How to Grow and Care for Coconut Palm Indoors

Can You Grow Coconut Palm Inside?

If you’re looking to transport yourself to the beach—even if only in your mind—then consider growing a coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) indoors. But a word of warning: This plant is fairly finicky to keep unless you live in its natural climate.

Native to islands in the Western Pacific, the coconut palm is probably what comes to mind for many when you say the phrase “palm tree.” These trees thrive in warm, humid environments around the world.

Thus, it’s important to give your palm as much sunlight and warmth as possible when growing it indoors, along with ample humidity and moist but not soggy soil. Coconut palms also need regular fertilization.

In addition, you will have to repot your palm as it grows. It’s also ideal to bring it outside as much as possible in warm weather, so it can receive direct sunlight. The palm generally does not require much pruning to maintain its form, but you can remove dead or diseased fronds as needed.

How to Grow Coconut Palm Indoors

Sunlight

Coconut palms thrive in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. Even palms found in nature can struggle in the shade, so it’s extremely important that any indoor coconut palm receives ample sunshine.

Depending on its placement in your home, consider moving your plant’s location throughout the day to “chase” the sun and ensure proper exposure.

Artificial Light

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 of sunlight.

Temperature and Humidity

Coconut palms prefer temperatures that are at least 70 degrees. They grow best in temperatures between 85 and 95 degrees, and they might fail to thrive if the temperature dips below 64 degrees.

High 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 of the plant with warm water.

You can also keep the container on a tray of pebbles and water to raise the humidity around the plant. Just make sure the bottom of the container isn’t touching the water.

Watering

Like many plants that love warmth and humidity, the coconut palm is a thirsty tree. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.

Use a moisture meter to evaluate the soil, and just before it gets dry, saturate it with room temperature water. Make sure the container does not become waterlogged, as this can result in root rot.

Fertilizer

Feed your palm year-round with a liquid fertilizer. Coconut palms are known to have several nutrient deficiencies, including a lack of phosphorus, nitrogen, manganese, and boron.

Seek out a fertilizer blend specifically made for palm trees to supplement these losses, and follow label instructions for the amount and frequency of fertilization.

Pruning and Maintenance

Pruning of your coconut palm is only necessary when there are decaying or dead leaves. Gently cut these from the tree with a sharp knife or a pair of pruning shears.

Container and Size

Coconut palms will grow to a robust size, so start with a pot that of about three gallons. As it grows, you’ll need a pot that holds at least 10 gallons of soil.

This will need to be a quite sturdy pot to handle the pressure of the large root system, so look for something that won’t give under pressure, such as a sturdy plastic or even a well-made wooden barrel.

Potting Soil and Drainage

Coconut palms are used to growing in a variety of soil conditions and are therefore not terribly picky about their planting mixture. That said, soil that closely mimics the coconut palm’s natural environment is always best.

A well-draining palm soil mix works well for potted coconut palms. Additionally, you can add a layer of mulch to the top of the soil to help it retain moisture.

Potting and Repotting Coconut Palm

Sprouted coconuts can be potted in 3-gallon containers. Their root balls are fairly small and shallow to start, and as a result, they don’t need a lot of soil in the early growing months.

Once your coconut palm’s roots are visible through the drainage hole, it’s time to repot. Choose a pot that’s one size larger, or a few inches wider in diameter. A clay container with ample drainage holes is best to allow excess soil moisture to escape through the container walls and bottom.

Moving Coconut Palm Outdoors for the Summer

Coconut palms thrive in the heat. They want to be in temperatures of no less than 70 degrees. The hotter the better! As soon as the temperatures rise to that level, take your coconut palm outdoors. Spend a few days acclimating it to sunlight.

Considerations

Take care to keep your coconut palm safe from lower temperatures. Anything about 64 degrees or below can damage the plant.

When to Bring Coconut Palm Back Indoors

Let your coconut palm enjoy the heat and sunlight for as long as possible. When temperatures begin to dip below 64 degrees or so, it’s time to bring the tree in to avoid damage.