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We have all seen these beautiful plants that grow from huge seeds and know them as coconuts.
They normally grow in tropical countries such as the Florida coast or the Caribbean islands.
It is good to know that if you really want to have a coconut tree in your garden, you can.
One thing to remember about growing a coconut plant is that if you can mimic the perfect conditions they would normally grow in, you could have a plant nearly 30 feet tall!
Luckily, we can’t always mimic the conditions, so our coconut trees will be smaller than that.
There are certain conditions your coconut tree should thrive in, namely full sun, well-drained soil, and a neutral to acidic pH.
Contents
Why is your coconut tree dying?
There are several reasons why your coconut tree may start to die:
- rotten root
- red spider
- mold on the floor
- very little humidity
- leaf disease
- cold temperatures
rotten root
Your coconut tree does not like wet feet. In fact, it will definitely be bad luck because excess water around the roots will cause root rot.
Signs of root rot include leaves that appear to turn yellow overnight, stunted growth, and a brown, rotting base of the plant.
When you pull the plant out of the ground, you will see that the root ball has twisted or turned into mush.
red spider
These little parasites are almost invisible, but red spider They do a lot of damage to the plant because they suck the chlorophyll from the leaves.
If you turn the leaf over and look at the lower vein, you can see small cobwebs and yellow bumps.
bottom mold
This is normally caused by two things, namely too little light and too much water.
Although mold itself won’t kill your plant, it can become a home for pests that will harm your plant.
To eliminate mildew, simply remove the top 2 inches of soil and replace with fresh mix.
If light is the problem, find another spot where the coconut tree gets more direct light.
very little humidity
You’ll know this is the problem with your coconut tree when the leaf tips begin to turn brown and yellow.
Again, while this won’t kill the plant, it will make it look unsightly. If not corrected, all new growth will be affected.
You can increase the humidity around the plant by misting it regularly or by placing a tray of pebbles that you always fill with water.
leaf disease
The coconut palm is susceptible to various types of leaf spots. They all affect the plant in the same way, developing spores on the leaves and slowly infecting the plant.
The best way to deal with this problem is to remove the infected areas. Washing the leaves regularly will keep mildew at bay.
It is important that you do not have an infected plant near a healthy plant as it will also be infected.
cold temperatures
Your coconut tree should live in temperatures between 64° and 86°F.
If the temperature drops below, there is a good chance that the plant will die. If you don’t die,
you will see stunted growth and blackened leaves.
If you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in our article on: How to save an overwatered palm tree.
How to give a new life to a coconut tree?
There are three ways to breathe new life into a coconut.
Although your plant may die from disease, it is one or more of these ways that kill coconut trees the most; light, water and humidity.
light
To grow well, your coconut tree needs full sun. In fact, they will never thrive if they don’t have direct sunlight every day.
Never be tempted to place your plant in partial shade and partial sunlight, as this will do it no good.
The only exception to this rule is if you have a relatively stunted plant, you can do this until it gets used to full sun.
Water
The coconut tree drinks liters of water every day! The soil should be continuously moist, but it should also be drained to prevent water from clogging the roots and causing root rot.
To give you an idea of the amount of water your plant needs, in its natural environment the plant consumes between 55 and 110 liters of water per day!
Humidity
The natural climate of the coconut tree is very humid and that is what they need. In winter, when the air is dry, you need to spray the plant every day.
Also place a tray of pebbles at the base to keep the air around the plant moist and moist.
Why do coconut leaves dry out?
One of the main causes of coconut leaf drying is the air around it. The air is probably too dry for the plant.
Remember: your coconut tree is from the tropics and dry air won’t do it any good.
Another reason for dry leaves is that the room they are in does not provide enough light or heat. The absence of any of these creeping conditions will cause the leaves to dry out and even become brittle.
How to fix dry leaves? in the coconut trees†
It is important that you change the conditions around the plant. You need to bring some extra humidity into the room.
To do this, add a plate of pebbles to the bottom and keep it full of water, and you can also mist the plant daily with water from a spray bottle.
If the area is not in full sun, move the plant to another location so that it gets full sun every day for as long as possible.
Why are the leaves of your coconut tree turning brown?
If your coconut tree does not get enough water, the leaves will turn brown. Lack of water first affects the roots from where water flows to the leaves.
The last place to get water is the tips of the leaves, so if they turn brown, it’s a sure sign that the plant isn’t getting enough water.
How do you fix brown tips on coconut palms?
If you want to save the plant, you need to change the watering routine.
Although they like plenty of water each day, they also need well-drained soil or water will pool around the roots and cause root rot.
Make sure the pot you use has plenty of drainage holes; if not, it’s time to replace the pots as soon as possible.
Too much water around the roots also causes brown tips to develop on the leaves.
can you do it Brown tips in the coconut trees†
Unfortunately, if the tips are brown, it means that part of the plant is dead and cannot be saved or you will not be able to revive your coconut tree.
However, you can save the rest of the plant once you identify the cause and correct it immediately.
Do you cut the brown leaves? coconut plants†
Yes, it’s a good idea to trim the brown tips. Remember that cutting too much will stress your plant and make it suffer even more, so cut as little as possible.
Use clean secateurs so as not to infect the incisions.
Why are there brown spots on coconut leaves?
One of the main reasons for brown spots on coconut palm leaves is leaf spot.
There are two types of coconut leaf spot disease namely:
- brown leaf spot
- gray leaf spot
brown leaf spot
You will notice that these messages start at the top. They often affect older plants and can spread up to about 4mm in diameter.
You can barely see them at the bottom, but that’s where most of the spores grow. You can usually only see them under a microscope.
gray leaf spot
These spots are larger than brown spots and can reach 15 mm. Sometimes they seem to collide and a gray patch forms.
Rain and wind help spread these spores and cause leaf spots on your coconut tree, so it’s important to check them when it rains.
Both types of leaf spots affect older plants more than younger ones.
How to beat leaf spot in a coconut†
It’s a good idea to remove and burn infected leaves so the spores don’t spread to other healthy plants.
If you are growing your own coconut plants, make sure they are spaced far enough apart that they are not crowded, as leaf spot will affect neighboring plants.
There are fungicides that will help eradicate leaf spots, your garden center can supply you with the right one.
Cutting off your plant’s oldest leaves can also help prevent leaf spot development.
Final thoughts: How do you revive a coconut plant?
While coconut trees can take a lot of work to stay healthy, once you get your plant in place, you’ll find the battle is half won.
Proper watering every day, in well-drained potting soil, will ensure that your coconut tree never goes hungry or develops root rot.
Finally, ensuring your plant receives as much direct sunlight as possible each day will result in a plant that will beautify any home, patio or garden.
I hope all this will help you breathe new life into your coconut tree!
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to help you solve more of your gardening problems:
Palma Kentia v Palma Areca
Can I put my Kentia palm outside?
How to Fix Sago Palm Problems
How to Fix Kentia Palm Problems
Areca palm diseases and how to cure them?