How to Grow Coconut Palm Trees Indoors
Coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) grow in tropical regions all over the world and are one of the most important agricultural crops in the world. Unfortunately, they can be difficult to grow indoors because of the dry air and low humidity, and they will eventually get too tall for the average home. While still young however, they can be an enjoyable and exotic houseplant for several years. The large coconut that will persist at the base of the plant for a year or two is the focal point of the plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Fresh coconut with husk
- Bucket of water
- 10 inch deep flower pot
- Potting soil
Instructions
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Coconuts with the husk Soak the coconut in the bucket of water for two to three days.
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Select a clean flower pot that is about 10 inches deep and a few inches larger in diameter than the coconut.
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Fill the pot about three quarters of the way full of potting soil and create a shallow hole to hold the coconut.
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Place the coconut in the hole so the pointed part is down and the part that originally was attached to the tree is pointed up. Then, fill the pot with soil until all but the top third of the coconut is buried. Gently firm the soil.
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Water the pot thoroughly until water runs out of the bottom.
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Place the pot in a location that stays above 70 degrees at night and slightly warmer during the day. Keep the soil moist at all times. The seed will sprout within three to six months.
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Keep the coconut palm in a warm, well-lit area that is protected from direct afternoon sun. A lightly shaded southern window will work, or full sun outdoors in the spring and summer when the temperatures are above 45 to 50 degrees at night. The soil should remain moist and drain well at all times.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure to use a viable coconut seed. A collected seed that recently fell from a tree is best. You should be able to hear the liquid slosh around when shaking it.
Coconuts need very good drainage. Adding some sand to commercial potting mix will make it drain better.
Coconuts like lots of light, but will burn if there is not enough air movement and humidity. A small fan blowing near the palm will help it cope with direct sun indoors.
Do not try to sprout a coconut from the produce section of the grocery store. They usually do not have the husk.
Coconuts like high humidity which might not available in the average home. A room humidifier or morning misting will help during dry months.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images coconuts image by Amjad Shihab from Fotolia.com
