What Causes Brown Leaf Tips on my Coconuts?

[Daryl]

OK, this is a question for all of you growing Coconuts in marginal climates that can have coolish winters...

I was always under the impression that Coconuts liked it more on the dry side during cooler winter weather. With this in mind, I very rarely water mine until it warms up in Spring. However, they do get brown tips on the leaflets, so do not look ideal coming into the warm season. This is their second winter, and both times they have had some tip browning. Not the end of the world I know, but if I can stop it I will be happy!

My concern is that if I water I may rot them as the soil may be too cool and damp. If I don't water them, they get bone dry and maybe this is the cause of the tip browning. Or is is just due to cool temps on the leaves? It has been down to 5C (40F) several mornings here with day temps around 21-25C)

What do all of the Coconut growers here do for their Coconuts every winter? Have you over-watered and killed them?

Curious to know more...

 

Daryl

Edited August 1, 2018 by Daryl

[Tyrone]

One general rule I was told when doing my horticulture studies was that whatever you see on a leaf tip corresponds to something going on at the root tip. So a browning leaf tip could be caused by root temps a little bit on the cool side, maybe having trouble pulling up necessary micronutrients. They don't look that bad Daryl. Are the roots shaded or are they in a sunny location?

[Pal Meir]

36 minutes ago, Tyrone said:

One general rule I was told when doing my horticulture studies was that whatever you see on a leaf tip corresponds to something going on at the root tip. ………

That is more than true! Most people who are growing potted palms indoors think that wilting leaves etc. are a problem of humidity and too dry air, but that is in most cases not true (except sunburn). It is a problem which the roots have with the soil and watering: too wet/dry, too cold/hot, too much fert, not enough O2, too much humus, pH?, etc. 

I had my potted Cocos always (in winter too) in a tub with 10-15 cm standing water:

[sgvcns]

Daryl

You know the answer involves a canary and a coal mine.

Cheers

Steve