Coconut Tree Growing

Coconut Tree Growing

By Joseph Parish

Although not technically garbage, many produce stands carry fresh coconut and surprisingly they are very simple to grow. These make an excellent project to work with young children with. It provides them with a sense of gardening and an appreciation of nature. When viewing these tropical fruits most people envision sitting under the tree as they experience the calm ocean breeze, but the truth is, you can grow this plant right in the comfort of your home. Growing the coconut tree is not only a lot of fun but simple to accomplish. Below I list the instructions to do so.

To successfully grow a coconut plant, you must start with a freshly purchased coconut with the husk still on it. When shaking the coconut, you should hear the liquid sound inside. Take the coconut and soak it in water for about three days.

After soaking the coconut for three days, place it in a container with dampened potting soil. You may wish to mix with the soil a small measure of sand or vermiculite to ensure the soil will remain well drained. Your container used for the coconut trees should be around 12 inches deep, so the roots can grow properly. Plant your coconut with the pointed side down, while leaving a third of it above the soil. Next, move the container to an area which is well lit and warm. In fact, the warmer spot you can locate the better. They thrive in locations which are at least 70 degrees F or warmer.

The key to growing a successful coconut tree is to keep it well watered while in its germination stage without letting it sit in overly damp soil. Water your coconut frequently, however, ensure that the container you use drains properly. Germination takes a considerable amount of time, so you will not see any growth for three to six months.

Once the coconut tree has begun to grow, there are specific things which you must accomplish to keep it healthy. Foremost of these is to water the tree frequently. If your soil is well-drained you cannot water it too much. When it is necessary to re-pot your tree do not forget to add additional sand or vermiculite to the fresh soil, this keeps the soil properly drained.

The second requirement for growing a healthy coconut palm is food. These plants are heavy feeders and require a regular regiment of fertilizer. Select a fertilizer which provides the basic nutrients along with trace of the elements, boron, magnesium, and manganese.

The third rule to follow is that these coconut palms are extremely sensitive to the cold. If you reside in an area which has cold winter months, you will need to move your plants indoors until winter weather passes. When relocated inside, ensure it receives supplemental light and avoid all drafts. During the summer your coconut will thrive outdoors, just make certain that the placement of the plant is a sunny spot. An interesting observation is, that a Coconut tree which grow in containers often experience short lives of only approximately six years. Being the experimenter which I am, my current exploits revolve around extending these limited days.

For my current growing project, I purchase two coconuts from a discount produce shop in Dover, Delaware known as “Produce Junction”. Their prices are usually a fraction of what you find in the general midtown grocery stores, if they even have what you are looking for. On July 23rd I placed the two coconuts in water to soak for three days. Only time will tell how the turn out.

For more interesting articles why not visit me at: wordwriter.info