Light

Coconut palms thrive in full, bright sunlight. Even those found in nature can fail to proper if in the shade, so it's extremely important that any indoor coconut palm receives ample sunshine. During the fall and winter months, consider placing your palm under a grow lamp or another artificial Light Source to help make up for the loss in sunlight. Additionally, depending on its placement in your home, you may have to move your plant's location throughout the day to "chase" the sun and ensure proper exposure. As a good rule of thumb, you should aim for at least six hours of full sunlight each day.

Soil

Coconut palms are used to growing in a variety of soil conditions and are therefore not terribly picky about their planting mixture. That being said, a combination that closes mimics the coconut palm's natural environment is always your best bet. Typically, this means mixing a neutral to acidic potting soil with a bit of sand or vermiculite to maintain a well-draining environment (you could also skip the sand and opt instead for a drier cactus mix). Additionally, you can add a few layers of mulch to the top of the soil to help it retain moisture. Be sure your pot is at least 12 inches deep to start, in order to provide plenty of soil for the palm to take root in. Once roots have sprouted, you'll want to graduate it to a planter that holds at least 10 gallons of soil.

Water

Like many tropicals, the coconut palm is one thirsty plant. Keep the soil consistently moist by saturating with warm water once to twice a week. As long as you've chosen a well-draining soil (see above), you really can't overwater a coconut palm—after all, they're used to between 40 and 60 inches of annual rainfall in their natural environments.

Temperature and Humidity

Keep your coconut palm nice and cozy at all times. It can survive in temperatures that are at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and up (though they grow best in temperatures between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit) and may fail to thrive if its surrounding climate dips below 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity is an important factor, too—maintain a moist environment for your palm with the addition of an in-room humidifier, as well as frequent spritzing with warm water. Your plant may also benefit from the addition of a mini Green House while still in infancy (you can remove once the palm is approximately 12 inches tall).

Fertilizer

Feed your palm year-round with a weak liquid fertilizer, and increase frequency during the summer months when it's actively growing. Coconut palms are known to have several nutrient deficiencies, including a lack of phosphorus, nitrogen, manganese, and boron, so seek out a fertilizer blend specifically made for palm trees in order to supplement these losses.

Propagating Coconut Palm

If you can't find a coconut palm at a nearby nursery or store, you can still grow one indoors using—you guessed it—a coconut. To sprout a coconut palm, start with a coconut that still has some of its husk on and sounds full of water when you shake it. Place it in a bucket of room temperature water and soak for up to three days to help jumpstart the germination process. Next, bury the nut in a moist but well-draining soil mixture, leaving the top half exposed above the soil. Move the pot to a warm, well-lit area and continually water it (without allowing it to sit in water) every three days or so. With the right environment, you should see a seedling appear through the shell of the coconut within three to six months.

Potting and Repotting Coconut Palm

Sprouted coconuts can be potted in three-gallon pots (about 12 inches of soil). Their root balls are fairly small and shallow to start and, as a result, they don't need a ton of soil in the early growing months. However, once your coconut palm's roots grow to be about six to eight inches long, repot the plant into a vessel that holds at least 10 gallons of soil.

Common Pests and Diseases

In their native habitats, coconut palms are fairly resistant to insect predators, but in the home, you might see Mealybugs or spider mites on the leaves. Additionally, it's common for coconut palms to be plagued by "lethal yellow," a fungal disease that causes yellowing leaves, dropping fruit, and eventual death. While trees can be given antibiotics, such treatment is not always successful and most palms end up succumbing to the disease.

Dwarf Variety Green Coconut Plant

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