Cocos nucifera - who can resist?

[Mazat]

You go shopping unsuspectingly just before midday and someone taps you on the shoulder in the discount store and it's the store manager, who I know in my case.

Come on says I've got something for you for 4.99 usd.

Wow, I thought, a Cocos nucifera at that price 🤗🌴

He had reserved it for me ...

[gyuseppe]

Tom are good price!

[Mazat]

Yes, i thought the same like you, Gyuseppe.

An extremely fair price that he gave me 🤗

[Mazat]

Still repotted in a larger pot

and watered.

Baby grow and thrive 😀

[Mazat]

In any case, it is warm and relatively high humidity

[Than]

1 hour ago, Mazat said:

In any case, it is warm and relatively high humidity

Perfect conditions. You just need to maintain them throughout the year haha. Anyway, you never know, miracles do happen!

[Las Palmas Norte]

Cocos nucifera - who can resist?

Me. A number of years ago, I thought I could winter one indoors. 

[Mazat]

1 hour ago, Than said:

Perfect conditions. You just need to maintain them throughout the year haha. Anyway, you never know, miracles do happen!

Yes.

How true, Than.

I'll try without a magic wand—maybe I'll find instructions in old Harry Potter films 😁
Yes, sometimes miracles happen.
At least I'll try my best.

[Mazat]

21 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

Cocos nucifera - who can resist?

Me. A number of years ago, I thought I could winter one indoors. 

Okay.

What happened exactly? 
Did she have trouble moving from outside to inside, or did you keep her in a greenhouse at first?

At least I'll try my best.Yes, it's a big challenge.

[Mazat]

I must and want to say at this point that what you are planting and doing actively for nature is wonderful, we both think, coming from little Switzerland, Lake Constance.
And I think that in any climate, it is not a matter of course what you have all created in your wonderful gardens and continue to plant. It is a miracle in itself, and I (Sabine also) am grateful to be able to be part of it.

[Las Palmas Norte]

8 hours ago, Mazat said:

Okay.

What happened exactly? 
Did she have trouble moving from outside to inside, or did you keep her in a greenhouse at first?

At least I'll try my best.Yes, it's a big challenge.

You may already know. 49°N latitude and PWN late autumn thru early spring provides a very low level of natural daylight. 80°F requirements can't be met. All this could be replicated with artificial lighting & supplemental heat, something I'm not prepared to do. Without these tropical/subtropical conditions, a steady decline in health and ultimately death occurs. 

[Mazat]

On 8/9/2025 at 3:31 AM, Las Palmas Norte said:

You may already know. 49°N latitude and PWN late autumn thru early spring provides a very low level of natural daylight. 80°F requirements can't be met. All this could be replicated with artificial lighting & supplemental heat, something I'm not prepared to do. Without these tropical/subtropical conditions, a steady decline in health and ultimately death occurs. 

Yes, those are facts.
We will try, and I completely understand if you (once again) or someone else doesn't want to go to the trouble or considers it too much effort, given the uncertainty of whether it will be successful or not, and therefore has a different opinion. That's fine and important.

Even some of my close friends initially laughed when I told them what was possible with exotic plants here at this location.
And when they saw what was possible, they were first amazed and then delighted. Yes, sometimes I am stubborn in these matters, but the journey is the destination...
Cocos nucifera is a very big challenge, I am aware of that.

[Mazat]

It looks good and we look forward to its continued growth ...

[Dimimelbourne]

40° geez that’s saucy! 

[Mazat]

1 hour ago, Dimimelbourne said:

40° geez that’s saucy! 

Yes, no joke.

At that point, it was exactly the same amount...

My visitor, Fred (who grew up near Malaga), always finds it shocking here, it surprises him a lot...

[Dimimelbourne]

1 hour ago, Mazat said:

Yes, no joke.

At that point, it was exactly the same amount...

My visitor, Fred (who grew up near Malaga), always finds it shocking here, it surprises him a lot...

I saw you’re in a place called Lake Constance where in the world is that? Also what time of year was that?

 

[Mazat]

51 minutes ago, Dimimelbourne said:

I saw you’re in a place called Lake Constance where in the world is that? Also what time of year was that?

 

near Arbon is located at 47° 30' 29" north latitude (N). 2 pm, today, Switzerland

Yes, there are a huge number of exotic plants growing on the balcony that don't thrive properly in the surrounding area. Our neighbor from northern Iraq (his family has many Phoenix dactylifera trees—they have a business) says the same thing as the visitors, that it's like it's not real here...

[Hu Palmeras]

5 hours ago, Mazat said:

Tiene buena pinta y esperamos que siga creciendo...

MAGNIFIQUE!!!

[Dimimelbourne]

24 minutes ago, Mazat said:

near Arbon is located at 47° 30' 29" north latitude (N). 2 pm, today, Switzerland

Yes, there are a huge number of exotic plants growing on the balcony that don't thrive properly in the surrounding area. Our neighbor from northern Iraq (his family has many Phoenix dactylifera trees—they have a business) says the same thing as the visitors, that it's like it's not real here...

Incredible. Is it a microclimate there where you are different to what’s showing here?

What’s it like in winter?

[Than]

You had 40 C in Switzerland today? Wouldn't that be in the news? Accuweather says it was 24 C

[Mazat]

26 minutes ago, Dimimelbourne said:

Incredible. Is it a microclimate there where you are different to what’s showing here?

What’s it like in winter?

On the balcony. The sun's rays are very strong there, and even on cloudy days it is much warmer upstairs, which seems absurd but is really the case. 

[Mazat]

15 minutes ago, Than said:

You had 40 C in Switzerland today? Wouldn't that be in the news? Accuweather says it was 24 C

On the balcony, Than.

The sun's rays are very strong there, and even on cloudy days it is much warmer upstairs, which seems absurd but is really the case. 

It's microclimate also without sun in Winter.

Special and difficult to explain 🤔☹️

[Dimimelbourne]

Sounds like a great situation for your new coconut. 🥥 

I Should get a thermometer for my balcony here too. It’s very protected but bright… if only I could get my hands on more interesting palms here in Cyprus. 

I’m currently trying to sprout a coconut here but it’s either not working or taking far too long. Also trying to sprout foxtail seeds and again my patience is running thin 😂

[JohnAndSancho]

On 8/8/2025 at 5:34 AM, Mazat said:

You go shopping unsuspectingly just before midday and someone taps you on the shoulder in the discount store and it's the store manager, who I know in my case.

Come on says I've got something for you for 4.99 usd.

Wow, I thought, a Cocos nucifera at that price 🤗🌴

He had reserved it for me ...

My dude is growing a coconut in Switzerland.... God I love this forum. I hope you have an easier go at it than what @Philly J has to do for his in winter. His YouTube channel is Prairie Palms. 

[Than]

12 hours ago, Dimimelbourne said:

Sounds like a great situation for your new coconut. 🥥 

I Should get a thermometer for my balcony here too. It’s very protected but bright… if only I could get my hands on more interesting palms here in Cyprus. 

I’m currently trying to sprout a coconut here but it’s either not working or taking far too long. Also trying to sprout foxtail seeds and again my patience is running thin 😂

Yay, someone from Larnaca, my fav city in Cyprus. I believe you can grow almost anything in your area with all that warmth and humidity. If I were you I wouldn't bother with seeds, I'd get a bigger plant and plant it in the ground end of April or smth... Wodyetia will be a walk in the park for you. Cocos nucifera will still be a huge challenge, but miracles do happen (in Larnaca).

[Than]

13 hours ago, Mazat said:

On the balcony, Than.

The sun's rays are very strong there, and even on cloudy days it is much warmer upstairs, which seems absurd but is really the case. 

It's microclimate also without sun in Winter.

Special and difficult to explain 🤔☹️

Wow, impressive that your balcony is 15 C warmer than the town. That may allow you to grow lots of stuff! 

[peachy]

Even though they can sometimes be found on the beach, they still cost about $60 here.

Peachy

[Dimimelbourne]

2 hours ago, Than said:

Yay, someone from Larnaca, my fav city in Cyprus. I believe you can grow almost anything in your area with all that warmth and humidity. If I were you I wouldn't bother with seeds, I'd get a bigger plant and plant it in the ground end of April or smth... Wodyetia will be a walk in the park for you. Cocos nucifera will still be a huge challenge, but miracles do happen (in Larnaca).

It's not too bad here is it, winter should be a breeze for most palms and I'd love to experiment with heaps but I can't find many interesting ones here unfortunately. You're in Greece I see... Yia! Which part do you live in? Do you know much about importing small palms here from other EU countries? 

[Palmensammler]

8 hours ago, peachy said:

Even though they can sometimes be found on the beach, they still cost about $60 here.

Peachy

Crazy, last time I went to the supermarket in my hometown they sold a few for 9,99€ / around 12$. But I could resist as I gave up killing them after two trials. Winters in Northern-Europe are not suitable if you don't want to built a heated greenhouse for them.

Eckhard 

[peachy]

5 hours ago, Palmensammler said:

Crazy, last time I went to the supermarket in my hometown they sold a few for 9,99€ / around 12$. But I could resist as I gave up killing them after two trials. Winters in Northern-Europe are not suitable if you don't want to built a heated greenhouse for them.

Eckhard 

There was a man from Northern Europe a few years ago on Palmtalk,  I think he lived in Belgium or Netherlands. He grew coconut palms as Bonsai plants in his house. You may be able to find some of his posts with a search. So they can live indoors and not need much room also !

Peachy

[Than]

5 hours ago, peachy said:

There was a man from Northern Europe a few years ago on Palmtalk,  I think he lived in Belgium or Netherlands. He grew coconut palms as Bonsai plants in his house. You may be able to find some of his posts with a search. So they can live indoors and not need much room also !

Peachy

I remember that guy; he is from the Netherlands and grows a huge cocos indoors! But I believe this is an exception

[Than]

19 hours ago, Dimimelbourne said:

It's not too bad here is it, winter should be a breeze for most palms and I'd love to experiment with heaps but I can't find many interesting ones here unfortunately. You're in Greece I see... Yia! Which part do you live in? Do you know much about importing small palms here from other EU countries? 

I live in Messinia but far from the coast (8 km) and in a cold microclimate. Importing small palms can be tricky as some sellers don't send to Greece but others do. I bought a small Beccariophoenix from Thrinax few months ago and was very happy with the service. In Cyprus there is that nursery called Paradise Garden that sells exotics but I think they focus on fruit trees.

[Dimimelbourne]

11 minutes ago, Than said:

I live in Messinia but far from the coast (8 km) and in a cold microclimate. Importing small palms can be tricky as some sellers don't send to Greece but others do. I bought a small Beccariophoenix from Thrinax few months ago and was very happy with the service. In Cyprus there is that nursery called Paradise Garden that sells exotics but I think they focus on fruit trees.

Aah I imagine it would be cold there.

Mum’s side of the family is originally from Kambia, a very small village on the island of Chios but it’s inland and elevated… summer is hot but outside of that 🥶 🥶 🥶 

Paradise gardens don’t have much in the way of palms. I have shopped around and surprisingly I found some massive Areca catechu palms for 450E! I live in an apartment with a balcony tho so even if I was to get past the price, it wouldn’t be suitable for me.

What’s Thrinax? Another member? I googled it and didn’t find much so doubt it’s a store 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Than]

54 minutes ago, Dimimelbourne said:

Aah I imagine it would be cold there.

Mum’s side of the family is originally from Kambia, a very small village on the island of Chios but it’s inland and elevated… summer is hot but outside of that 🥶 🥶 🥶 

Paradise gardens don’t have much in the way of palms. I have shopped around and surprisingly I found some massive Areca catechu palms for 450E! I live in an apartment with a balcony tho so even if I was to get past the price, it wouldn’t be suitable for me.

What’s Thrinax? Another member? I googled it and didn’t find much so doubt it’s a store 🤷🏻‍♂️

Oh if you live in a flat that changes everything. On the one hand, you cannot grow large trees but on the other, you can protect plants easily. I bet the balcony will be a bit warmer than the street, plus it is covered I guess.

Thrinax is the name of the shop, the website is palms.de 

I cannot imagine a village in Chios being very cold. I looked up Kambia and it is similar to where I live. My village also is surrounded by a small gorge and the "problem" is that my house is low inside the gorge; as you know cold air descends and that makes my garden colder than the rest of the village by about 2 C.

[Palmensammler]

Yes, Thrinax is a store https://palms.de/en/ . In the past he hd a huge number of different palms. But over he time he reduced a lot.

But you can get good palms and seeds.

Eckhard

[Dimimelbourne]

3 hours ago, Than said:

Oh if you live in a flat that changes everything. On the one hand, you cannot grow large trees but on the other, you can protect plants easily. I bet the balcony will be a bit warmer than the street, plus it is covered I guess.

Thrinax is the name of the shop, the website is palms.de 

I cannot imagine a village in Chios being very cold. I looked up Kambia and it is similar to where I live. My village also is surrounded by a small gorge and the "problem" is that my house is low inside the gorge; as you know cold air descends and that makes my garden colder than the rest of the village by about 2 C.

Does it snow where you are?

Being Aussie born and raised I only ever went to Greece for summer holidays, it’s hard to believe how cold some parts get still to me 😂

My first Cyprus winter really surprised me too tbh 

Yes I want to get a thermometer to see the difference between my balcony and the street. I’ve never bothered with that anywhere I’ve lived before but now I’m curious. Especially after seeing the difference in Mazat’s balcony in Switzerland… terribly sorry for hijacking your post btw! Discussing Grecian and Cypriot microclimates 😂

[Dimimelbourne]

3 hours ago, Palmensammler said:

Yes, Thrinax is a store https://palms.de/en/ . In the past he hd a huge number of different palms. But over he time he reduced a lot.

But you can get good palms and seeds.

Eckhard

Thanks, definitely has some decent palms there!

[tim_brissy_13]

On 9/18/2025 at 5:16 PM, Than said:

Wow, impressive that your balcony is 15 C warmer than the town. That may allow you to grow lots of stuff! 

It wouldn’t really be the case. There’s very little value in placing a thermometer in full sun, it’s not a true indication of ambient temperature. The above combination of 40C/104F with approx 75%RH would be just about a global record of highest ever dewpoint if accurately recorded and nearly unbearable to the point of being dangerous conditions for humans for any extended period of time. 

[Mazat]

3 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

It wouldn’t really be the case. There’s very little value in placing a thermometer in full sun, it’s not a true indication of ambient temperature. The above combination of 40C/104F with approx 75%RH would be just about a global record of highest ever dewpoint if accurately recorded and nearly unbearable to the point of being dangerous conditions for humans for any extended period of time. 

Tim, the thermometer is not directly exposed to the sun—that wouldn't make sense, we both agree on that. It is covered by leaves and is in partial shade, so to speak, but of course there is significant warming due to the intense sunlight and the heating of the building. We are on the third floor, and heat rises. Besides, even on a day when the sun isn't shining, it's much warmer than down in the community garden, so we have to live with that, no matter what.

 

[Mazat]

3 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

It wouldn’t really be the case. There’s very little value in placing a thermometer in full sun, it’s not a true indication of ambient temperature. The above combination of 40C/104F with approx 75%RH would be just about a global record of highest ever dewpoint if accurately recorded and nearly unbearable to the point of being dangerous conditions for humans for any extended period of time. 

4.11 pm, right now, it's 31 degrees Celsius in the shade on the balcony, 34 degrees Celsius in partial shade, and exactly 28.2 degrees Celsius down in the communal garden near the ventilated weather station, but that's just the microclimate and the favorable location.