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Germinating store bought husk less coconuts


JEFF IN MODESTO

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Easy to do, most important find a nut that hasn't been refrigerated.

I found this one at a local Asian market and knew right away it would work.

Soaked it over night in a bucket of water, delided the main eye...

Put into ziplock bag with half cup water.

Here we are 2 weeks later

post-116-0-28438400-1406044102_thumb.jpg

  • Upvote 1

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Color looks a little off... I did this this summer with two coconuts from Publix. No leaves yet but they're growing the pointy things that come before leaves. One is golden and one is green, so I'm excited to see what they look like as adults.

Keith 

Palmetto, Florida (10a) and Tampa, Florida (9b/10a)

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That looks like great fun. Ironic that we don't have "Asian" supermarkets here in Japan.

And it looks cheaper than the alternative: here's my $70 purchase from two weeks ago (which I love regardless of the price tag):

post-7712-0-53224900-1406049417_thumb.jp

Jt

Shimoda, Japan, Lat: 36.6N, Long: 138.8

Zone 9B (kinda, sorta), Pacific Coast, 1Km inland, 75M above sea level
Coldest lows (Jan): 2-5C (35-41F), Hottest highs (Aug): 32-33C (87-91F)

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Zeeth, yea.... it does look red! Its been that way since I put it under light, but hey, its still growing and no smell, so I am guessing its no biggie.

BTW it had a red label with the trade name COCORICO... maybe thats red dye?

LOL JT.... Try looking at the "Polynesian market"

Here in the US with its diverse immigrant population, in addition to our regular super markets, we have literally hundreds of different markets that cater to different ethnic tastes.

Jeff

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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One week later!

post-116-0-90426300-1406565219_thumb.jpg

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Easy to do, most important find a nut that hasn't been refrigerated.

I found this one at a local Asian market and knew right away it would work.

Soaked it over night in a bucket of water, delided the main eye...

Put into ziplock bag with half cup water.

Here we are 2 weeks later

How can the 'main eye' be recognized?

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One week later!

attachicon.gifimage.jpg

Despite the color it's looking good. I'm curious to see how long it takes for the color to go away. It'd be neat if it stays that way forever!

Keith 

Palmetto, Florida (10a) and Tampa, Florida (9b/10a)

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I bought a couple more . It will be interesting to see if these sprout as fast.

I still have no idea why it's red?

I don't think it's the dye as the label was take and none of the ink bled.

Oh well, I'll post updates as it progresses.

Jeff

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Share on other sites

Easy to do, most important find a nut that hasn't been refrigerated.

I found this one at a local Asian market and knew right away it would work.

Soaked it over night in a bucket of water, delided the main eye...

Put into ziplock bag with half cup water.

Here we are 2 weeks later

How can the 'main eye' be recognized?
The way I can tell is the two plugged eyes seem to be divets.

It's usually the one that's a little more plump...sort of rounded.

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Share on other sites

Like in this photo, the "active eye" is the top one near my finger.

post-116-0-95822300-1406681300_thumb.jpg

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Share on other sites

The non-active eyes usually look like a sad person's eyes. Also, they take up about 1/4 of the coconut each. The active eye takes up the other entire half.

Keith 

Palmetto, Florida (10a) and Tampa, Florida (9b/10a)

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Like in this photo, the "active eye" is the top one near my finger.

Wait, which eye is the active one?

post-7712-0-35794900-1406719292_thumb.jp

  • Upvote 1

Shimoda, Japan, Lat: 36.6N, Long: 138.8

Zone 9B (kinda, sorta), Pacific Coast, 1Km inland, 75M above sea level
Coldest lows (Jan): 2-5C (35-41F), Hottest highs (Aug): 32-33C (87-91F)

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Easy to do, most important find a nut that hasn't been refrigerated.

I found this one at a local Asian market and knew right away it would work.

Soaked it over night in a bucket of water, delided the main eye...

Put into ziplock bag with half cup water.

Here we are 2 weeks later

What does it mean to "delid" the main eye? Nice to see this topic since I always see about how you can't germinate store bought coconuts.

Corpus Christi, TX, near salt water, zone 9b/10a! Except when it isn't and everything gets nuked.

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On a coconut there is 3 holes or should say weak spots in the shell.

Its my (very little) experience that Two of these produce nothing and are probably back ups in case the main or active eye becomes clogged during the germination process.

It is the main eye where the rooting process breaks out of the shell.

on this eye is a lid or thin brittle shell that i believe protects the interior and keeps the milk from spilling or drying out. Im sure it also protects the interior from bacterial contamination, water intrusion etc....

Once the rooting process gets to the point where it swells and exits the nut the lid pops off, like an excape hatch.

This also allows water to start reaching the root which seems to encourage the whole process to speed up.

Sorry if my details are somewhat unscientific...

Apparently in some other types of palm seed you can allow speed up the germination proccess by finding the lid on the seed and de-liding it.

Jeff

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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I really wish there were a way to tell if a coconut had been refrigerated. . .

I'd like to try to germinate yet another but it's 5 bucks a pop out here and I don't even get to eat it if it goes bad.

"Ph'nglui mglw'napalma Funkthulhu R'Lincolnea wgah'palm fhtagn"
"In his house at Lincoln, dread Funkthulhu plants palm trees."

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You and me both.

Donno if they have Asian food markets in neb.

But that's a good place to start.

The coconuts I bought were clearly much fresher looking than the ones sold at major supermarkets.

I went back to the store I bought the first one at, bought a couple more, ($2.49 each) gave em a soak in a bucket of water for a couple of days. They look like they are both fresh enough to sprout .

Jeff

  • Upvote 1

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Here is an update photo about a week later.

Jeff

post-116-0-44619400-1407080085_thumb.jpg

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Share on other sites

Last pic for awhile

Jeff

post-116-0-14035500-1407600904_thumb.jpg

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Share on other sites

It looks like the red color is actually part of the plant. That's odd, I wonder what the adult palm would look like. Hopefully you're able to keep it alive to the point of having a few leaves to see if it goes away or not.

Keith 

Palmetto, Florida (10a) and Tampa, Florida (9b/10a)

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very interesting jeff, please update again sometime, thanks for posting,

Happy Gardening

Cheers,

Wal

Queensland, Australia.

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I don't see much need to put it in soil right now as its still using up its reserves. Perhaps once the roots get as long as the shell, I may set it on some wet sand.

I have three that are sprouting they are under a 13 watt Compact Floresant light, where the temps stay an ideal 80f ... day and night.

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Four store bought nuts, four successfully sprouted and on there way.

Seems a little mold started to grow on one of the shells after sitting in the bag for awhile.

I just washed it off with a little liquid anti micro hand soap, rinsed it clean and all is good, it never came back.

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Share on other sites

I agree, I bought 2 nuts from a Chinese supermarket and soaked them. One of the eyes in each nut swelled and protruded immediately. I then placed them in a propagator that overheated and cooked them :-(

I bought 4 more from Tescos at 80pence each...I soaked and then put them in a propagator (no eye had swollen up with these) and forgot about them. When clearing out, I found one nut had a long root and shoot and I potted up the nut in cactus compost. I'm hoping for a leaf soon..I've had two leaf sheaths so far.

Waiting for the Chinese supermarket to get fresh stock in.

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Cool!! Keep us updated! We have several local markets in Wichita that sell coconuts still in the husk...I too may try this;)

El_Dorado.gif

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I agree, I bought 2 nuts from a Chinese supermarket and soaked them. One of the eyes in each nut swelled and protruded immediately. I then placed them in a propagator that overheated and cooked them :-(

I bought 4 more from Tescos at 80pence each...I soaked and then put them in a propagator (no eye had swollen up with these) and forgot about them. When clearing out, I found one nut had a long root and shoot and I potted up the nut in cactus compost. I'm hoping for a leaf soon..I've had two leaf sheaths so far.

Waiting for the Chinese supermarket to get fresh stock in.

Coconuts are about twice as expensive here in Florida!

Keith 

Palmetto, Florida (10a) and Tampa, Florida (9b/10a)

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  • 4 weeks later...

Ok, photo update, one month later!

The roots were getting big and it didn't look like humidity alone was keeping them wet enough, so I to a hand full of peat moss and covered the emerging roots.

The leaves took off.

Also I swapped out the zip lock bag for a "turkey baking bag"

Donno why but this eliminated any mildew that used to form on the coconuts shell.

Btw, I found another healthy looking coconut at the regular ol supermarket.

Did the procedure and it is now got a healthily sprout on it.

It is plain ol white, with no red on it. My guess is a different variety than from the Asian market.

Though the nuts looked the same.

Anywho..

Here is an updated photo from today!

post-116-0-91025400-1411131336_thumb.jpg

  • Upvote 1

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Soon I will pot it up and it will be a houseplant half the year, the warm part of the year in will site on my porch.

About 30 years ago I kept one doing fine for about 6 years... Till the mealy bugs got it.

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
  • 4 months later...

Just saw this thread, cool stuff. I'd love to try it myself but it would be pointless.

Larry Shone in wet and sunny north-east England!  Zone9 ish

Tie two fish together and though they have two tails they cannot swim <>< ><>

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My first attempt 30 years ago the palm did well for about 8-10 years close to a sliding glass door.

It got attacked by mites and I couldn't seem to get rid of them.

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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So it is no longer?

Larry Shone in wet and sunny north-east England!  Zone9 ish

Tie two fish together and though they have two tails they cannot swim <>< ><>

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Ok, photo update, one month later!

The roots were getting big and it didn't look like humidity alone was keeping them wet enough, so I to a hand full of peat moss and covered the emerging roots.

The leaves took off.

Also I swapped out the zip lock bag for a "turkey baking bag"

Donno why but this eliminated any mildew that used to form on the coconuts shell.

Btw, I found another healthy looking coconut at the regular ol supermarket.

Did the procedure and it is now got a healthily sprout on it.

It is plain ol white, with no red on it. My guess is a different variety than from the Asian market.

Though the nuts looked the same.

Anywho..

Here is an updated photo from today!

Hello. would you have new pictures :winkie: ?

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Ok, photo update, one month later!

The roots were getting big and it didn't look like humidity alone was keeping them wet enough, so I to a hand full of peat moss and covered the emerging roots.

The leaves took off.

Also I swapped out the zip lock bag for a "turkey baking bag"

Donno why but this eliminated any mildew that used to form on the coconuts shell.

Btw, I found another healthy looking coconut at the regular ol supermarket.

Did the procedure and it is now got a healthily sprout on it.

It is plain ol white, with no red on it. My guess is a different variety than from the Asian market.

Though the nuts looked the same.

Anywho..

Here is an updated photo from today!

Hello. would you have new pictures :winkie: ?

No!

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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Ok here is one from today.

It's in a 5 gal pot outside since about March .

post-116-0-44465100-1438472234_thumb.jpg

Modesto, CA USDA 9b

July/August average 95f/63f

Dec/Jan average 55f/39f

Average lowest winter temp 27f

Record low temp 18f

Record high temp 113f

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