Trying my luck with a coconut palm

Discuss palms you grow inside.

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sashaeffer
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Trying my luck with a coconut palm

Post by sashaeffer » Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:20 pm

I've heard they are finicky but I'm up for the challenge as far as keeping it warm and humid this winter inside.


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Post by lucky1 » Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:41 pm

That's a good sized one.

Mine is in the best south window light.
Last winter I kept it under one of those blue/red LED light thingies on 24 hours a day and it did great.

This winter no extra light, just warm and misted daily.

Here's mine after birds used it for target practice.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5765625499/" title="DSC04719 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3474/576 ... d66c30.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04719"></a>

Right now it's severely sunburnt from summer.
Barb
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Post by sashaeffer » Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:45 am

Barb,

How long have you had yours?

How warm do you keep the room that it's in for the winter? and does it go through any kind of shock when you bring it in from being outside for the summer?


Mine is 3.5ft tall, and bought on Ebay. They are pretty cheap to buy, but from what I've read can be touchy to grow when inside.

I have mine sitting a little back from a large East facing window with other palms I have. Going to see how it does there. I only have one small south facing window but could easily move it there if needed. We let our house run on programmable thermostat so when on in the winter it will drop to 62deg at night, and 68 during the day, so hoping Coconut Palm will at least survive through that till warmer weather comes. Otherwise may have to put in room with heater.

Any advice you can shoot my way would be appreciated!


Scott/Omaha

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Post by canadianplant » Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:00 am

Here are my thoughts in regard to keeping them alive during winter... (mind you ive never had one!)

THey come from tropical places, which means 12 hours light 12 hours dark. Im sure they can adapt to longer days, but Im wondering how well they will adapt to almost no sunlight in the winter. Im pretty sure they should have 12 hours of sunlight at least. Barbs palm looks so sexy because, as she stated, she had it under light all winter (near your woodstove if i remember properly. Not to mention the dry air from a forced air furnace. You might want to place the pot on a tray of pabbels, and pour water in the tray. Do NOT let the roots sit in the water, but let the water stay about half way up the pebbles. Id suggest you get a spray bottle too, and mist it once or twice a day.
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Post by sashaeffer » Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:10 am

I mist all my palms/plants twice a day. Were on a heat pump as well, so it does a lot better on keeping humidity more consistent...but I'm still going to get a small sonic humidifier to keep near all the palms.

We have 5 dogs in the house so can't leave standing water anywhere otherwise they would think it's theirs to drink! Have thought about putting water in one of my 5 gallon (clean) paint buckets that I have a lid for and drill holes in the lid so moisture can just evaporate out, and lid will keep dogs out.

Even when winter sun gets high, the room the palms are in stays bright as the windows are floor to celing, BUT I will keep close eye on them in case I need to change things up a bit.

THANKS for your input though!

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Post by oppalm » Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:30 am

love the coconut. its really very simple to keep a cocnut happy indoors. lots of light, lots of heat and lots of humidity. what could be easier? best of luck. they are fun to grow.
Kent in Kansas
where it's cold in winter (always)
and hot in summer (usually)
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Post by lucky1 » Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:36 am

Had it only about a year Scott.

While I agree with Jesse ("canadianplant") that a Cocos needs probably 12 hrs sunlite a day, the reason I'm not using the red/blue light thingy this year is because that artificial light seemed to make it MORE sensitive to sunburn when I finally did put it on the patio, at least that's my feeling.

I think I created the (prone to sunburn) problem by having the light box on 24/7 in the basement near the wood stove.
Temps near the stove were easily 85 - 90F dropping to about 70 - 75F o/nite (big house, we never turn our electric heating on...no natural gas in our area).
Humidity near the Cocos was good as I always keep about 5 or 6 big buckets of water "warming" (and dissipating chlorine) for watering my indoor plants.

To keep dogs from thinking the water bucket is theirs, place a sized metal screen on the bucket.

Actually, Scotty in Ontario (by the way, anybody heard from him????) had a great idea for light (for his Foxtail or Queen, I think).
He inserted a 7-foot pole into the plant pot, tied it to the palm (as though to keep the palm upright), and ran a cord up the pole/tied a grow lite to the top of the pole, shining down. Easy to adjust and put on a timer.
Bamboo poles come in varying lengths and should work nicely, cord can be taped to the pole.

Scott, I don't think an East facing window (despite its huge size) will be bright enough so I'd recommend the pole.
The clincher will be your 68 to 62 temps, guessing they're too low.
Think Hawaii...80 to 85 F daytime, nights 65 min mostly 70 or so.

With Cocos, light and temp are equally important, humidity only slightly less important.

Mine's still holding its severely sunburnt leaves (crunchy), waiting for some growth.

With Cocos, artificial light creates such a Catch22.
If the palm gets lots of artificial light in winter (so that it's healthy), then it takes so very long early summer for it to be able to handle full sun.
I'm convinced my 24/7 light box last winter created a palm that can't go into full sun at all...ever.
:?

Barb
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Post by sashaeffer » Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:52 am

Good advice Barb,

I may get one of those electric oil filled heaters to put near the palms/tropicals inside that need more heat. They are pretty cheap, and can keep the area around the palm a bit warmer.

It's all about trial and error! as long as we all share on these forums, we can all learn.

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Post by lucky1 » Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:09 am

Grouping palms together (with similar light/heat requirements) helps to increase humidity too.

Here's my ugly sunburnt Cocos.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6302403865/" title="DSC05058 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6106/630 ... 89d108.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05058"></a>
all about trial and error
Sure is.
And with tropicals, 50/50 is actually good at N lats :|

Keep us updated on how yours is doing.
Barb
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Post by hardyjim » Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:07 am

Noticed that to Barb

Plants under artificial light -worst at readjusting and
plants that got more sun inside were the best,kinda makes
sense when you think about it :wink:
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Post by Okanagan desert-palms » Wed Nov 02, 2011 6:57 pm

Just my two cents. The key is lots of natural light during the day and supplemental lighting for 3 to 4 hours or more in the evening. Use a portable humidifier in the room, keep above 70 f. Full sun through a window does not count as full sun outside. There are UV filters in the glass. Most tropical palm will accept full sun if you spend the time to put them in bright shade for a least two to three weeks gradually moving them for next two weeks into part sun in the spring, including most seedlings. Now that I`ve given that advice my Coco palm died from root rot 15 months after I bought it. :x


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Post by sashaeffer » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:44 pm

John....loved your pics, is that really all the palms and tropicals you have at your house in the pics?

Scott/Omaha

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Post by Okanagan desert-palms » Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:34 am

Scott the other palms you see are mine. These pics were taken two years ago. I`ll have new updated ones soon.


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Post by sashaeffer » Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:21 pm

I showed my wife those pics. Now she is really worried!

Looking forward to the new pics.

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Post by Okanagan desert-palms » Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:01 pm

LOL :lol: My fiancee doesn`t complain anymore she gave up. I suppose there could be worse things to spend my spare time doing. I sell palms and bananas through the spring and summer to pay for a trip south in the winter for us. She likes that part. :D

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Post by lucky1 » Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:58 am

John, in your set of pics there are three photos of the Kelowna City Hall palm you sold them.
Are they going to leave it like that for winter?

Or will they add Christmas lights and wrap the concrete container?

Barb
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Post by Okanagan desert-palms » Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:43 am

Barb They bring them into the parks dept. storage building for the winter. I`ll have to check next spring if they are still there.



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Post by lucky1 » Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:41 pm

They bring them into the parks dept. storage building for the winter.
Thank goodness, would hate to see your beauties croak.

BTW, when are we going to see your protection pics?
Or are you still wearing shorts and flip-flops? :roll:
I'm just envious you're at least ONE FULL ZONE better than me.

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Post by Okanagan desert-palms » Fri Nov 04, 2011 3:28 pm

Barb I was out in shorts and a t-shirt yesterday 14c here at my place and not a cloud in the sky. I was bringing in the potted palms and yuccas into the "garage" greenhouse. I`ll start on my protection for my W.filifera this weekend with pics.


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Post by lucky1 » Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:16 pm

You hit 14C? :| We made it to 10C for about an hour.
Hard to believe such a difference in 35 miles.

Looking forward to seeing your pics...take care of that back with all that hauling.
Flag down a backhoe :lol: :lol:

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Improving my Coconut Palm odds.........

Post by sashaeffer » Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:15 pm

Moved Cocoanut palm in room with Banana's I'm over wintering inside where I've added a radiant heater, and bucket of water to help with humidity. I can keep that room at 76deg, while rest of house is at 68. All plants get misted at least 3 times a day.

Pic attached.


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Post by lucky1 » Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:58 pm

76 will be great for the Cocos...but banana experts here will tell you if that's too warm to put a banana to sleep :lol:
The grey bucket with the lid...is that your humidity bucket?
If so, take the lid off.
Otherwise no humidity gain.
3 x a day misting...that's busy schedule, I manage only two.
Watch those floors...any drops dripping onto it may have a bit of sap, bug droppings etc.
I used to put an old bedsheet under my palms when they were in livingroom...and the sheet was removed when company came, LOL.

Another good humidity increaser is to use a really big plastic saucer for your Cocos...place rocks in the saucer, add water to almost the top of rocks, place Cocos on top of the rocks (don't let palm's base sit in the water).

Barb
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Post by sashaeffer » Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:10 am

Have 5 dogs that might try and get into bucket of water...and knock over.

May change placement of it though, and surround the bucket with plants....

Not worried if Banana's go to sleep or not, They are all in pots, and if they want to grow a little that is fine with me. I have a moisture probe that I use to check on all the tropicals so I don't under/over water during the winter.

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Post by lucky1 » Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:24 am

surround the bucket with plants
That'll work.

Barb
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Post by hardyjim » Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:59 am

What kind of Coconut is this?
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Post by sashaeffer » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:07 am

Mine??

Bought it off Ebay. Shopped from Puerto Rico. I looked up my order information, and it doesn't specify a specific kind of coconut, just "Coconut Palm"

It was $12.95 plus shipping for the size I bought. They had some smaller...and larger than the one I bought.

Scott

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Post by hardyjim » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:45 pm

O.k.

Mike sent me one to try-still a Coconut and edible at this point.
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Sure sign of winter bordom......

Post by sashaeffer » Thu Dec 08, 2011 5:33 pm

$4.00 burning a hole in my pocket so after reading MANY ways to get a store bought coconut to germinate I thought I would give it a try with 2.

Soaking for 3 days in room temp water with a few drops of Superthrive and a dash of 20-20-20 Miracle grow in the water these two coconuts sealed in a ziploc bag on 12-6-11 and in the Banana room at 72 deg.

We'll see how they do!


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Patience

Post by sashaeffer » Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:17 am

One thing I've learned on this site and in having Palm trees in the house is patience!

Bought this coconut palm on Ebay and it arrived a very nice, bigger plant than I was expecting. I knew they were a challenge to grow, but wanted to try.

Right away it went down hill fast loosing all it's fronds down to the very last main one, even 1/2 of it turning brown. :( Put pot in Banana room for the winter where it's always 72deg and low and behold it started to come back on it's own. Anxious to see how it recovers this spring so I can put it outside for the summer.



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Post by lucky1 » Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:59 am

Oh yeah, there's nothing like a Cocos to drive you crazy.

Mine was a beauty UNTIL I put it outside last May.
This was day one or two...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5751540103/" title="DSC04712 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2277/5751 ... ce06_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC04712"></a>

Birds used it for target practice, figured free fertilizer, yippeeeee...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5765625499/" title="DSC04719 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3474/5765 ... 6c30_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC04719"></a>

Either bird poop or desert sun/wind/low humidity did this (likely a combination of all)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5891681893/" title="DSC04808 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5191/5891 ... b5ca_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC04808"></a>

Today, the old sunburnt leaves are gone, replaced by one and a half new leaves.
South window, misted 3 x / day.
Still going downhill, now battling mealybug.

Oughta be dead in a year.
Probably from me cussing at it. :angryfire:

Barb
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Post by sashaeffer » Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:16 am

I hope mine comes to look as good as yours this summer.

Is that your Canary Island Date Palm in the trashcan?
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Post by hardyjim » Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:50 am

I think it would be a good idea to spray with Wilt-pruf in late summer
and then again before you bring it inside...the WP will suffocate ant WSM
and also provide a nice shield over the leaves to lesson effects of dry winter air inside.
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Post by lucky1 » Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:06 am

Yup that's the CIDP in the trashcan :lol: :lol: :oops:
Pretty pots are expensive, after all.

Wilf pruf, Jim, really?
I'm reluctant in case it ends up like neem oil, and didn't we learn that the hard way.
a nice shield over the leaves to lesson effects of dry winter air inside
But then when I do mist it indoors, won't it drip that crappy sticky **** all over the wood floor?
H went ballistic last year ...

Now all my big palms are on a tile floor...hope H doesn't look close at the grout lines. :?
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