Although the coconut palm is not necessarily suitable as a permanent plant for a balcony, it certainly feels at home there in the warm summer. This gives you an attractive, unusual eye-catcher and a balcony with a tropical flair.
What is important for a coconut palm on the balcony?
A coconut palm on the balcony needs a location protected from the wind, lots of sun, enough water and high humidity. It should be brought indoors on cool nights. In winter the palm tree must hibernate frost-free.
How does the coconut palm feel most comfortable on the balcony?
Of course, north-facing balconies are not suitable for coconut palms because these plants need a lot of sun. South or southwest exposure, on the other hand, is well suited. You should protect young plants from too much direct sunlight in the first year and only place them in direct sun in the second year.
On so-called tropical nights, when temperatures do not drop below 20 °C, the coconut palm can of course stay outside. However, if it gets cooler than around 16 to 18 °C, then it's better to bring your palm tree into the house.
You should pay attention to this:
- wind-protected location
- lots of sun
- water enough
- do not leave outside on cool nights
- high humidity or spray regularly
Don’t forget to water
Watering a lot is also important for a coconut palm on the balcony, as is regular spraying with lukewarm water. Use low-lime water to prevent your coconut palm from getting unsightly limescale spots on the leaves.
Overwintering the coconut palm
In winter you should never leave your coconut palm on the balcony. It is absolutely not frost-proof. It stops growing at temperatures below 16 °C. A winter garden or heated greenhouse would be ideal for overwintering your coconut palm.
It tolerates slightly lower temperatures than in the summer months, less water and no fertilization quite well during this time. But it needs just as much light as in summer, namely around 12 hours. You can achieve the ideal lighting with a daylight lamp (€79.00 on Amazon).
Tips & Tricks
With a coconut palm you can create a tropical flair on a sunny balcony and create a little holiday atmosphere in the dreary everyday life.
