Various types of coconut palms are available commercially, on the one hand the real coconut palm Cocos nucifera, on the other hand the Lytocaryum weddelianum, which is grown as a houseplant. This comes from South America, is similar to the real coconut palm, but has completely different requirements.
How do I properly care for my coconut palm?
In order to optimally care for a coconut palm, it needs regular watering, lots of warmth, high humidity, a spacious plant pot and regular fertilizer. Temperatures above 16 °C and daily spraying with lukewarm water are ideal.
The real coconut palm needs a lot of sun, warmth and water for its well-being, as well as high humidity. These conditions can hardly be offered in a normal living room. A humidifier or regular spraying with low-lime water can help.
The right watering
Water your coconut palm regularly. Be sure to avoid waterlogging, otherwise the nut will begin to rot. The potting soil should not be too firm so that the irrigation water drains off easily. In winter, your coconut palm needs slightly less water than in the summer months. It is best to use lukewarm water with a low lime content.
Fertilizing
The coconut palm is quite demanding. Therefore, it should be fertilized regularly in the summer months. From May to October, add some liquid fertilizer (€8.00 on Amazon) to the irrigation water about every 14 days.
Repotting
The coconut palm requires a relatively large plant pot, not only for the nut, but also for the widely spreading roots. It should be repotted about every two to three years. Use palm soil from specialist retailers or garden soil mixed with sand. The upper half of the coconut must always look out of the potting soil.
The coconut palm in winter
The coconut palm likes to be warm even in winter. At temperatures below 16 °C it stops growing. The most important thing is that you ensure there is enough humidity. This can easily become a problem, especially in winter, because of the dry heating air. Therefore, spray your coconut palm with lukewarm water every day.
The most common difficulties with a coconut palm
If your coconut palm does not appear he althy and, for example, has brown leaf tips, then one of the following points could be the cause:
- too low humidity
- too little heat
- too small plant pot
- too little fertilizer
Tips & Tricks
Regular watering, lots of warmth, high humidity and a large plant pot are the basic conditions for the long life of a coconut palm.
