Indoor Coconut Palm Maintenance: Comprehensive Guide
Indoor coconut palms, while not typically grown indoors as they are true coconut trees, can still make a striking addition to your home. However, it's important to understand that the plants commonly sold as "coconut palms" in Europe are often winter-hardy palms like the Trachycarpus fortunei, or Chinese windmill palm, due to their cold tolerance.
A 3 gallon (11 L) pot is suitable for young indoor coconut palm plants. To provide ambient humidity, it is recommended to set these plants on a saucer filled with pebbles and water. These plants thrive best at temperatures of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 C) and in high humidity, which can be difficult to achieve indoors. During cold temperatures, indoor coconut palms should be brought inside before temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C).
In warm regions, light frost on indoor coconut palms can be covered with frost barrier fabric. Coconut palms require plenty of sunlight, ideally near a southern or western window with 8 hours or more of sunlight. Indoor coconut palm trees are slow-growing and do not reach maturity or fruit indoors.
Coconut palms are prone to nutrient deficiencies, especially with phosphorus and nitrogen. To ensure healthy growth, these plants will benefit from regular feeding with a liquid all-purpose plant food from April to mid-September every 2 weeks.
Indoor coconut palm varieties may not be true coconut palms, but could be from genera like Washingtonia, Chamaedorea, Howea, Rhapis, or Chrysalidocarpus. These plants need well-draining soil, such as a potting soil with 1/3 sand or other grit mixed in. The root system of indoor coconut palms is not extensive initially, but will need to be moved to a larger container after 6 months.
It's important to note that coconut palms do not tolerate frost and will not grow well in cold temperatures. Dead or damaged leaves on indoor coconut palms can be removed at any time. Coconut palms require plenty of moisture, but should not be allowed to sit in a saucer of water to prevent root rot. Misting the leaves of indoor coconut palms frequently can help maintain high humidity levels.
Fresh coconuts can be used for propagation, provided they have water inside. To propagate a coconut palm, soak the fruit for a couple of days, plant it pointed side down in well-draining potting soil, and keep the soil moist but not boggy.
Lastly, indoor coconut palms need to be repotted every couple of years, using a soil with little to no peat and a bit of grit. Purchased seedlings for indoor coconut palms can be planted at any time of the year.
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