Hardy Tropicals UK

Hello all!

I'm Andrew, new to the forum and thought id share one of my latest palm adventures.

This all started off with a simple de-husked coconut on the shelf of my local Tesco's, and thought to my self 'Why not?'. So heres the pictures;

[IMG=http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3382/lluk.jpg][/IMG]

Germination after just 4 weeks in my possession. Just soaked in warm water for 1 week, then into ziplock bag with water to keep humidity levels up. Once sprouted I potted it up in sand/soil mix (2:1).

[IMG=http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/7805/3f5c.jpg][/IMG]

[IMG=http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4931/1e0v.jpg][/IMG]

[IMG=http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/6311/ypo1.jpg][/IMG]

Now being kept in direct sunlight for 4 hours of the day.

[IMG=http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8118/u5p5.jpg][/IMG]

Spent the summer in my heated greenhouse (temp range = 40 max, 20 min)

[IMG=http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/5418/7eii.jpg][/IMG]

My palm at present (6 months from germination), which has been brought indoors to bask in the autumn sun through the south-facing patio doors.

So overall its defiantly worth the 85 pence spent, but whether it will survive this winter, I can't say!
Still worth a go, and hope its inspired some of you to give it a try.

Andy, I had a look at you pic syntax and it appears ok, but it can't determine the pic size for some reason.

I have been meaning to try this, but the complete lack of spring put me off this year. Someone else had one germinate last year using a similar method I think.

What temp did you keep the water, and the ziplock bag ?

Also I have been told they are much more cold, and low humidity resistant when not forced like the B&Q ones. I'd keep it in a warm room and perhaps get one of the plastic bell cloches to keep the humidity reasonable. Placing it in a sunny position while it is shining.

No worries Dave. Pics say a 1000 words though.
I really would reccomend giving it a go. I started my coconut at the end of Febuary, and germinated it during the harsh March we had!

The water and the ziplock bag were in my airing cupboard at around 30-35 degrees. Think the key is heat and warmth, same as most tropical palms.

I think the cloche idea may be the way to go as winter draws in, just to conserve heat and humidity that bit more.

Good luck if you give it a go. Would like to hear results of anyone else's coconuts.

Fixed the pics... You need to remove the "=" at the start and change to a "]" and remove the "]" after the " .jpg"


They look great! I bought one already grown from DIY shed, and it died within 2 months, just a slow decline.


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Germination after just 4 weeks in my possession. Just soaked in warm water for 1 week, then into ziplock bag with water to keep humidity levels up. Once sprouted I potted it up in sand/soil mix (2:1).







Now being kept in direct sunlight for 4 hours of the day.



Spent the summer in my heated greenhouse (temp range = 40 max, 20 min)



My palm at present (6 months from germination), which has been brought indoors to bask in the autumn sun through the south-facing patio doors.

So overall its defiantly worth the 85 pence spent, but whether it will survive this winter, I can't say!
Still worth a go, and hope its inspired some of you to give it a try.[/quote]

AH! Thanks a lot cordyman.

They do look good. I've had the same problem with one bought from B and Q a few years back, and so have resorted in growing one myself.

I think one of the 'successful' ways to overwinter a young coconut is not to start it off in a killing suffocating sauna. Think that will reduce guaranteed winter termination by about one percent.

GREVILLE wrote:I think one of the 'successful' ways to overwinter a young coconut is not to start it off in a killing suffocating sauna. Think that will reduce guaranteed winter termination by about one percent.

As helpful as this comment was, providing 'suffocating sauna' like conditions is the way many palms are germinated successfully. I have had many 1000's of plants germinated and successfully grown in this manor as a result.
Please check out this video as it did help me with the coconut germination ideas, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieelvE_ZPI&sns=em. The plant did eventually die due to neglect, but I'm positive about mine.
If you have any 'constructive' criticism or advise I'd be more than happy to take a read. Thanks again.

Andy, I'm not sure where you are getting all this fancy code from, but adding text immediately before or after a web link overrides it being a link. Also I don't know how you got to the vid ending up with =em on the end on here you just need the Youtube doc code BieelvE_ZPI then highlight it and click the media button at the top. This gives which shows a screenshot link.

I think you are misunderstanding Greville. We all know that many seed need suffocating sauna conditions to sprout, but most then are grown on in cooler, dryer conditions. The shed bought Coconuts are grown on in suffocating sauna conditions in low light to force fast, tall growth, and sentence the palm to death in it's first winter. They are in fact selling the equivalent of long lasting cut flowers.

I'm sure it was a member from Norway that has grown a Coconut successfully, by growing it in full sun over summer, an like yours it was only about 1/10th the height of the shed bought ones.

andycole94 wrote:

GREVILLE wrote:I think one of the 'successful' ways to overwinter a young coconut is not to start it off in a killing suffocating sauna. Think that will reduce guaranteed winter termination by about one percent.

As helpful as this comment was, providing 'suffocating sauna' like conditions is the way many palms are germinated successfully. I have had many 1000's of plants germinated and successfully grown in this manor as a result.
Please check out this video as it did help me with the coconut germination ideas, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieelvE_ZPI&sns=em. The plant did eventually die due to neglect, but I'm positive about mine.
If you have any 'constructive' criticism or advise I'd be more than happy to take a read. Thanks again.

I don't think the germination is the problem, its how its grown after that, of which yours isn't forced, so no problem

Just back from Homebase and noticed they had a few unusually sturdy young coconut palms that don't look as though they have been forced in the usual way. Ironic after my little dig at the commercial growers for trying to palm us off with more expensive but longer lasting plants.

I wasn't tempted, however, as I'd have much more confidence in that robust little tyke from Kent coming through the winter than those tenner-a-piece bedding plants, however nice they look.

Yes mine was started off in hot sauna like condidtions, but has been grown since in normal room temperatures & in a dark room too, not even much daylight, let alone sunlight & it has grown just fine

andycole94 wrote:

GREVILLE wrote:I think one of the 'successful' ways to overwinter a young coconut is not to start it off in a killing suffocating sauna. Think that will reduce guaranteed winter termination by about one percent.

As helpful as this comment was, providing 'suffocating sauna' like conditions is the way many palms are germinated successfully. I have had many 1000's of plants germinated and successfully grown in this manor as a result.
Please check out this video as it did help me with the coconut germination ideas, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieelvE_ZPI&sns=em. The plant did eventually die due to neglect, but I'm positive about mine.
If you have any 'constructive' criticism or advise I'd be more than happy to take a read. Thanks again.]

Oops, sorry, Andy I shouldn't post anything when I have trouble trying to keep my eyes open. Didn't say enough on it to be understood.

I was making a facetious sideswipe at the commercial industries attempt to boost survival rates of these coconuts by starting them off more slowly in slightly lower temperatures and then raising it again to generate such increased vigour that a small percentage of plants can overcome the shocks induced on it when overwintering. Not a good enough reason to charge even more for their plants IMO.

I realise I missed your post (and others) when I submitted my hurried entry on Homebase coconuts as soon as I'd accessed your thread. My first entry on this should have started in the same manner as your reply with commendation on your successful efforts before the introduction of constructive criticism. As far as that goes it's not my place to offer any as I've never tried germinating coconuts. Since your pics say it all I don't think anyone else would either

The reason I came back on this thread was to supply an update on the Homebase coconuts, but I'm going to stop prattling on as it's far too late