A Box of Coconuts :-)

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:15 am

Mark, Good luck with yours, anything happening yet?

This one's still moving along.
Still the only one to germinate, tried everything possible with the others, thinking maybe this batch went through a frost before I received them.
Happy enough to get one at least one

Here's one a friend gave me a couple weeks ago.
(just had to post a photo

Starting to trunk!

Steve

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 1:26 pm

Steve,
that's great.
I bought one at a local nursery last year and couldn't keep it through the Summer. Do they need a ton of water or humidity or something? The only one I know of growing locally is at the Zoo, indoors. I'd like to be able to grow Cocos in a pot, outdoors in the summer and by a window in the winter. Just don't know if that is possible with our climate. --Erik

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 7:22 am

Steve,
Those are some nice coco you got there. There such an amazing palm, hope you have good luck with them.

Bill

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:43 am

Erik, They love heat, humidity, and lots of water when it's warm.
I would think one in a container would enjoy your summers, getting it through winter might be the touchy part.
Damp roots will cause problems during the cooler months, best to use a well draining mix.
(most of these seedlings from the nurseries are potted in a heavy sand mix, it's okay during the summer, but will do them in during the winter)

Bill, Thanks, I'm hoping they do well!

Steve

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:33 am

Tendrel, There was a couple I seen ( ill try to look for the link), they were in northern cali, so just too cold for them to be outside. THey grew it in a pot indoors and had it out in spring. IT took 10 years for it to get ceiling hight. She said it was a slow grower ( i find that hard to belive myself).

I think it has something to do with the little light we get in the winter. Im at the same latitide as you (ish), I get less then 7 or 8 hours of sunlight during the darkest parts of the winter. I cant find anywhere where these grow, where they get such low amounts of winter light. We get lucky with trachys and some bamboo, and others, becasue they are usualy from our general latitude ( of course give or take 10 degrees)

Ive been thinkin of trying to grow one myslef........ but to get it to grow during the winter, I think up here, we would have to give it some grow lights......, and put it in a pot filled with rocks so it can get some humidity.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:30 am

I use a grow light on my Washy in winter but know I'll need a better one for Bismarckia this winter.
Maybe that would let Cocos grow, but given that I killed Cocos in Summer, I still think i'll build my palm skill a little longer. --Erik

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:23 pm

I looked up a while ago how hard they wre to grow indoors....... most have had bad luck.... while some had good luck, with no special care. Trial and error i guess..

tropicman · Post by **tropicman** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:36 pm

Actually they are really easy to grow,just need southern window exposure,mist daily,and keep a fan on them.just a gentle breeze during the day,water every couple weeks,only if the top inch is dry.
I keep night time temps above 65*,during the winter.
Its best to keep them in dappled shade while outside during the summer,they just can't seem to handle full sun,while growing
in containers.
Feed every 4 months with a fertilizer with manganese.
I also use Epsom salt,every once in a while in between the 4 months feeding.
Nice coco you have Steve,I bet it took 5 years or more for it to start to trunk!
So maybe in another 5 yrs you can get fruit!!!!!

Don

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:14 am

[quote="tropicman"]Actually they are really easy to grow,just need southern window exposure,mist daily,and keep a fan on them.just a gentle breeze during the day,water every couple weeks,only if the top inch is dry.
I keep night time temps above 65*,during the winter.
Its best to keep them in dappled shade while outside during the summer,they just can't seem to handle full sun,while growing
in containers.
Feed every 4 months with a fertilizer with manganese.
I also use Epsom salt,every once in a while in between the 4 months feeding.
Nice coco you have Steve,I bet it took 5 years or more for it to start to trunk!
So maybe in another 5 yrs you can get fruit!!!!!

Don[/quote]

Easy? That is why I am a novice. I would not have though of half that.
My Cocos from last Summer came home from being indoors at the local nursery and then went to the patio, where it got too much sun. Then the weather turned hot and dry when I was in Belize and it was not watered enough by the house-sitter.
I learn so much here, I might try again next year. --Erik

tropicman · Post by **tropicman** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:44 pm

Yes Erik,please try again.
I have quite a few large palms,but the Coco is the ultimate palm to grow,I really enjoy just looking at its leaves blowing in the wind,then I daydream for a second or two,that I'm on a Island somewhere!!!!!
Then reality comes back,and I'm in Kansas again!!!LOL

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:43 am

Every island I know of with coconuts is cooler than it is here (or in Kansas) right now so I imagine sitting under a coconut palm with a warm (not hot) breeze off the sea. Instead I'm heading out to water my palms and bananas. Again. --Erik

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:01 pm

Here's the large one, just opening a new frond.

And the one that germinated last fall,

Steve

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Aug 12, 2010 5:37 pm

Beautiful!
They seem to be outdoors, and getting some sun. Do they mind the heat we've been having? --Erik

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:50 pm

Steve, with all them palms, I think you should build a bio-dome.

Very cool stuff.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 7:36 am

Erik, The large one is outside, and the seedling has remained in the greenhouse (I lost a small one to wind a couple years ago, so I'm taking no chances)
They love the heat, we've been above 100F for the past week or so, you could just about sit down in a chair and watch them grow

Thanks Aaron, Bio-dome is a nice idea, I have may another year or two before I'll need to expand again

Steve

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 9:00 am

Steve,
most of my palms love the heat more than I do. So, when I have a cold drink, I go outside with a watering hose and literally watch them grow!

The wife is installing a misting system, so maybe a Cocos would be happy next year with the added humidity. --Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:37 pm

Beautiful cocos Steve, can almost hear it rustling in the breeze

The one in the GH has huge leaves already for one so young.

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:25 am

Thanks Barb, If anything, the one in the GH is just stretched out a bit from lower light.
I was going to put it outside this year, but it looked too nice to leave out with the grasshoppers, hail & storms

Did you notice the Spindle behind it? decided to try it in ground.

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:43 am

Sorry I forgot to refer to that gorgeous Spindle!
What a specimen.
Nice long fronds (longer than mine).
I rather like the look of the "stretched out" palms that lower light levels cause.

And you're right...GH specimens don't have to fight windstorms and bugs.
No wonder you want to protect them, they're beautiful.

Barb

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