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We’ve all seen those beautiful plants that grow from huge seeds, and we know them as coconuts.
Normally they grow in tropical countries such as the coast of Florida or the Caribbean Islands.
It is nice to know that if you really fancy having a coconut plant in your garden, it can be done.
One thing to remember about growing a coconut plant is that if you can replicate the perfect conditions they would normally grow in, you may find yourself with a plant almost 100 feet tall!
Thankfully, we can’t always replicate the conditions so our coconut plants will be smaller than this.
There are certain conditions that your coconut palm will need to thrive and be revived, namely bright indirect sun but can tolerate direct sunlight, well drained soil, and a pH of neutral to acidic.
To also help revive your coconut plant, keep the water moist and the plant at the temperatures of around 20-24°C.
Why is Your Coconut Palm Plant Dying?
There are several reasons why your coconut palm may start to die:
- Root rot
- Spider mites
- Mould on the soil
- Too little humidity
- Leaf disease
- Cold temperatures
Root Rot
Your coconut plant does not enjoy having wet feet. In fact, it will be decidedly unhappy because excess water around the roots will cause root rot.
Signs of root rot include leaves which seem to go yellow overnight, stunted growth, and a brown, rotting base of the plant.
If you remove the plant from the soil you will find that the root ball has turned – or is turning to mush.
Spider Mites
These little pests are almost invisible, but spider mites do a horrendous amount of damage to the plant because they suck the chlorophyll from the leaves.
If you turn the leaf over and look down the rib underneath you may see small webs and little yellow lumps.
Mould on the Soil
This is normally caused by two things, namely not enough light and too much water.
Although mould itself will not kill your plant, it can become a home for pests which will damage your plant.
To remove the mould, you simply scoop out the top 2 inches of soil and replace it with a fresh mix.
If light is the issue then you will need to find a different area where the coconut plant gets more direct light.
Too Little Humidity
You will know that this is the issue with your coconut plant when the tips of the leaves start to turn brown and yellow.
Again, while this may not kill your plant, it does give the plant an unsightly look. If it is not rectified than all new growth will be affected.
You can increase the humidity around the plant by misting it frequently or placing a pebble tray which you keep filled with water.
Leaf Disease
The coconut plant is susceptible to several types of leaf spot disease. All of them affect the plant in much the same way, that is to develop spores on the leaves and slowly infect the plant.
The best way to deal with this issue is to remove the infected areas. Washing the leaves on a regular basis will help to keep fungi at bay.
It is important that you do not have an infected plant close to a healthy plant as it will also become infected.
Cold Temperatures
Your coconut plant will need to live in temperatures between 64° – 86°F.
If the temperature drops below this there is a great chance that the plant will die. If it does not die,
you will see stunted growth and blackened leaves.
If you are enjoying this article, you may be interested in our article on how do you save an overwatered palm tree.
How do you Revive a Coconut Plant?
There are three main ways to revive a coconut plant.
While your plant may die due to disease, it is one or more of these ways which most commonly kills coconut plants; light, water and humidity.
Light
To grow properly your coconut plant needs full sunlight. In fact, they will never do well unless they have full direct sunlight every day.
Never be tempted to place your plant in half shade and half sunlight as it will not do well.
The only exception to this rule is if you have a relatively immature plant when you may do this until it is accustomed to full sunlight.
Water
The coconut plant drinks gallons of water every day! The soil needs to be continuously moist although it must also drain away to stop water clogging at the roots and causing root rot.
To give you an idea of the amount of water your plant needs, in the natural environment the plant will use between 55 to 110 litres of water each day!
Humidity
The natural climate of the coconut plant is very humid, and this is what they need. IN winter when the air is dry you will need to mist the plant every day.
You should also place a pebble bath at the base to keep the air around the plant moist and humid.
Why are Your Coconut Palm Leaves Drying?
One of the main causes for coconut palm leaves to dry is the air around it. The air is most likely to be too dry for the plant.
Remember – your coconut palm comes from the tropics and dry air will do it no good at all.
Another reason for dry leaves is that the room it is in does not provide enough light or warmth. The lack of either of these tow conditions will cause the leaves to dry and even become brittle.
How do you Fix Dry Leaves on Coconut Plants?
It is important that you change the conditions around the plant. You must introduce some extra humidity to the area.
You can do this by adding a pebble dish at the base and keeping it filled with water and you can also mist the plant every day with water from a spray bottle.
If the area is not in full sunlight then you should move the plant elsewhere so that it gets full sun every day for as long as possible.
Why are Your Coconut Plant Leaves Turning Brown?
If your coconut palm tree does not receive enough water the leaves will turn brown. A lack of water will first affect the roots from where the water flows to the leaves.
The last place to receive water are the tips of the leaves, so if they are turning brown, it is a sure sign that the plant is not getting enough water.
How do you Fix Brown Tips on Coconut Plants?
If you want to save the plant you must change the watering routine.
Although they like heaps of water every day, they also need well-drained soil otherwise the water will gather around the roots and cause root rot.
Make sure that the pot you are using has plenty of drainage holes, if not, it is time to change pots as soon as possible.
Too much water around the roots will also cause the leaves to have brown tips.
Can you Save the Brown Tips on Coconut Plants?
Unfortunately, once the tips have turned brown it means that part of the plant has died, and it cannot be saved or you cannot revive your coconut plant.
However, you can save the rest of the plant once you identify the cause and rectify it right away.
Do you Cut Brown Leaves Off on Coconut Plants?
Yes, it is a good idea to cut the brown tips off. Remember that if you cut too much off you will stress your plant and it will suffer even more, so cut as little off as possible.
Use clean secateurs so that the incisions do not become infected.
Why are There Brown Spots on Your Coconut Palm Leaves?
One of the main reasons for brown spots on coconut palm leaves is leaf spot disease.
There are two types of leaf spot for coconut palms, namely:
- Brown leaf spot
- Grey leaf spot
Brown leaf spot
You will notice that these posts start off on the upper surface. The often affect older plants and can spread to about 4mm wide.
You may have difficulty seeing them on the under-side, but this is where most of the spores develop. Normally you can only see them with a microscope.
Grey leaf spot
These spots are bigger than brown spots and can be up to 15mm in size. Sometimes they seem to run into each other and create a grey blob.
Both rain and wind will help to spread these spores and cause leaf spot on your coconut palm, so it is important to check for them during wet weather.
Both types of leaf spot seen to affect older plants more than younger plants.
How do you Control Leaf Spot on a Coconut Plant?
It is a good idea to remove the infected leaves and burn them so that the spores cannot spread to other healthy plants.
If you are growing your own coconut seedlings then you should make sure that you have them spaced far enough apart so that they are not crowded as leaf spot will affect any plants close by.
There are fungicides which will help to eradicate leaf spot, your garden centre will be able to supply you with the right one.
Keeping the older leaves trimmed on your plant may also help to prevent leaf spots from developing.
Final Thoughts: How do you Revive a Coconut Plant?
While coconut palms may seem to need a lot of work to keep them healthy, once you have placed your plant in a position it is happy you will find that the battle is half won.
Supplying enough water every day, in a well-drained soil mix will ensure that your coconut palm never goes hungry and does not develop root rot.
Finally, ensuring that your plant receives as much natural direct sunlight as possible every day will give you a plant which graces any home, patio, or garden.
Hope all this well help you revive your coconut plant!
Before you go, here are some more related articles I encourage you to read below to help solve more of your gardening issues:
Can I Put my Kentia Palm Outdoors
How to Fix your Sago Palm Problems
How to Fix your Kentia Palm Problems
Areca Palm Diseases and How to Cure Them
