Germinating Coconuts.........Planting Angle

[Tropicgardener]

I have just put down quite a number of locally collected Coconuts to germinate.

In the past I have germinated them lying flat and half buried and also straight up in the pot, this time I have done a mixture of plantings with some vertical, some horizontal, some at 45 degrees.................My guess is that it doesn't really matter which way they are put in but Is anyone aware of an optimum angle for germination?

[bgl]

Andrew,

Seriously - I have no idea. But watching them down by the ocean here, and how they germinate, my guess is that all you have to do is drop them on the ground. And they will germinate. They don't seem to be very particular about HOW they have been dropped or at what angle they ended up! But I am curious if someone actually has done research on this, and the numbers to prove it!

Bo-Göran

[aztropic]

I honestly don't think it matters either. I just buried one half way in a pot and it figured out which way was up and which way to send the roots.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[realarch]

We set them on the ground, they know just what to do. This is a Malayan dwarf.

[Tropicgardener]

Yeah thanks for the replies.........I have had them germinate at just about any angle too but wasn't sure if there was an optimum angle.......When planting them in pots I like to put them upright as this saves room (especially with larger coconuts).

[IHB1979]

I've had great success planting with the pointed side down. But I think anyway will do. Out of the 20 or so coconuts I have tried, I think I'm up to 16 that have germinated. Took anywhere from 5-10 months for germination. I had some questions though, once germinated how long until they push adult fronds? I planted one in the ground two months ago and it's growing fast. Unfortunately I planted in the wrong location, how well do these transplant from the ground when they are young? Would it be wiser to leave in the ground until it gets some size?

[bgl]

Very easy to move when they're young.

[Z4Devil]

Hello, Andrew -

if anyone believes the germination and growing of coconuts are a privileg of tropical climate ... that is not correct.

Look at my self-germinated coconut of C. nucifera sp. Golden malayan dwarf. As far as I know, a very rare species.

And yes, we do talk about a period of just 10 weeks.

05.06.2012

15.07.2012

11.08.2012

[Jason in Orlando]

Nice!

[realarch]

Well look at you Verena! Good going, it's gonna be a beauty.

[Tropicgardener]

Very well done Verena.........I have a few Golden Malay Dwarfs in my garden, they are my favourite palms.....In my previous garden they fruited within 4 years.... My shadehouse is being overrun with coconuts so I am going to do a 'guerrilla' planting down the streets at the duckponds......there is a little island in the middle and I am going to load my kayak with coconut palms and plant the island up!!