Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta

[Mazat]

18 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

No it died 

too bad, that's always sad 😢

[Maltese coconut project]

I'm very positive about this particular specimen. Last winter was a rainy one. Unideal combination of Chill and wet for coconut. Yet I was surprised that this particular specimen got quite minimal damage despite the unfavourable conditions. 

[Than]

On 8/2/2025 at 10:09 PM, Maltese coconut project said:

But from it's death I learnt this data.  First year from when plant is germinated to roughly more or less near 30 cm tall keep in 3 litre polybag if germinated vertically. Second warm season plant in 42 litre pot. Third warm season has to go in the ground (I never experimented with bigger pots to be honest) 

Great advice.

How old is the tallest one in the photo? Looks like it has survived some winters outdoors already? 

[Maltese coconut project]

It's around two years old. Spent one winter being brought inside at night and last winter 24/7 outdoors in 42 litre pot 

[Maltese coconut project]

It survived one winter 24 /7 outdoors in Malta winter and the winter before I used to bring it inside at night 

[Maltese coconut project]

My Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta September 2025 update

[rockinrickyfox]

9 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

My Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta September 2025 update

wow looking very good, they recovered well from the winter cold stress. especially the big one you planted. 

i would have been terrified of planting it in the ground at that point in such a weakened state.  but it has recovered and grown very well! beautiful coloration.

you say they are indian origin? supposedly they are some of the most cold tolerant coconut landrace in the world. even more so the ones that grow in the north. i wonder if they would fruit in malta. i think it would certainly be a fitting climax to your experiment if they did. especially if they held and you could get new seeds. 

[Mazat]

13 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

My Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta September 2025 update

Excellent work, Jonathan. Beautiful 

[Maltese coconut project]

I forgot to post beginning of October update of Cocos nucifera in Malta vs

[Maltese coconut project]

November update Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta 

[Than]

How are you going to protect the one in the ground during winter? Is it going to be its first one in the ground?

[Maltese coconut project]

Yes. First one in the ground. Just the building on the west side of it and protecting half of it with the Northern wall. Will be extra careful not to overwater

[Maltese coconut project]

Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta update 1st December 2025. Reduced watering in November due to cooling of temperatures. I'm checking soil moisture every day and won't artificially irrigate unless first one or two inches of soil gets dry. Also stopped liquid fertilizer once daytime high dropped below 21 degrees celcius /72 degrees Fahrenheit. Applied slow release fertiliser a few weeks ago plus rabbit manure. The next 5 months will be challenging for their survival. The biggest one survived two winters, winter 2023-2024 it was small in a 3 litre bag and I used to bring inside at night. Winter 2024-2025 24/7 outdoors in a 42 litre pot. Now in the ground. The 3 in the 42 litre pots survived winter 2024-2025 in 3 litre bags but I used to bring inside at night. Now first attempt 24/7 outdoors. The last two are from this year they're in the 3 litre bags 

[Maltese coconut project]

January 2026 Cocos nucifera in Malta update 

[SouthernCATropicals]

They all look fantastic, happy new year. 

[Mazat]

On 1/3/2026 at 9:21 PM, Maltese coconut project said:

January 2026 Cocos nucifera in Malta update 

I'm so happy for you, Jonathan 🤗. They look great. That's wonderful news. You're doing really, really well. Ah, belated happy new year to you too—it's only January 5, after all. I wish you continued success and enjoyment with your wonderful plants.

Unfortunately, mine didn't survive the move to their winter quarters. It seems I was a few days too late in the fall and they were under too much stress, so to speak. I'm not going to give up now and will simply choose a safer time in terms of temperature next time.

[Maltese coconut project]

After some night time low temperature dips to 6 degrees celcius 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit, heavy rain in the previous days, strong northern winds basically the worst combinations for coconut palm, they seem to be handling all the abiotic stress quite well 

[Aleitalyyy]

Hi Jon, we'll keep you updated on Facebook...

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year on the forum.

[Maltese coconut project]

The coconut palm after Storm Harry. Looks battered but I don't think beaten. Hopefully will make it through till the growing season in May 

[Stelios]

It looks like it's gonna make it. Was there a lot of rainfall in Malta? You planted it in a good place. The concrete around protects the roots from excessive rain.

[Maltese coconut project]

Yes it's been quite rainy. From 1st of September till today already 304mm rainfall 

[Maltese coconut project]

Cocos nucifera in Malta update. A sunny day after a series of rainy and windy days. There is some significant damage, hopefully it will make it through winter 

[Maltese coconut project]

Cocos nucifera in Malta update 1st February 2026 (and a start of a flowering pineapple)

[Maltese coconut project]

Regarding the debate on how much Sodium Chloride is needed to improve coconut palm yield:

A big tree needs between 55ltr-120ltr daily therefore between 20,075 litre to 43,800litre per year in warm and hot conditions and needs between 1kg-1.5kg Sodium Chloride (table salt) per year therefore the salt quantity to maximise yield is between 0.0023%-0.0075% salt concentration (0.023g per litre to 0.075g per litre). Our local tap water which is processed from reverse osmosis of sea water already has more than enough. Practically to be safe between 1 to 6 grains of salt per litre is enough to cover Chloride needs and improve yield 

[rockinrickyfox]

may i ask why you let your pots get so overgrown with grass? i feel like it would compete with the coconuts in such a limited space. if its for insulation couldnt you use straw or woodchips? would have the added benefit of breaking down and adding nutrients to the soil. 

[Maltese coconut project]

The grass absorbs the excessive moisture in winter where it rains excessively in relation to growth rate and temperature 

[Maltese coconut project]

[Maltese coconut project]

Cocos nucifera in Malta update 1st March 2026 

[Mazat]

1 hour ago, Maltese coconut project said:

Jonathan, you're doing a really great job. I'm pretty sure they'll recover well. We're keeping our fingers crossed for you here.