Pal Meir]

22 hours ago, DesertCoconut said:

 

Your photo reminds me of my Cocos when it was almost ten years old and bumped the ceiling of my living room and finally died. This is all what remained from that tree …

Here in 1981 (in the background near the window) and 1977:

[RaychHasDatePalms]

This is amazing! It chose you; you're a lucky cocos dad! 

 

[Allen]

Looks awesome.

[MelvinB]

Just wow!

[NorCalKing]

SMH!

WOW...that's crazy. Congrats.

[Palmarum]

A happy palm, getting what it needs to reside in that niche environment. How often is the a/c on throughout the year?

Ryan

[jimmyt]

You have Cocos skills DesertCoconut! 

[DesertCoconut]

2 hours ago, Palmarum said:

A happy palm, getting what it needs to reside in that niche environment. How often is the a/c on throughout the year?

Ryan

It's Phoenix. So pretty much nonstop from late March to mid October. Humidity in the house stays around 35%. I keep the temperature above 72 in the winter and below 80 in the summer.

[Rickybobby]

What is your soil like in the pot?

[DesertCoconut]

39 minutes ago, Rickybobby said:

What is your soil like in the pot?

It's just a palm/cactus mix from HD.

[piping plovers]

Impressive and inspiring!  You give hope to  many, many indoor palm growers.  So interesting that the other ones died and this one flourished; makes me wonder if you happened across a rare variety that is more tolerant of indoor/potted conditions.  Great Job!

[Palmy Pal]

Hey any update on this palm? How’s it doing? 

[DesertCoconut]

26 minutes ago, Palmy Pal said:

Hey any update on this palm? How’s it doing? 

Now 21 years old and still going. The last time I moved it outside to wash it, I might have broken some roots getting it out the door. But it seems to have recovered nicely after staking it up a bit. I did notice that new leaves are not quite opening all the way so might be time for some extra fertilizer.

[Palmy Pal]

1 hour ago, DesertCoconut said:

Now 21 years old and still going. The last time I moved it outside to wash it, I might have broken some roots getting it out the door. But it seems to have recovered nicely after staking it up a bit. I did notice that new leaves are not quite opening all the way so might be time for some extra fertilizer.

Looks great! Tell us your secret! What do you do to keep it looking soo nice indoors? 

[DesertCoconut]

2 minutes ago, Palmy Pal said:

Looks great! Tell us your secret! What do you do to keep it looking soo nice indoors? 

Honestly I really don't do anything except water it with old aquarium water. We Arizonans tend to keep our room temperature higher than most people. It never drops below 74 degrees in my house on the coldest winter days. I keep it around 78 in the summer. I truly think that is the only secret ingredient. I take it outside every Spring to wash off the dust.

[Jimbean]

Here in Florida I'd be itching to plant that in the ground

[Palmlover_78]

Outstanding Palm , Absolutely Beautiful I am growing Christmas Palms as of now, they are a year old, and healthy, I live in a small Apartment a coconut would not do well in my area :(..

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

Thats pretty amazing!   I hope you get to move to a climate that it can live out its life in and you can enjoy it for good some day!  

[ando.wsu]

Here is mine in Phoenix (Tatum and Cactus). Three years old about.  Getting big and growing well.  

[MelvinB]

Here’s mine in The Netherlands. 3 years old. 
No problems at all and pushing spears pretty fast.
It’s inside most of the time and outside on sunny days. 

[ando.wsu]

Geez, getting big.

[ando.wsu]

Unpopular opinion, but I had to cut 3 green fronds to make her fit in the outdoor space more appropriately.  

[Aleitalyyy]

On 4/9/2021 at 19:06, MelvinB said:

Ecco il mio in Olanda. di 3 anni. 
Nessun problema e spingere le lance abbastanza velocemente.
È dentro la maggior parte del tempo e fuori nei giorni di sole. 

bro how's the coconut and alfreedi?

[MelvinB]

17 hours ago, Aleitalyyy said:

bro how's the coconut and alfreedi?

Both still alive and kicking. Will make new pictures soon.

[Than]

@Victor G.Read!! 

[Aleitalyyy]

On 11/16/2022 at 6:00 PM, MelvinB said:

Both still alive and kicking. Will make new pictures soon.

Bro ok, waiting for 2 photos especially of alfredii ... thanks ... tag me

[trippc]

On 11/16/2022 at 12:00 PM, MelvinB said:

Both still alive and kicking. Will make new pictures soon.

Any pictures? Would love to see the coconut next to it's look alike

[happypalms]

Well done on that coconut the trick is you use fish tank water free hydroponic nutrients at its best  🌴

[Palmtreedude69]

Wow that coconut palm is so cool looking!

[MrTropical]

I & many others on this forum would love to get an update on your Coconut! @DesertCoconut

4-7-2024