Del Mar Coconut

[Urban Rainforest]

Pina Colada anyone ? Well were not quite there yet but my Coconut in Del Mar (San Diego county) is going into it's 5th winter and is actually outpacing Howeas and looks better than some of the Kings here. I posted pics of it last year but I think they were lost when the board crashed and I know they were lost from my computer when it crashed. I've had quite a few people ask if I would repost some pics of it and I know there are some new members that may not of seen it so here goes... The first is a pic of it from a distance. It's overall height is aprox. 13 ft. Steve

[Jim in Los Altos]

That's fantastic, Steve. I envy anyone in California who's able to grow a coconut successfully. Congratulations! You obviously know what you're doing.

[Urban Rainforest]

Here is an overview shot from the stairway above.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Stop it! You're making me sick. I gave up on trying a couple of years ago but I did get a Malayan Dwarf to last three years before it suddenly collapsed. Poor thing.

[Urban Rainforest]

Here is a pic of the golden petioles. I believe it is a Malay dwarf as it looks identical to one I saw in Tahiti.

[Urban Rainforest]

Here is another shot of the golden petioles.

[Urban Rainforest]

And here is a pic of the trunk base which is about 10" in dia.

[happ]

Excellent palm Steve  

I've been encouraged to plant cocos nucifera since royals/majesty do so well.

[Don Little]

Steve, you've just given us so cal people some hope, thanks  for the inspiring pic.  I can't wait to try mine next year if I can find the right spot.  Is that your property that its on?

[Urban Rainforest]

Thanks everyone for your nice compliments and coments. Don L., this is not my property but the time share resort where I am employed as a landscaper. Tending to plants like this keep the job interesting . Thanks, Steve

[tim_brissy_13]

Well done Steve, the coconut makes the area look so tropical, it is hard to believe the picture is taken of a So. Cal. garden.

[Urban Rainforest]

(tim_brissy_13 @ Dec. 13 2006,21:44)

QUOTE

Well done Steve, the coconut makes the area look so tropical, it is hard to believe the picture is taken of a So. Cal. garden.

Thanks Tim, If I could ever talk them into removing the surounding vegetation I would like to plant a whole grove of them! Steve

[Urban Rainforest]

It's not just by random chance or luck of the draw that this Coconut is doing so well. I thought every thing through carefully and went on a few hunches as there is almost no information and definately no how to manual on growing Coconuts in California that I know of. Just the fact that there was one growing for so many years in New Port beach was all I needed to know. I would say the two most important things other than a favorable climate are DRAINAGE and WARMTH in the root zone. First off buy the biggest Coco you can find and plant it in April. This is what I did and I purchased it for $39.00 at Home Depot. It was about 3ft. tall and what caught my eye was the beautifull golden petioles. I then chose a location south facing against a two story building to block cold winds from northern winter storms. The area is sloping and I added volcanic rock and pumice to the planting pit. I then installed black weed fabric with just an opening for the Coco to help divert excess water from the palm while it was young. Over that went 5 truck loads of black sea washed stones from the local beach (yes they paid me to go collect the rocks from the beach. ) which I installed to heat the ground. I'm sure the reflective heat from the light gray paint on the building does'nt hurt either. It is planted aprox. 200 yards from the beach. Anyhows thats basically it. I hope it helps some of you grow one of your own. Steve

[Scott]

Ooohhhhh. That's real purdy!

So with a coconut, what's the secret? Keeping the roots warm, or the crown? Or both?

I wish you much success!

[BS Man about Palms]

Steve! Just missed you today!  I drove thru mid morning and saw your truck, but didn't see you about and I couldn't stop...came back about an hour later and your truck was gone. They said you were at lunch.   I was gonna give you grief about not posting some pics!!!! Maybe my "aura of shame" was left nearby.  

As I've said before great work!!!

[Urban Rainforest]

(Scott @ Dec. 13 2006,22:34)

QUOTE

Ooohhhhh. That's real purdy!

So with a coconut, what's the secret? Keeping the roots warm, or the crown? Or both?

I wish you much success!

Scott, I believe you want to keep the whole palm as warm as possible and thats why I chose the southerly location and the reflective heat off of the building adds to it. Black rocks transfer heat to the soil and into the root zone. This is the warmest spot on the property. Thanks,Steve

[Urban Rainforest]

(BS, Man about Palms @ Dec. 13 2006,22:42)

QUOTE

Steve! Just missed you today!  I drove thru mid morning and saw your truck, but didn't see you about and I couldn't stop...came back about an hour later and your truck was gone. They said you were at lunch.   I was gonna give you grief about not posting some pics!!!! Maybe my "aura of shame" was left nearby.  

As I've said before great work!!!

Hey Bill, Sorry I missed you. I was probably running around like a tourist going crazy with my digital camera . I figured it was time I posted some pics before it yellows out in the winter. Thanks, Steve

[BS Man about Palms]

Yeah, of course I had to go over and "lay hands on it".....it did look like you combed its hair for the pictures...

[DoomsDave]

I might could just maybe be persuaded to try one . . .

Sigh.  Getting beat upside my pointy head hurts after a while.

dave

[Tyrone]

Very very inspiring guys. I'm going to do this thing damn it......

I'm going up into the tropics next weekend, and I should keep my eye out for a large coconut. YEAH....

I'm pumped now.

Tyrone

[PalmGuyWC]

And I thought I was crazy????  You guys in S. Cal. give me great comfort.

[redant]

Well it looks perfectly happy. Nice job!

[AS in SA]

Looks great - particularly with the cold weather Socal had had recently!!!  From what I remember of last years (lost) pictures, it looks like it's put on some good growth - 4+ ft.???  I know I'm inspired....

[BobbyinNY]

very nice, Steve.........

I think you hit the nail on the head with the warmth in the root zone... I have 2 of them growing inside my greenhouse now and I notice a huge difference in growth when the soil temps are warm -as opposed to alot of other palms that really aren't as picky. I play with these by turning up the heat 5 or 10f for a couple days and can notice some growth.

[Gtlevine]

Thanks Steve, that is the first time I have ever seen the palm and I have to say it looks better than I thought it would. Have you placed a high-low thermometer near the palm to track the temps through the years? I would be curious to see what the temps are in that protected location.

Gary

[Urban Rainforest]

(Gtlevine @ Dec. 14 2006,15:38)

QUOTE

Thanks Steve, that is the first time I have ever seen the palm and I have to say it looks better than I thought it would. Have you placed a high-low thermometer near the palm to track the temps through the years? I would be curious to see what the temps are in that protected location.

Gary

Thanks guys, I wish I had taken pics about a month ago when it was dark green but I kept waiting for the new spear to open and would'nt you know it opened right during a cold santa ana. It usually yellows out a bit during the winter but in the spring I hit it with organics like blood meal, kelp and sul-po-mag and it greens right up. Last year it threw 7 fronds and this year it threw 5. Gary , I don't have a high low thermometer but the one in my truck always has it about 3 to 5 degrees cooler than where I live in Clairemont. Last winter there was frost nearby. Steve

[kylecawazafla]

wow great photos! Get rid of the Dwarf Pygmy Dates and add some Areca vestiara or some other marginal palm!

[pq_bob]

Well done Steve!   Let's hope it makes it through many more winters.

-Bob-

[The Palm Nut]

Rum, if only it was that easy. I have been following your progress on this one, photos and the like but unfortunately have not kept them, wish I had. Well done. Interesting that you work for a timeshare resort as I did for quite some years and introduced exotic palms species to the landscape. It makes the job that much more challenging and rewarding.

Regards

Mike

[Urban Rainforest]

(The Palm Nut @ Dec. 14 2006,23:18)

QUOTE

Rum, if only it was that easy. I have been following your progress on this one, photos and the like but unfortunately have not kept them, wish I had. Well done. Interesting that you work for a timeshare resort as I did for quite some years and introduced exotic palms species to the landscape. It makes the job that much more challenging and rewarding.

Regards

Mike

Mike, I wish I had'nt lost the pics from last year but it put on good growth this year. Adding the palms was a neccessity if I was going to continue working there because the original cottage garden landscape was boring and uninteresting. Steve

[Urban Rainforest]

I would like to see some pics of some of your Cocos that are being grown in marginal climatic zones. I remember seeing some before the board crashed. Especially pics of other varieties like Jamaican tall etc. Post your picies even if small ??? . Thanks, Steve

[Urban Rainforest]

(kylecawazafla @ Dec. 14 2006,21:49)

QUOTE

wow great photos! Get rid of the Dwarf Pygmy Dates and add some Areca vestiara or some other marginal palm!

Kyle, I planted those pygmies long before I knew about exotic palms. I hack the crap out of them every November to let more sunlight get through to the rocks. I suspect the Areca Vestiara would want more canopy but if I can talk them into removing the shrubery I would like to do a grove of Cocos with some bottle palms and Carpoxylons. Glad you liked the pics, Steve

[BS Man about Palms]

Do it Steve!  Do a Carpoxylon!!!!!     :D

[Urban Rainforest]

(BS, Man about Palms @ Dec. 15 2006,22:33)

QUOTE

Do it Steve!  Do a Carpoxylon!!!!!     :D

Bill I'll probably do it but I'm gonna wait till the prices come down a little bit since I will be donating them. We only have accounts at places like Home Depot so I'm kinda limited. I've already donated 8- 5 gal. Chambeyronia Hookeri's this year. I think I'm nearing that fine line between generosity and stupidity . Steve

[BS Man about Palms]

You need to procure a "beautification budget"..........OR secretly have some ner-do-well sneak up at night and trash a lot of the plants..., then you'll need to replace them!  ???

[kylecawazafla]

(Steve from San Diego @ Dec. 15 2006,19:44)

QUOTE

(kylecawazafla @ Dec. 14 2006,21:49)

QUOTE

wow great photos! Get rid of the Dwarf Pygmy Dates and add some Areca vestiara or some other marginal palm!

Kyle, I planted those pygmies long before I knew about exotic palms. I hack the crap out of them every November to let more sunlight get through to the rocks. I suspect the Areca Vestiara would want more canopy but if I can talk them into removing the shrubery I would like to do a grove of Cocos with some bottle palms and Carpoxylons. Glad you liked the pics, Steve

wow thats incredible. A grove of them would definitely be unique to the state. Are you experimenting with any other palms there currently? It looks like the microclimate can't be beat.

[Tyrone]

If vestiara needs more canopy, try catechu, triandra or even an Adonidia.

Tyrone

[Urban Rainforest]

You guys are right , I think I have a very unique microclimate in Del Mar. One palm that I'm going to try to grow there that Matt in San Diego is growing is Kerriodoxa Elegans. And more Cocos !!! Steve

[PalmGuyWC]

Steve,

If your going to try Kerriodoxa, It needs plenty of shade and no wind....and I mean NO WIND.  I've seen a few pitiful specimans that were beaten to pieces by wind.  The beautiful almost entire fronds just won't take it.  This is definately not a beach palm.

Dick

[Tyrone]

(PalmGuyWC @ Dec. 17 2006,09:54)

QUOTE

Steve,

If your going to try Kerriodoxa, It needs plenty of shade and no wind....and I mean NO WIND.  I've seen a few pitiful specimans that were beaten to pieces by wind.  The beautiful almost entire fronds just won't take it.  This is definately not a beach palm.

Dick

I think they need constant high humidity too, much like delicate Licuala's. The full sun and rocks will tend to reduce the humidity somewhat.

Tyrone