Signs your coco palm is dying?- CA

[US_Marine]

To all of you who have tried growing coconut palms here in CA, how have they died? What were the signs? I am just curious to see how things differed from place to place and person to person etc.

This is my frist time trying one outside, I have always brought mine in.This year I have one that made it to about this far. This one probably won't make it much longer. All fronds are pretty much done for, and the spear is turning black, no spear pull yet. Looks like she is slowly shutting down and when its just starting to warm up.

Thanks-

US_Marine

[paulgila]

signs of a cocos expiring?

taking it home from HD.

[US_Marine]

LOL. I didn't get this one from HD, and the one as my avatar pic goes in every winter. She's doing fine I had her a few years now.

[MattyB]

Your coconut is dying long before the spear is black. Just because you see a persons body doesn't mean that they're alive. The yellowing fronds are probably the first sign.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

To all of you who have tried growing coconut palms here in CA, how have they died? What were the signs? I am just curious to see how things differed from place to place and person to person etc.

This is my frist time trying one outside, I have always brought mine in.This year I have one that made it to about this far. This one probably won't make it much longer. All fronds are pretty much done for, and the spear is turning black, no spear pull yet. Looks like she is slowly shutting down and when its just starting to warm up.

Thanks-

US_Marine

US_Marine ,

I've experimented many times here in Modesto. Except the ones I brought indoors by Thanksgiving... They all died.

I'd say even with our warmer than average December, your coconut was dead by the end of november! .

Seriously though, what happens is the roots all rot, and with all our chilly weather the parts above soil level.... dont seem to catch up untill we get a little warm weather. ( Usually late Jan / Early Feb ).

Coconuts do not like soil temps below 58f/60f and must have at least mild days and mild nights.

If you really want to keep a coco here in the cool winter areas, indoors winter- outdoors late spring to fall.

I grew one this way for 8 years before it just croaked on me for no obvious reason.

Jeff

[Tyrone]

Hi US_Marine. I admire your courage to try a coconut outside in Norcal, but if that was even remotely possible to achieve and keep one alive in your area, those who tried in So Cal would be having great success. But in reality they are reportedly very difficult in So Cal, as they are here for me in SW Oz with a climate just a tad warmer than So Cal, which is more like Northern Mexico.

As already mentioned, coconuts need warm roots to survive. In the 16-20C soil temp range you are in danger territory. Also soil moisture needs to be kept to an absolute min during winter until soil temps move back up again. They'll die very quickly if these things go out of the "zone". To grow one outside in your area you'll need to create an artificial microclimate with the sort of precision that NASA would use. Not impossible, but is it worth it????? You'll have to decide what the answer to that is. If you like the coconut look, try Parajubaea, or Beccariophoenix alfredii. Beccariophoenix are almost indistinguishable from a coconut except to those with a trained eye, and they are much more cold tolerant.

Best regards

Tyrone

[US_Marine]

I already knew the outcome but hey, its worth a try or two. The one I tried outside is mostly sheilded from our winter rain, except during winds. The fronds never yellowed either.

@ Jeff in Modesto- I also have a valley climate. You mentioned you had one for 8 years and it just died out of nowhere? I have one for a few years now that I also bring in during winter and back out in late spring. I couldn't imagine it dying like that. Was it in summer?

Thanks everyone for replying!

- US_Marine

Edited January 28, 2011 by US_Marine

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

I already knew the outcome but hey, its worth a try or two. The one I tried outside is mostly sheilded from our winter rain, except during winds. The fronds never yellowed either.

@ Jeff in Modesto- I also have a valley climate. You mentioned you had one for 8 years and it just died out of nowhere? I have one for a few years now that I also bring in during winter and back out in late spring. I couldn't imagine it dying like that. Was it in summer?

Thanks everyone for replying!

- US_Marine

I had started it out in a 3 gal pot. It was in front of a south facing window in my living room, which had 12 foot high ceiling.

As it grew, I kept moving it up in pot size until I couldnt move it up any more.

I think it died due to the lack of soil/ nutrition in the pot.

Jeff

[US_Marine]

Mine was started in a 1.5 gal pot, but I transplanted her in a what I think is a 20 gal garbage container. I am thinking about planting her in the ground next, but before I do I need to get longer heating cabels as well as a better plan for winter protection. How big did yours get? How many fronds a year did you get on average? So far for me its between 5-7. Sorry for all the questions, but its interesting to here from someone growing one in the same climate. Interesting how they seem to love the 100f+ days.

Thanks again!

- US_Marine