Coco palms

[rbonplaza]

We just picked up four sprouted coco palms from some friends. We're only here until Tuesday and want to get these babies in or on the ground to keep growing. They're about three feet tall and aren thinking we could place them and pile on some cinder to cover the roots. No pick to dig a hole yet. Suggestions appreciated, but we may do this when we get back from the dive potluck. We're on 40th in Orchidland.

[Nate SC]

I have a place in orchidland near 40th too. if you want to get rid of them let me know.

[rbonplaza]

No Nate. Ed's been fixated on planting coco palms before we move over and our long-time friends said "by the way, we picked up some three foot sprouted cocos at the greenwaste recycling. Do you want some?" He jumpted at the chance. I'm sure they are not hard to find and are slow growing, so we are not going to be getting rid of them. If we find more, would be glad to share!! Where are you near 40th?

[missydog1]

They should be fine with minimal protection. If you're not ready to plant them, why not throw them in pots with cinder.

They're not that slow-growing. We grew several from sprouts that are huge in less than four years, whereas the arecas and triangles we planted take a lot longer to grow from inception.

I want to get rid of the coco palms I have now. They're a liability once they start producing nuts -- skull-crushing nuts falling from the sky.

My neighbor was telling me that there are very few people who will trim them, and those who do charge a lot. I also know someone who fell out of the tree while he was trimming one (not a pro, but not an amateur either) -- the ladder fell away actually. Now his back is broken and he can't work ...

With any tree you plant here, think about the maintenance once it's mature. Here in the tropics, that day isn't far in your future. At least don't plant them where the nuts could fall on people or vehicles.

[rbonplaza]

Kathy, you are right on with our thoughts. We talked about where they should go to be away from killing us and denting cars. Luckily we have a lot of space- six acres- and can put them in a non-dangerous area. Palm maintenance is an issue though. We have 60' palms in our parking strip in San Jose. The city hires a huge cherry-picker every two years to trim them.

[Hotzcatz]

Carey, that "rock crushing wedge pole thingy" is an o'o bar. Much faster to say and a very useful tool for lava rock! I think o'o has to do with "digging" in Hawaiian. It might even be the literal translation, but I'm not sure.

Rbonplaza, if you and Ed don't have any dirt to plant the coconuts in, you could try putting them on the ground and then covering them with some newspaper that is arranged to catch and hold rain. Then cover the whole thing with cinders so the newspaper doesn't blow away. You can also get mulch from the transfer station in Hilo. A couple garbage bags full of mulch over the coconuts would probably keep them happy between rains.

If you need more sprouted coconuts, just come by. We have loads of them. There is a big bunch of bamboo under the coconut trees so all the nuts fall in the bamboo and then they try to sprout. Since folks aren't walking in the bamboo, that also keeps the coconuts from falling on folks' heads.

Last week my DH and I were just sitting around in the back yard and the dogs were playing with a coconut. They got the husk off so we cracked it open for them. I never knew dogs liked to eat coconut! The chickens came over for their share too. If the cat was around we could have tried to see if the cat wanted some, but we will have to save that experiment for another day.

[rbonplaza]

Mahalo to all for the great advice and info. We'll let you know how we did when we return next!

[rbonplaza]

Well, we got all four "planted" using all of the advice we had time to today, our last day. Hoping.... Mahalo again!

[Nate SC]

Ohhhh !!!! my mistake. We have 6 acres on Auli'i. I planted some palms a few years ago using both methods. I punched holes in the lava and planted in a raised bed.