The coconut palm, from the western Pacific and islands of the Indian Ocean, makes an interesting and unusual feature plant, either as a solitary specimen or as a high point in a grouping. The trunk grows directly from the nut itself, and in indoor specimens this sits on top of the soil. The leaves consist of arching fronds, each with a sheath of woven, light brown fibers.
Size: Height 5 ft. (1.5 m) or more.
Light: Indirect sunlight.
Temperature: Warm.
Moisture: Keep moist at all times.
Feeding: Give half-strength liquid fertilizer every two weeks in spring and summer.
Propagation: Not applicable.
Special needs: This plant has a limited life in the home because it resents root disturbance and, to grow well, needs an intensity of both heat and high humidity, which are usually difficult to maintain.