Coconut Palm

[mxcolin]

We visited Hawaii last year where my daughter and I fell in love with the Coconut Palms. She's really getting into Palms and when we saw one in a local nursery we couldn't resist getting it. Now, I know this might be a fools errand (almost certainly is) but I'm not expecting much, it's just a fun project for us. She's been keeping it well watered and spraying the fronds and it's responding well. It's grown 2 new fronds as you can see at the front with a 3rd on on the way. It's in a South West facing window so it gets a decent amount of sun. It's incredibly sunny where I live so I think it's getting enough. I have a few questions though:

1. I've been told these need some outdoor summer heat to survive. We have very hot, sunny and dry summers (100+ regularly). Will it be able to take those conditions and still survive? If so, in full sun or partial shade?
2. We get a large diurnal temperature variation here. Although it's unlikely to get too cold you can see high 50's overnight even is summer. Any issues there?
3. When will it break out of the coconut? Will it happen naturally or will it need some help from us?
4. How about container size? Should we go bigger? 

I get that this is a crazy plan to grow this long term where I'm located, but it's a fun project for my daughter and I so go easy on us :-D

 

[KyleD]

Hi mxcolin! 

Growing a coconut inside is a great learning experience and will really open the door to palm/tropical collecting or obsession. You must replicate the closest to its native conditions as possible for it to survive and grow.

For coconuts that means conditions similar to coastal, tropical places like Hawaii. Ideally, they like 70% humidity, temps of 70F-90F and well draining soil. Bright light is good however they can be grown in outdoor shade. You don’t want the soil to hold a lot of moisture. If it doesn’t dry out fast enough it will promote fungus and likely cause issues. Fungus can be quite a problem indoors. I suggest a mixture of some coco coir with lots of vermiculite and some course sand. 

It is important to understand that coconuts do not grow when temps fall below 70 ish. They can only handle being below that for a short time or they will weaken and begin to die. They can handle a little bit of cold, like the cold nights we get in Florida occasionally, but they need to regularly see 80F to do well. They REALLY want hot and humid conditions. They also don’t like drastic changes in environment ex. suddenly moving it outside after being inside for months. If you want to put it outside I would definitely NOT put it in full sun it will burn, no point to acclimating an indoor plant to outdoor sun it will only miss it and be sad when it goes back in. It’s important to note that outdoor shade is still strong light when comparing to indoors. They also don’t like dry weather (below 50% humidity) especially dry winds. It’s my understanding that night temps are pretty important for proper growth so consistently cool nights could cause an issue? Where I live they handle our cool nights in the winter but we have a long, consistent, hot and humid summer when night temps never go below 70 so maybe that allows them to take the cold for a bit during winter. However regularly over 100 is probably too hot so perhaps leaving it inside would be best. 

The nut contains the nutrients and energy it needs for about the first two years and produces the roots, never try to remove the nut. It will eventually break apart over the years and degrade by itself I think it usually takes ab 2 or 3 years. Container size looks big enough, coconuts don’t need much space for their roots, 3gallon pot is typical for young cocos. Make sure the nut is halfway buried and the palm is above the soil. 

I suggest to get some kelp or seaweed solution it’s great for plants.

Indoor coconuts have been “successful” before but they are definitely a challenge outside the tropics. If unsuccessful you learned a lot and pave the way for future gardening success! 

*beccariophoenix alfredii shouldn’t be hard to find and would give you the coconut look that you fell in love with in your own yard! 

[mxcolin]

Thanks for the information this is awesome. Think I'll leave it indoors. Our summers are going to be way too dry for them. Humidity can drop below 15% when it's 100 outside and that's probably going to kill it as you say. It definitely wouldn't like our winters. I'll keep it going indoors and see where it goes. I don't have huge expectations. The beccariophoenix alfredii is interesting. Going to be difficult to source one in Northern CA so maybe online somewhere.

Really appreciate the information and the time you've take to reply. Will update the thread on how the Coconut Palm progresses!!!

[ando.wsu]

Hi Mxcolin,

I am in Phoenix and I leave mine outside all year long except for a month when we are the coldest during winter.  Despite low humidity, they do just fine.  Lots of water helps during the hot months.  This is two years of growth from a sprouted nut I brought back from my old place in Maui. 

[mxcolin]

Wow!! In Phoenix. How big was it when you put it outside? Do you have it in shade? Afternoon or morning sun? If it can survive in Phoenix summers it can survive here.

Edited May 12, 2020 by mxcolin

[ando.wsu]

My balcony at the condo is East facing.  During summer the last frond dips out of the sun around 1pm (morning sun). It’s over 7 ft tall now and it’s been outside it’s entire life (except for the month of January it becomes a very large houseplant). Lots of water in well draining soil and she will be just fine. Make sure you acclimate it slowly into sun or it will burn.  Yes, the low humidity does dry out the leaf tips, but you know, the palms in Hawaii look the same, so I don’t fret over it.  

[mxcolin]

Very cool. How often do you water it?

[ando.wsu]

Hi there,

I water twice a day now that we have hit triple digits.  Once in the morning and at night (since our nights don’t really cool off much).  Winter time, I water much less.   Warm water maybe once a week or a bit longer.  Better to let the soil dry out between waterings during cooler months.  She still pushes out new growth all winter long just at a much slower rate. When it is in the house as a houseplant during cold spells, I water once a week. The air in the house is really dry and indoor temps are usually 70 inside my condo.   I also mist (light mist) her frequently during the winter to make sure bugs like spider mites do not make a home.  
 

Additional note, I always place her outside with the same exposure and avoid rotating the plant to mimic as if she was anchored to the ground.  This way the fronds that see less sun to not get over exposed and possibly burn.  

 

[Heinzman8]

On 5/12/2020 at 12:58 PM, ando.wsu said:

Hi Mxcolin,

I am in Phoenix and I leave mine outside all year long except for a month when we are the coldest during winter.  Despite low humidity, they do just fine.  Lots of water helps during the hot months.  This is two years of growth from a sprouted nut I brought back from my old place in Maui. 

I have one purchased offline. What is the netting/webbing around the trunk and do leave it on there? How do I get height before the fronds branch out?

Edited February 12, 2022 by Heinzman8

[GottmitAlex]

9 minutes ago, Heinzman8 said:

I have one purchased offline. What is the netting/webbing around the trunk and do leave it on there? How do I get height before the fronds branch out?

Yes that fiber is normal and should be left alone.

 

Welcome to PalmTalk!

 

 

[Than]

On 5/12/2020 at 7:58 PM, ando.wsu said:

Hi Mxcolin,

I am in Phoenix and I leave mine outside all year long except for a month when we are the coldest during winter.  Despite low humidity, they do just fine.  Lots of water helps during the hot months.  This is two years of growth from a sprouted nut I brought back from my old place in Maui. 

Wow! What hardiness zone are you?

[ando.wsu]

On 2/13/2022 at 8:30 AM, ego said:

Wow! What hardiness zone are you?

Probably a 9b according to the map.   Been a few years with no freezing in my neighborhood.  But it can get cold.  Here is an updated photo of the plant taken earlier this week.  

[Than]

That's why hardiness zones don't really mean much. I'm in 9b too, actually borderline 10a but a coconut palm could never survive here. 

[mxcolin]

Update a few years later. 
 

[CGMarko]

On 5/20/2023 at 3:27 AM, mxcolin said:

Update a few years later. 
 

Wow this looks so good! Any tips on how you achieved that? Is it fully indoor? What position is it? What’s the pot size, soil, do you fertilize?

[mxcolin]

It's fully indoors, yes. It's a South West facing window. Where I live, we get an outrageous amount of sun so that really helps. It's currently on its 4th pot since I got it, but this is going to be its last one as it's so heavy now. Never added fertilizer because it's still in the coconut. Soil is miracle grow palm soil. I have always used a self watering planter which it seems to like, plus stones on top to keep the soil moist. It's now getting almost too big, so not sure where I go from here. It won't survive outside here.

[coconut2024]

Hi. I bought a coconut palm from a market a week ago. It was in a pretty small pot, so I transplanted it into a bigger one. I used normal garden dirt aka soil and I mixed some leaves from the compost. Since then the tips of the leaves have started to brown. Can please anyone tell me what should I do and whats the cause.

[PindoPalm]

19 hours ago, coconut2024 said:

Hi. I bought a coconut palm from a market a week ago. It was in a pretty small pot, so I transplanted it into a bigger one. I used normal garden dirt aka soil and I mixed some leaves from the compost. Since then the tips of the leaves have started to brown. Can please anyone tell me what should I do and whats the cause.

Not too much of an expert but it may be transplant shock

[coconut2024]

On 10/16/2024 at 3:27 PM, PindoPalm said:

Not too much of an expert but it may be transplant shock

Thanks.

 

[Palmerr]

If you guys really like coconuts you can grow a lookalike that's called the Mule palm (They don't produce coconuts) but they grow fast sometimes 3-4 feet a year in the right climate i have done some research on Rocklin you guys definitely do not get a lotta precipitation but I'd say water when young at night or before peak Heat ONLY Just like grass in FL No sprinkler you don't want the leaves wet and burnt in the sun (During summer of course) Mule palms once established can withstand 3-4 weeks without water just fine maybe some deep watering every now and then to help it since they aren't as drought tolerant as Mex and Ca Fans But yeah that's a good option they are also hardy to 15-20F (8B) so they would be good for a border 9a 9b winter Someone please add information i left out please correct me if I'm wrong higher palm enthusiasts! 

[Palmerr]

On 10/16/2024 at 9:27 AM, PindoPalm said:

Not too much of an expert but it may be transplant shock

 

On 10/15/2024 at 2:13 PM, coconut2024 said:

Hi. I bought a coconut palm from a market a week ago. It was in a pretty small pot, so I transplanted it into a bigger one. I used normal garden dirt aka soil and I mixed some leaves from the compost. Since then the tips of the leaves have started to brown. Can please anyone tell me what should I do and whats the cause.

That thing looks dry as heck water with lukewarm water or mildy warm water cold water isn't good for em Drown that thing! (Not too much)

[coconut2024]

UPDATE: The coconut palm is looking much better. The new leaves had growed a lot . It had spidermites, but I got rid of them

[SeanK]

Very nice. Will the house be warm enough this winter?

[coconut2024]

19 hours ago, SeanK said:

Very nice. Will the house be warm enough this winter?

Yes, it will be. It's about 25°C in our house.