Using mirrors to curve/lean palms

[Zeeth]

I had an idea of a way to easily curve a palm. Since palms like the coconut will lean out onto the water because of the water reflecting back into it, I thought that you could easily replicate that with some mirrors placed on one side of the palm. When the growing season comes again, I will try this with my big coconut if it survives it's cold damage. What do you guys think about this idea?

[Alicehunter2000]

I like it when people think outside the box......interesting idea.

[BS Man about Palms]

Are you sure thats the reason? I always thought it was the weight of the palm/roots sinking towards the wet/waterlogged soil, then trying to grow straight again.

[yachtingone]

I like to use snake oil!!!

[palmmermaid]

Two hurricanes worked for me! One was leaned over in Frances and one in Jean.

[Bill Schmidt]

You're right BS man (sort of), the dramatic curvature (like in my photo) is a classic response to

a "sand-starved" coastline. The sand doesn't have to be water-logged though, just sloping.

[DoomsDave]

zEETH!

I have no clue as to the answer to your question, but try it and report back.

I'm curious, as we all are.

Keeping a big mirror undamaged over a long time might be a challenge, though . . . .

[Ken Johnson]

Car bumpers will work better than that! LOL

It is easy to get a curve in a palm though. Just grow it to where you want the curve to start then dig it up and replant it at an angle. In hurricanes they get so badly damaged that just a few roots remain strong so a controled dig should be a snap. In fact you dont have to dig it all the way, just enough to pull it over with a comealong or Pontiactractor will do.

BTW Z, what have you been smoking? Mirrors? Man I want some!

[MattyB]

So you're going to set up motors to move the mirror to track the sun so that it's always pointing at the palm? I bet it still won't work. Might be easier to build a shade structure over the palm to force it around it. Or just dig it up and push it over.

[yachtingone]

I'm tell'n ya

[Walter John]

so it really is all smoke and mirrors.

[yachtingone]

In and out burgers here in California like m

[Zeeth]

Hey, I thought it was a good idea! Easier than digging the palm up and leaning it (which is always an option if this doesn't work) and less destructive than a hurricane. I am pretty sure that the leaning of coconuts is caused by the water reflecting light, as I have seen it when they are planted on a stable soil but by the water, where a little farther away from the water they are straight. Also, planted in shade they will curve towards more sunny spots. In this experiment, I would put a big mirror on one side and leave it there, no moving to compensate for the sun moving. Since the palm would get more light overall, it would grow better than having one side shaded. I think that it might be easier to not use a glass mirror, but something stronger like polished aluminum. I will start this spring and give you guys updated if I see curving growth. If anyone else wants to give this a shot I think they should go for it.

Keith

[MattyB]

You're on to something regarding not using a mirror. They say a reflective matte surface will reflect more light than a mirror. So look into something like they use in TV/Film. I still don't think it'll work unless you block out the sun from above.

[pg6922]

Zeeth,

I think the mirror would have to be really large for the palm to recognize the sky as being less bright than a mirror. Even a 30ft mirror is still less sun than the light it gets from the sky. A large body of water is different than a tiny mirror. I applaud your ingenuity but trust me leaning a coconut palm is alot more effective and easy to do by digging it and pushing it over with machine , car or come-a-long.

When your ready to do it let me know and I'll walk you through the process. I would think you would want a couple feet of trunk first. But planting a $200 size coconut at an angle is probably the best approach.

Good luck,

PG

[Zeeth]

Zeeth,

I think the mirror would have to be really large for the palm to recognize the sky as being less bright than a mirror. Even a 30ft mirror is still less sun than the light it gets from the sky. A large body of water is different than a tiny mirror. I applaud your ingenuity but trust me leaning a coconut palm is alot more effective and easy to do by digging it and pushing it over with machine , car or come-a-long.

When your ready to do it let me know and I'll walk you through the process. I would think you would want a couple feet of trunk first. But planting a $200 size coconut at an angle is probably the best approach.

Good luck,

PG

How much force does it require to successfully do this? Could I do this myself if I wanted? If the mirror thing doesn't work, I am thinking that I want to try the mechanical way with a coconut first, and then a Beccariophoenix alfredii once I can successfully do it.

[pg6922]

let me know the size of the coconut we are dealing with and I will tell you some options on how to go at it.

Where is the palm located and how is the access?

Can you get a truck bumper with in 10 ft of the palm

A power spade or a sharp shooter shovel at a minimum

[Zeeth]

let me know the size of the coconut we are dealing with and I will tell you some options on how to go at it.

Where is the palm located and how is the access?

Can you get a truck bumper with in 10 ft of the palm

A power spade or a sharp shooter shovel at a minimum

I don't have a palm I want to do this with yet, but I guess I'll start when I get something with about 1 ft of clear trunk. As to the truck bumper part, the spot where I intend to plant the palm probably would have access, but just incase, what else would work?

[_Keith]

Seems the best way to may a plant curve is to give it something it has to grow around. So, maybe plant is side by side with a small fast growing tree. It will continually grow away from its trunk looking for sunlight. A few years later, cut down the small tree, or just let it occur naturally by choosing a short lived tree.

[pg6922]

If you dont have the palm yet, then plant it at your desired angle when you get it. They do this all the time with coconut palms hanging out over seawalls. They plant them at a 45-50 degree angle then support it with wooden bracing...and let nature do the rest.

[Zeeth]

If you dont have the palm yet, then plant it at your desired angle when you get it. They do this all the time with coconut palms hanging out over seawalls. They plant them at a 45-50 degree angle then support it with wooden bracing...and let nature do the rest.

Alright, I will try all of the above methods to produce curves in both Coconut and Beccariophoenix alfredii. Hopefully I get some pretty curving palms

Keith

[BS Man about Palms]

Still don't think its a water reflection. Sure the area you say is stable NOW. But ANY body of water was bound to have a higher level at one point. I suspect thats when the palm leaned.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Keith, I always thought that coconuts grew at an angle on the edge of the beach because other trees are behind them blocking light from above. I never considered light reflected from the water. Nice theory!

[freakypalmguy]

Car bumpers will work better than that! LOL

It is easy to get a curve in a palm though. Just grow it to where you want the curve to start then dig it up and replant it at an angle. In hurricanes they get so badly damaged that just a few roots remain strong so a controled dig should be a snap. In fact you dont have to dig it all the way, just enough to pull it over with a comealong or Pontiactractor will do.

BTW Z, what have you been smoking? Mirrors? Man I want some!

The Pontiacstractor is available for hire

[Jeff Searle]

let me know the size of the coconut we are dealing with and I will tell you some options on how to go at it.

Where is the palm located and how is the access?

Can you get a truck bumper with in 10 ft of the palm

A power spade or a sharp shooter shovel at a minimum

I don't have a palm I want to do this with yet, but I guess I'll start when I get something with about 1 ft of clear trunk. As to the truck bumper part, the spot where I intend to plant the palm probably would have access, but just incase, what else would work?

I might as well add my 2 cents worth like everyone else, I have that coconut with a foot or so trunk I would love to sell you. Come asap, before I run out.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Palms. especially coconuts, grow toward the light. So Keith, you kind of have the right idea but the mirror/polished aluminum is not going to do it. To make the mirror work, you would need to completely shade the palm so that all the light comes from the direction of the mirror. Then you would have to move the mirror constantly to track the sun. Coconuts curve toward the light and would curve out from other coconuts if it was next to the ocean or next to a parking lot.

Adding to the curves at the beach is the undermining of the roots by wave action. This is the same thing as digging it up and planting it at an angle. You should wait until it has some trunk because without trunk it will just straighten up with no noticeable bend. What is really cool if you bend it one way for a few years then dig it up and bend it a different way to get a double curve or even a camel hump effect. You can plant a curved trunk with the head pointing at the ground or have it parallel the ground.

[Jose Maria]

One way to get nicely curved coconut-palms is planting three seeds together, each one will curve away from the others .

[Zeeth]

let me know the size of the coconut we are dealing with and I will tell you some options on how to go at it.

Where is the palm located and how is the access?

Can you get a truck bumper with in 10 ft of the palm

A power spade or a sharp shooter shovel at a minimum

I don't have a palm I want to do this with yet, but I guess I'll start when I get something with about 1 ft of clear trunk. As to the truck bumper part, the spot where I intend to plant the palm probably would have access, but just incase, what else would work?

I might as well add my 2 cents worth like everyone else, I have that coconut with a foot or so trunk I would love to sell you. Come asap, before I run out.

I am going to buy a few either this spring, or spring of next year, it depends on when we get the new property and when we are able to move in. I'll let you know when I am scouting prices. When that happens I will probably look for something with closer to 5-6 feet of trunk though. I'll PM you when we begin looking.

Keith

[Dr. George]

Okay - just for kicks - anyone got an explanation for how you get a 360º trunk rotation? - gmp

[Zeeth]

Okay - just for kicks - anyone got an explanation for how you get a 360º trunk rotation? - gmp

Woah! The coconut would have to have grown down at one point for that to happen... Weird!

[Walter John]

My coconut palm curves and is miles from the sea. It's all about reflective light, Isaac Newton, telescopes and green tamborines.

[LJG]

This thread is getting silly. Where is a botonist when you need one to correct some crazy talk?

[Palm Guy]

Keith, I say try anything that doesn't kill you or busts your wallet. Let us know how it works. I have my doubts but we'll never know unless someone tries...

Btw, Bermuda Coco should be heading your way this weekend.

[Zeeth]

Keith, I say try anything that doesn't kill you or busts your bank. let us know how it works.

Btw, Bermuda Coco should be heading your way this weekend.

I am planning on it!

Thanks, I can't wait for the arrival!

[All Habitats Tropicals]

One way to get nicely curved coconut-palms is planting three seeds together, each one will curve away from the others .

Even just planting 2 coconuts together will get them to lean away from each other. Though this may not produce a drastic curve if that's what you're looking for. We were lucky enough to get a nice curve in our coconuts just by planting 2 seedlings next to each other.

[BS Man about Palms]

Keith, I say try anything that doesn't kill you or busts your wallet. Let us know how it works. I have my doubts but we'll never know unless someone tries...

Ok, I agree with this. Go for the gold, Keith.