We will tell you useful tips How to grow a coconut tree at home. You will also learn the basic rules for caring for this exotic plant.

In order to make our home more comfortable, we grow different plants and take good care of them. But every plant is different and requires special care. Often lovers of large green flowerpots purchase a coconut palm, but not everyone knows the specifics of its care. After all, if this is done correctly, it grows big, beautiful and pleases its owners.

The origin of the coconut tree is considered to be Malaysia. Living in tropical conditions, it can grow up to 20-30 m. If the palm tree is grown in apartment conditions, then its height reaches no more than 5 m. Flowering and fruits can only be in tropical conditions, where the coconut fully grows and ripens.

You can grow a coconut tree yourself at home. This is done using a nut, a coconut fruit, which should be in a greenhouse or other warm place at a temperature of about 30 degrees. It is necessary to hold it until it sprouts, after which, place it in a pot with soil. Typically, the germination process lasts about 6 months. When a palm tree grows several centimeters, it is important to ensure optimal conditions for its growth:

• you need to grow it at a temperature of 23-26 degrees, since the coconut palm loves heat very much. In winter, the temperature should not be lower than 17 degrees, because the plant may die;
• the substrate for the coconut palm should be soft and consist half of peat and humus. It is very important when planting a nut in the ground not to completely immerse it in the soil; only its lower part should be in the ground;
• The palm tree needs to be placed in a bright place, but at the same time protected from sunlight. Also, if possible, it can be additionally illuminated special devices. This plant responds quite well to light;
• Special attention You need to pay attention to the humidity where the palm tree is located. Since it mainly lives in the tropics, it needs humidified air (about 70─80%). Therefore, if possible, spray it with water at least every other day. Make sure that water does not get on the nut, otherwise the plant will begin to rot and disappear;
• since coconut grows for a very long time, it needs feeding. For this it is best to use only organic fertilizers. This should be done no more than once a month. For older plants, it is advisable to start fertilizing in the spring and do this throughout the summer. In winter, it is recommended to leave coconut in a dormant state, since its growth process itself decreases.

After you have managed to grow a coconut at home yourself, it is now important to properly care for it so that it is beautiful and healthy. One of important points there is watering. In order to determine whether a palm tree needs water, try the top of the substrate - it should always be slightly damp. But in winter period It is best to reduce watering, while allowing the top layer of soil to become slightly dry. It is unacceptable for there to be water in the pot; its stagnation can lead to various diseases of the palm tree.

Replanting must be done every year in order for the plant to grow well. As with all indoor plants, this is best done in the spring, this best period in order to adapt to new soil. But when the palm tree reaches the age of about 3-4 years, it can no longer be touched. During this time, she becomes strong enough and needs peace in order to actively grow. It is also important to ensure good drainage for the palm tree when replanting. For this you can use sand, pebbles or granite.

A coconut palm grown at home is characterized by the appearance of dry and yellow leaves. It is recommended to cut them off immediately, as they can interfere with the growth of healthy leaves. Pruning must be done very carefully so as not to damage the nut or the trunk of the plant.

Stick to the terms and conditions proper care looking after the coconut tree is very important, because its future fate depends on it. Considering that a palm tree is exotic plant, then it can be difficult to grow it in normal conditions. Often the cause of her death is various diseases that appear when care is not taken care of, for example:

• the appearance of various insect pests;
• the appearance of various types of rot, which mainly affects the palm fruit - the nut;
• fungal diseases on leaves;
• lack of vitamin microelements, which leads to disruption of photosynthesis. A significant indicator is the change in color of palm leaves, which become pale yellow.

Video on how to properly care for a palm tree - coconut (in Latin “Cocos Nucifera”):

Growing a coconut tree at home is not difficult. Just in order for your plant to be beautiful and healthy, you need to follow some rules that will help you cope with this task. Take these into account simple tips, and your palm tree will become a subject of admiration.

Tropical plants have long ceased to be a rarity in our interiors. And we are talking not only about flowers or vines, but also about real trees. For example, a coconut tree at home can become the main decoration of the design. Anyone can grow it on their own, the main thing is to know the specifics of germination, follow the rules of planting and care, and understand that not everyone can get a beautiful plant.

Coconut palm, or Cocos nucifera, belongs to the genus Coconut, the Palm family and is considered one of the most widespread plants on planet Earth. Her homeland is Malaysia. IN natural conditions Coconut Nucifera grows up to 30 meters in height, the tree's leaves reach 6 meters in length, and its lifespan can exceed 100 years.
The indoor coconut palm is more modest in size and grows slowly in an apartment. It has long, sparse leaves grouped in pairs, which form a frond directly from the nut. The fruit, half hidden in the ground, is in a planting pot.

Indoor coconut palms look very attractive: the contrast between the half-buried nut, from which at first a slender and small tree rises, and then an increasingly elegant and interesting tree, adds to its decorativeness.

For cultivation at home from all varieties of this exotic wood The following are mainly used:

They grow a tropical beauty from a seed. More precisely, from a coconut - a spherical or oval drupe, covered with a thin but durable shell on the outside and a hard shell on the inside. Its length can reach 30 centimeters and its weight exceeds 2 kilograms. In addition, coconut palm seeds include a fleshy layer, the thickness of which is 1.2 millimeters, and coconut water. As the fruit ripens, it turns into milk and gradually hardens.

If we talk about how to grow a coconut at home, then most often a young palm tree is purchased ready-made, in a pot, since the process of its germination is quite lengthy. Not everyone has enough patience for him. And the main attention should be paid to care. In this case, it is especially important to protect the part of the coconut located above the soil surface from rotting. To do this, you need to make sure that no moisture gets on it during watering or spraying.

Coconut propagation: germination and preparation for planting

Coconut palms reproduce by seed (from seed) and shoots. The second method of coconut propagation is very rare, when an adult palm tree produces a daughter shoot. The main and almost only method of propagation at home is to grow a palm tree from an ordinary coconut (seed method).

You can buy coconut palm seeds (suitable fruit) in the store. The fruit must be unprocessed and its outer shell must not be damaged. Only a mature coconut full of liquid can germinate. Its presence can be easily determined by the characteristic gurgling sound, which is clearly audible if the fruit is shaken.

Only shelled nuts are suitable for planting. Stores sell already shelled coconuts. The top layers - exocarp and coir - are always removed before the product reaches the counter. This valuable raw material is used in industry.

Before planting the seed fruit on permanent place it needs to be germinated. There are 3 holes in the coconut shell for planting and germination - these are germination pores. They look like small depressions in the shell. Only one of them will be active, and the other two will be overgrown.

To germinate coconut, it is pre-soaked for 2-3 days in warm water. Then they are placed on a damp substrate (peat or sand) in a greenhouse or container, buried halfway and kept at a temperature of 24-25 °C. This temperature is closest to natural and optimal for germination. The nut must be placed horizontally, so that the sprout pores are on the side.

To speed up the germination process, it is recommended to keep the substrate moist. The nut itself can be periodically sprayed with warm, slightly salted water. Sea salt should be used. The container in which the nut is germinated can be wrapped plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect inside (the required temperature and humidity) and do not forget to open it daily for ventilation, otherwise the fruit may become moldy. In this way, they imitate the conditions natural for coconut germination in its habitat.

If everything is done correctly, after a certain time the nut will give roots, and green sprouts will appear from the seed. A fresh, mature nut takes 1 to 2 months to germinate. But in principle, this process can take six months. If after 5-6 months the sprouts have not appeared, it means that the fruit was unripe and there is no point in waiting any longer for it to sprout.

How to plant a coconut in a pot

After palm shoots from the coconut appear with the first 2-3 leaves, the sprouted fruit can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Before planting a coconut tree in the soil, you need to choose the “right” pot. It should be wide, twice the volume of the nut. There should be drainage holes in the bottom so that excess water can drain out. Accordingly, a pallet is also required. If there are no such holes, you will have to make them yourself.

Sprouting coconut requires patience and special conditions. If you don’t want to do this, you can always purchase young plant decorative variety in the garden center.

A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the pot (shards or expanded clay are suitable), and a substrate is poured on top. The soil should be loose and well-drained and not acidic. The best option- special soil for indoor plants mixed with sand or light loam, humus, peat mixture, sand and charcoal in a ratio of 2:2:1:1:1. Soil for tropical plants should not be sour.

Before planting sprouted coconut, the soil must be moistened. The sprouted nut is buried halfway into the soil, in the same position and to the same depth as during germination. That is, only the lower part is covered with the substrate, and the upper part remains on its surface. There is no need to separate the sprout from the nut. A young palm tree uses its stored nutrients during the first 3 years of growth.

As the tree grows and develops, its lower branches begin to die off. New ones are formed at the top of the main stem. This is how the trunk is formed over time. It is smooth, straight, and can slope slightly to the side. The trunk is surrounded by scars left by fallen leaves.

For a tropical tree you should choose appropriate place in the house. The best option– winter garden or greenhouse. But the plant can also feel comfortable on a windowsill, especially if it faces south. It is important that it receives enough light and moisture and does not suffer from cold.

Caring for a Potted Coconut Tree

To decorate the interior of your home with a beautiful exotic guest, you will have to surround her with tireless care, which is not easy. Caring for a coconut tree comes down to a few basic aspects.

Lighting

The coconut tree needs bright and continuous light all year round. Therefore, it is recommended to keep it on a southern windowsill, and when daylight hours become shorter, use additional lighting. If the light falls on a coconut tree from only one angle, its crown will form asymmetrically. To avoid this, the tub with the plant should be rotated 2 times a month.

The best lighting is diffused. Direct rays of the sun can burn a young palm tree, so in the middle of the day you should avoid direct sunlight and, although shade is contraindicated for coconut, partial shade is quite acceptable. As the tropical guest grows older, she becomes more tolerant of the persistent effects of the hot sun and in this regard, caring for her becomes easier.

Room temperature

A guest from tropical latitudes feels comfortable only in warmth. Optimal temperature air in the room where it grows varies between +23 - + 280 C and should not fall below this level. At the same time, the palm tree needs an influx of fresh air, so it is important to provide it with regular ventilation.

If the air temperature drops to +16 °C and below, palm growth will stop. The plant will withstand a short-term drop to 0 degrees, but sub-zero temperature guaranteed to die.

Watering

In the process of caring for coconut, it is important to strictly adhere to the watering regime. Short-term or long-term drought is just as harmful to coconut as excessive moisture.

The frequency of watering depends on the time of year:

• From mid-spring to late summer, it is important to prevent the soil from drying out. The soil in the pot should always be moist at this time;
• from early autumn to late winter, the plant is watered as the soil dries.

It is important that the air in the room is always humid. The best way The solution to this problem will be drip irrigation, as well as the installation of a special humidifier. You can also prepare a solution sea ​​salt and periodically moisten the air with it. For any water procedures You can only use soft, settled water at room temperature.

Feeding

Excessive feeding of the coconut palm is not required, but it should not be neglected. With a lack of nutrients, coconut loses its decorative appearance.

The feeding scheme can be chosen from two options:

1. Once a year, in early spring, place granulated fertilizer into the substrate. Over the course of a year, it will slowly dissolve, releasing the beneficial substances the palm tree needs into the soil.
2. From the beginning of April to the end of August, once every 3 weeks, feed the plant with a specialized solution for palm trees.

Trimmings

There is no need to artificially form a crown or trim the leaves of a coconut tree. The need for cutting arises only if the leaf is completely dry or broken.
Leaves that turn yellow, dry out, or change color do not need to be removed. Until they completely dry out, the plant takes from them nutrients. To maintain decorativeness, you can trim off the shrunken ends if they have turned brown, and it is better to leave the leaf itself.

The palm tree does not need to form a crown, but it is necessary to clean the plant of dried leaves. It is important to remove only completely dry ones, without touching those that are just beginning to change color.

How to replant a coconut tree at home

Periodically, the coke palm is transplanted into a larger pot. There may be several reasons to transplant a tropical beauty. And each of them has its own characteristics.

As you grow

You can determine that the plant has become cramped in the pot by the following signs:

1. The palm tree stops growing.
2. Water stagnates in a tub on the surface of the substrate.
3. The roots are sticking out.

Young plants are usually replanted once a year, in April. By this time, the coconut, as a rule, has fully adapted to the new growing conditions. The soil around the roots and the shell are preserved. Adult palm trees that have dropped their nuts require replanting once every 2-3 years.

When the palm tree becomes 5-6 years old, replanting is stopped, and instead, high-quality humus is added to a tub on the surface of the soil.

The new pot should exceed the old one in volume by at least 5-6 centimeters (15-20% more in volume than the previous one). The transplantation procedure is standard: the tree together with the lump old land transfer to another container and fill the free volume with new soil. To prevent damage to the coconut, this must be done carefully, without damaging the trunk and roots. When transferring a coconut palm from one pot to another, it is also important to ensure that the nut goes no more than halfway into the soil.

If the plant is purchased already grown in a pot, its replanting at home is planned for the coming spring. In the future, it can be replanted according to the standard scheme - once every 2 years.

To replace soil

If the substrate has deteriorated or become too old, which, in general, is the same thing, the palm tree also needs to be replanted. The poor condition of the soil can be determined by white plaque on a surface, unpleasant smell, poor water absorption.

In this case, the pot is taken the same size. You can leave the old pot, after washing it and treating it with an antifungal solution.

If the plant rots

It looks like this: the soil in the pot is moist, even if it is not watered, the trunk easily becomes loose; the soil is constantly wet, it comes from the palm tree bad smell, from a light touch its trunk staggers.

The first thing to do in this case is to cut off the rotting roots. During such a transplant, you also don’t have to change the pot or take another container of the same size.

Diseases and pests of homemade coconut

Coconuts at home most often suffer from various types rot, mealybugs, as well as spider mites and scale insects. If growing techniques are followed, diseases and pests rarely affect coconuts. As a rule, the catalyst for their development is improper watering.

There are few serious diseases in coconut palms, these are:

1. Phytoplasma infection. This is an incurable disease. It can be diagnosed by appearance crown - it turns yellow from bottom to top. It will not be possible to save the palm tree; it will have to be burned.
2. Pink and black rot (spore damage). The tree becomes weak, leaves and shoots begin to rot. If the process is neglected, the trunk also rots. Depending on the type of infection, putrefactive masses are dark brown, black or pink.

The plant is treated with fungicides: treatment once every 7 days until complete recovery.

If the coconut tree is maintained correctly, problems rarely occur, but any disturbances in humidity and temperature become catalysts for the development of diseases and the proliferation of pests.

Owners of homemade coconuts may also encounter the following problems:

• The leaves are withering. The reason may be that the ambient temperature is too low.
• The leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out. To prevent the coconut from turning yellow, it is important to follow the watering regime.
• The tree is not growing. Palm tree growth may stop due to improper fertilization or too small a pot.
• Curling of leaves. Occurs with excess or deficiency of moisture.

Growing a coconut tree at home is not an easy task, but it is incredibly exciting. Tropical beauty is a demanding and capricious plant. But if you strictly follow the rules of care, she will live in your apartment for a long time, and even in the coldest winters, next to her you will be as if on a warm sea coast.

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Coconut palm - in Sanskrit means “the tree that provides everything you need in life.” In fact, the benefits of the coconut tree are all-encompassing.

The leaves of this palm tree, very hard and durable (resistant to tearing under the influence of winds), are used to cover the roofs of local houses and make various household items - baskets, hammocks, brushes. Leaf petioles are used in construction as the skeleton of the roof. And the wooden trunk of a palm tree is used as a construction raw material for the production of house walls. Coconut shells are used to make pots, a variety of utensils and decorations made by local artists. Palm fruits are widely used in cooking, cosmetology, and medicine.

Where does the coconut tree grow and what does it look like?

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is a powerful tree, lives for more than 100 years, with a straight trunk, up to 30 m high, crowned with thirty to forty large (4-5 m) feathery leaves. Unisexual flowers are collected in separate short inflorescences appearing from the axils of the leaves, and since the inflorescences grow from the corner of each new developing leaf, in approximately a monthly rhythm, almost all year round can be collected from the tree, sequentially ripening fruits. Almost a year passes from fertilization of the flower to the full ripening of the fruit., which also allows you to collect nuts at different stages of maturity.

The origin of the coconut palm is not fully understood, but most likely it comes from either the islands of Polynesia and Indonesia, or from East Africa. Already in very early historical eras, about 4000 years ago, the cultivation of this palm spread to many countries outside the original zone. It is said that sea currents carried coconuts throughout the Indian and Pacific Ocean. This theory is not reliable, but has many supporters, since it is a fact that the fruits of the coconut palm can drift up to 4,500 km across the sea while remaining viable. Currently, the coconut palm is widely distributed in both cultivated and wild forms in the tropical zones of both hemispheres. It loves the warm sea climate and often grows even on salty coastal sands.

How coconuts are harvested (video)

Fruit

The fruit of the coconut palm, from a botanical point of view, is a drupe, but since its design resembles Walnut, then received the name coconut (often called simply coconut). A mature coconut weighs 2 to 4 kg, is 20 to 35 cm long and 15 to 20 cm in diameter. The outer soft shell of the coconut is 5 to 10 cm thick and consists of closely intertwined fibers called coir. They are lightweight and abrasion-resistant, and their length ranges from 15 to 30 cm.

The coir of young nuts is tender and soft. A favorite treat for children who love to chew and suck it. But, above all, coir is of industrial importance, since the fibers of which it is composed are very strong, durable, elastic and do not rot for a very long time under the influence of ordinary and sea water. It is used to make ropes for marine vessels, fabrics, runners and carpets. Arab travelers wrote about coir products in Java already in the 11th century, and Marco Polo two centuries later. Currently, most industrial products made from coir are produced in India.

If you remove mature coir from a coconut, you get a spherical, slightly elongated shape, nut. At one end of the nut there are three holes covered with a thin membrane through which the seed can germinate. Inside it is filled with a 1-2 cm dense and hard layer of the nut kernel. The rest of the inside of the nut is filled with coconut juice, clear or slightly cloudy, reminiscent of diluted milk, which is why it is called coconut milk.

Europeans became interested in palm only in the mid-19th century, when coconut oil began to be used to make soap, and then as a cooking oil, mainly for frying and for the production of margarines.

Useful and healing properties of coconut

Coconuts are very important from a commercial and nutritional point of view, and in some areas of the world they represent the staple food of the population. Coconut is a nut whose health effects are valued not only by its lovers, but also by scientists. No wonder - coconut pulp is rich in fiber, contains potassium, magnesium and phosphorus, as well as folic acid. However, the most important ones are the saturated fatty acids contained in coconut pulp.

These are not the saturated fatty acids found in most animal products, called long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which contribute to increased cholesterol levels and the development of atherosclerosis. The saturated fatty acids found in coconut are medium chain triglycerides.(MCT), which are metabolized completely differently. Due to the fact that their molecules are smaller, their metabolism process is faster. The presence of enzymes that take part in the metabolism of LCT fats, that is, lipase and bile, is not required. MCT acids bypass the fat cells of the gastrointestinal tract, entering directly into the portal vein. Thanks to this, they are not stored as a reserve material, but are a quickly accessible source of energy.

100 g of coconut contains a large amount of lauric acid (15.3 g), as well as 5.06 g of myristic acid. Coconut palm fruits are rich in natural amino acids (data per 100 g):

• isoleucine - 121 mg;
• leucine - 233 mg;
• lysine - 140 mg;
• phenylalanine - 158 mg;
• valine - 186 mg;
• arginine - 513 mg;
• alanine - 158 mg;
• aspartic acid - 308 mg;
• glutamic acid - 708 mg;
• glycine - 149 mg;
• proline - 130 mg;
• serine - 158 mg.

Ripe coconut kernels contain about 50% water, 25-35% fat, 4% protein and 8% sugar. They are very nutritious not only because of their high calorie content, but also because of the exceptional quality of the protein they contain.

How to choose the right coconut

In the store, before purchasing, you should carefully examine the “nuts”. There should be no white spots on the coconut. You should also carefully examine its three holes. Check that they are all rigid and sealed. A soft hole in a coconut does not bode well. The nut is damaged and the water has turned sour (smell and color of spoiled whey). If you shake a coconut, you should hear the sound of water. The more water, the fresher it is.

How to open a coconut (video)

What is the name and benefits of coconut pulp?

The hard endosperm of a coconut, dried in the sun or in an oven, is called copra. Copra contains only 7% water, while 60-70% fat, 14% sugar and 7% protein. It is ground into flakes, shavings or coconut flour, which have great application in baking and confectionery.

As you know, a person cannot limit himself to vegetable protein, but he must consume at least a small amount of animal protein every day. So, coconut protein can completely replace animal proteins in the diet, and because of this, coconut is a particularly important raw material Food Industry in a vegetarian diet.

A very valuable product is obtained from copra, used in the food industry and in technology, which, due to its consistency, is called coconut oil. It, at temperatures below 20-26 ° C, has a constant consistency reminiscent of butter, and at higher temperatures high temperature liquid. good, fresh coconut oil is pure white, has a light taste and a delicate, distinctive smell.

In countries where the coconut palm is grown on a large scale, especially Indonesia, coconut flakes or simply grated fresh coconut kernels are added to all types of dishes, especially rice fried in coconut oil.

How to open a coconut and extract the pulp

Having bought a coconut, of course, you need to open it. To do this following a certain order of actions is quite simple:

1. in the place where coconut seeds germinate there are three small holes, using a corkscrew or a sharp knife you need to punch two of them, then pour the coconut milk into a bowl;
2. To make it easier to open the nut, you can put it in a warm oven for a few minutes. After cooling, place it on a board and hit it with a meat mallet at a distance of one third from the eyes to the opposite end;
3. turning the coconut, continue to strike until the fruit splits;
4. in order to separate the pulp from the shell, you need to insert a knife blade between them and carefully pry it off;
5. coconut is ready!

You can drink the milk straight away or mix it with alcohol or other juices to form a drink. You can also use it to prepare dishes with a tropical aftertaste. For the first time, it is better to drink real coconut juice in small sips, because the real taste of coconut is significantly different from the synthetic ones that many have become accustomed to. The pulp is eaten in strips or dried and ground into shavings. It is used mainly in cooking, as the main accent of a dish or decoration.

Use of coconut in cooking

Coconut oil – can be used instead of butter for bread or for frying dishes in a pan. Due to its low melting point (26 degrees Celsius), it is suitable as a base for sauces.

Coconut water effectively quenches thirst due to its magnesium and calcium content. A coconut drink should be drunk immediately after training to replenish fluids.

Grated coconut– will perfectly complement a sweet dessert. It can also be added to a healthy fruit and milk shake.

Fresh coconut– satisfies hunger well. Quickly metabolized fats will replenish energy, and fiber will give you a feeling of fullness. 200 g of coconut contains 18 g of fiber, which is two thirds daily requirement.

Coconut milk– can be used to prepare Thai dishes or added to aromatic morning coffee, resulting in a depth of coconut flavor. Coconut milk is also used for smoothies, cakes and creams. The thick part of coconut milk can be whipped into cream for use in desserts.

Coconut sugar– despite the fact that it lacks the taste of coconut, it has a slight caramel note. Diamond as a replacement for regular white sugar as it has a lower glycemic index.

Valuable minerals and an exceptionally valuable type of medium-saturated acids will certainly enrich the daily menu.

Coconut oil in cosmetology

In the cosmetic industry, pure oil is used for body or massage, as a cosmetic additive for very dry and flaky skin. Also used for mature, sun-damaged skin and in preparations for the care of dry and damaged hair.

Hair oil

It acts on the hair and scalp, penetrating deep and delivering beneficial fatty acids, vitamins and minerals: magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron. Restores hair scales, making them elastic. Thanks to this, the hairstyle takes on beautiful view, and the ends stop splitting. The oil also has a good effect on the scalp, preventing the destruction of hair follicles and preventing the formation of dandruff.

Apply the oil to damp hair, then put on a foil cap and wrap your head in a towel. Leave the oil on your hair for at least 2 hours or, to achieve best result, leave overnight and then wash your hair thoroughly.

The oil can also be used without rinsing. However, you should be careful with the amount so as not to burden your hair. A drop of oil, rubbed with your fingers and applied to the ends of your hair, is an excellent treatment. Treatment can be applied 2-3 times a week.

Coconut oil for face

A little oil should be warmed between your fingers and applied to slightly damp skin of the face, neck, décolleté and area around the eyes. In case of very dry skin, coconut oil can be used as a makeup remover.

Healing recipes with coconut

• Coconut is used in healing all over the world. various diseases: ulcers, asthma, bronchitis, injuries, burns, colds, constipation, kidney stones and many others.
• Coconut oil, due to the construction of its molecules, does not have a negative effect on cholesterol levels and helps in protection against heart disease, which gives it a unique position among fats.
• Reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
• Acts as a protective antioxidant, protecting the body from free radical damage that causes premature aging and degenerative diseases.

Coconut - fruit of the coconut palm

Used externally, promotes wound healing, slows down the appearance of spots on the skin, and has a softening effect on skin diseases (for example, eczema). Apply as a serum or mask.

Coconut water

According to many, this liquid can be considered the elixir of eternal youth and health. Coconut water is nothing more than the endosperm of the kernels of not quite ripe, green coconuts, which looks like a clear liquid. Each fruit can contain from 200 ml to a liter of drink.

Extremely rich in essential elements and minerals for life - for example, contains more electrolytes than most sports drinks. Lots of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. It is also a very rich source of potassium - 100 ml of the drink contains more than two bananas. A real treasure trove of B vitamins. Coconut water contains a lot of vitamin C. Coconut water mixes easily with blood and is quickly absorbed by the human body.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil contains so-called MCT fats. They are highly digestible, saturated fats that the body digests more easily than other fatty acids. Stimulates metabolism. Coconut oil contains lauric acid. This acid is converted in the human body into monolaurin. This substance has antiviral and antibacterial characteristics. Overcomes without special labor, in particular, influenza viruses, hepatitis C viruses. Lauric acid is non-toxic, due to this, it is an excellent alternative for drugs used for viral diseases and bacterial infections.

Coconut flour

Coconut flour is obtained from the hard parts of the nut, which are ground into a fine powder. It contains more protein than wheat, rye or corn flour. Due to its high fiber content and relatively small amount of carbohydrates, it does not cause sudden spikes in blood sugar levels. This makes it ideal for diabetics. Also ideal for people who are gluten intolerant.

According to various studies, including coconut flour in your diet can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels. It has a delicate aroma and taste of coconut. Great for sauces and baked goods such as muffins, pancakes and pies.

Useful properties of coconut (video)

Contraindications and harms of coconut

There are no contraindications. An exception can be considered individual intolerance.

There are few plants so comprehensively used by man as the coconut palm. The coconut palm is justifiably of great economic importance, and many of its properties have not been fully studied. This is truly a tree of a thousand uses.

In order for a coconut tree to grow beautiful at home, you need to know the intricacies of caring for it and the characteristics of reproduction. The coconut palm during the flowering period has beautiful flowers yellow in color, which are collected in ears and hang from the top of the plant. Grown indoor plant can complement the interior of any style.

A short coconut tree will live longer than a tall variety

Under natural conditions, the coconut palm reaches 30 m in height, and at home more than 6 m. Nut-bearing coconut is suitable for growing in a pot; it is advisable to find a low-growing form of the plant, since a tall coconut will live at home for no more than seven years.

Features of reproduction

How to grow a coconut tree at home:

1. For propagation, coconut seeds are used, i.e., a palm fruit that is covered with a shell.
2. To grow coconut at home, you need to take a ripe, unprocessed fruit. In order for a nut-bearing coconut to germinate, a fruit with a large amount of juice is selected; for this, the nut must be shaken to hear gurgling.
3. Before planting a coconut, it needs to be soaked for 2-3 days in clean water, creating conditions that are as close as possible to the natural environment. Coconut palm nuts can float in the ocean for a year without losing their ability to germinate.
4. The coconut tree reproduces in warm conditions, the temperature must be maintained at approximately 30 °C.
5. In order for cultivation to be successful, you need to create greenhouse or greenhouse conditions by covering the soil with coconut in a plastic bag.
6. We plant the sprout in a loose soil mixture, the best substrate for flowering plants, which is diluted in a 1:1 ratio with coarse sand. You can add humus or fine peat.
7. The container for planting should be 2 times the size of the fruit. In such a pot, you need to pave a drainage layer and a hole to ensure the exit of excess water.

Coconuts need warmth and moisture to germinate.

Features of care

Often amateur gardeners are faced with the question of how to grow coconut at home. To do this, you need to know how to properly care for the plant.

Lighting

The nut-bearing coconut must be placed in a place where there is a sufficient amount of sunlight, but the plant must be protected from direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation, since their direct contact can lead to curling and drying of the leaves.

A good place to place a coconut tree would be a balcony or a spacious hall.

If the room's windows face south, then it is necessary to shade it a little. In case of poor lighting, additional lighting must be provided for the young tree.

Temperature and humidity

In the room where the coconut tree grows, the air temperature should not be lower than 15 °C. If the temperature is less than this, the coconut may die.

Humidity level necessary for the plant, should not fall below 75%. In winter, it is necessary to take care of additional humidity in the room. The water that is sprayed on the tree should not fall on the nut itself, only on the foliage.

Features of transplantation

If the coconut tree is young, you should transplant it into a clay pot and water the soil daily. When the plant grows, it can be transplanted into a larger pot and preserve the lump of earthen mixture. At the age of five, it is not recommended to replant a coconut; high-quality humus should be added to the soil surface. This will allow the plant to develop faster.

Trimming

A particularly important part of caring for a homemade coconut growing in a pot is regular pruning. The pruning process involves removing broken and dead branches and leaves. If the leaves have slightly changed their color or darkened, then you should not remove them, because the coconut is pulled out of sheet plates necessary nutrients.

Fertilizer and feeding

Coconut does not grow very quickly, so it needs to absorb a lot of micronutrients to thrive. Substances of organic origin are used as fertilizing. Feeding should be done at least once a month.

The most favorable way to introduce feeding substances is spring period. The plant should be fertilized regularly throughout the summer months.

In the warm season, coconut requires monthly feeding

Diseases and pests

If you don't care for your coconut palm well, sooner or later the plant will get sick. With excessive watering, various fungal infectious processes develop, resulting in root system begins to rot. Coconut can also be affected by pests:

• scale insect;
• mites;
• mealybugs.

For effective fight used with pests chemicals, which can be used in conditions home grown.

Caring for coconut at home is a rather complex and time-consuming task. If you follow a number of recommendations, you can grow a healthy and beautiful coconut tree without any problems.

The coconut palm is the only species of the Coconut genus of the Palmaceae or Arecaceae family. The origin of the name “coconut” is associated with the times of the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama due to the similarity of the nuts to the face of a monkey (soso). Malaysia is believed to be its homeland. Another name for the tree is lithocarium.

At home, with appropriate conditions and care, a coconut palm grows up to 6 meters. But in an unsuitable room it can withstand no more than two years. This plant is light-loving, so it feels more comfortable in winter gardens and greenhouses.

Edible oval ones are especially valued, large fruits(nuts) weighing up to 2.5 kg. In nature, the harvest is harvested twice - in the first half of summer and at the end of autumn. One tree produces an average of one hundred fruits per season.

In greenhouse conditions it is rarely possible to obtain a harvest. The domestic coconut palm is grown as an ornamental plant.

Interesting! Palm trees often grow on sea coasts; their nuts, thanks to their waterproof shell, can “travel” over long distances on the waves, while remaining edible and without losing their germination.

Varieties, varieties and forms with photos

Of the dozens of varieties of coconut palms (regular and dwarf), only a few can be grown at home:

Growing a coconut tree at home

Growing a coconut palm at home is done with the help of a fruit or nut. To the question of how many seeds are in a coconut palm fruit, there is a clear answer - only one. The process of its germination can last up to six months.

Only ripe, unpeeled fruit is suitable for germination. There should be a lot of liquid inside it. Before planting, the fruit is soaked for at least three days. For successful germination you need special conditions: temperature close to 30 degrees. It is best to keep it in a greenhouse with constantly high humidity.

When a sprout appears from the nut, the fruit is placed in a container with soil, while its upper part remains above the ground.

Conditions for growing seedlings:

Reproduction and how germination is carried out

There are two main methods for germinating seeds:

• In a container. It is often used in nurseries. Seeds in large quantities placed in a large container. At home, you can put it in a greenhouse. The plants are easy to monitor and can be selectively transplanted into individual containers.

• Germination in a closed bag. This method is more suitable for growing palm trees at home. In this case, seeds planted in moist (but not wet) peat are placed in a plastic bag, which is placed next to the heater. In addition to warmth, they need good lighting, ventilation and moderate humidification.

The composition and structure of the soil is especially important for young plants. It should be a light, well-drained mixture (preferably sandy loam) with a pH of 5.5-8. A successful composition would be equal parts of turf and leaf soil, humus, perlite, peat and tree bark. You can even grow palm trees in sand, but then pay special attention to feeding them.

Coconut can be sprouted at home in a bag or container.

Sometimes a palm tree produces daughter plants.

Reproduction by shoots is carried out as follows:

• They are separated from a mature plant by cutting without disturbing its roots.
• The shoot is planted in a peat-sand substrate and covered with a transparent greenhouse.
• Rooting lasts up to 12 weeks. At this time they are watered little.
• When a new shoot appears, the plant is ventilated daily, gradually increasing the time.
• After the final removal of the greenhouse, watering is increased more frequently, and the seedlings are fed with organic matter once a month during watering.
• The palm tree is transplanted into a large container next spring.

Interesting! The term "coconut" is not accurate. In reality, it is a drupe fruit with an outer, fibrous shell and an inner hard shell. It is equipped with three pores and three ovules. Only from one of them does the seed develop.

Features of home care

To grow a coconut palm, the following conditions are required:

Important. To avoid one-sidedness, the palm tree is turned twice a month.

Transplanting a plant

Young plants for better growth replanted annually. They do this in mid-spring. The new container should be only a couple of centimeters or 10% larger than the previous one.

The plant is removed from the tub with a lump of earth, only damaged roots are removed. The palm tree is planted at the same depth as before. Earth mixture and the drainage layer should be the same as in the old place. If the roots are exposed or damaged during transplantation, then for better survival in the new place, some of the leaves of the palm tree are cut off.

Perennials that have reached 3-4 years of age are replanted only if necessary. A mature palm tree does not like to have its peace disturbed and its roots damaged. In response, it may stop growing.

Reference. It is interesting to know how long a coconut tree grows. Under natural conditions, tall varieties develop up to 80 years, and dwarf varieties - up to 40 years. In residential areas good care they continue to grow for 2-3 decades.

A grown palm tree must be replanted every year.

Diseases and pests of coconut trees and methods of combating them

Potted coconut trees can be affected by pests: scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs, thrips. Preventive measures include wet wiping of leaves. Young plants are “bathed” in a warm solution of Persian chamomile or green soap, and after some time they are washed off.

Pest control measures:

1. From scale insects and mealybug get rid of mechanical cleaning with a hard sponge and soap, spraying with a tobacco solution or (1 ml per liter of water).
2. From spider mite A warm shower, a soap solution, an infusion of citrus peel or the same concentration of Actellik helps.
3. In case of defeat powdery mildew isolate diseased plants and pollinate them wet with sulfur powder, repeating the treatment after 10 days.
4. Thrips and aphids are eliminated by spraying with 3% chlorophos or infusions of tobacco and ash.

Treatments with home remedies are also effective: infusions of chamomile, mustard, potato tops, onions, garlic and others. They are done three times with weekly breaks.

If the palm tree has been attacked by pests, the leaves are treated with special preparations.

Excessive watering threatens fungal diseases:

1. Yellowing of the crown is often an indicator of infection with phytoplasmosis. In this case, diseased plants are destroyed.
2. Black root rot, spotting, pink rot affect weakened plants. The leaves rot, the shoots wither, the trunk turns black, and pink spores appear. Fungicides based on thiophanate or methyl help against diseases. Spraying with preparations is carried out at weekly intervals until the plants recover.

You can see in the video detailed process germinating coconut at home.