Dear Hans-Werner, I only plated the embryos that were plump and green. All others were discarded. I could tell that most of the seeds wouldn't have been good....had the pod gone to maturity. Nothing more discouraging than making an interesting cross only to find out that the pod is full of black pock-marked seeds. Actually, the few good seeds confirm (to me) that the cross took and that this wasn't a self, as the pod would have been full of fat seedlings if it had been a self. I guess we'll see what happens! I will try and hold off checking on them more often than weekly. Kristi

Michael, Certain wide crosses (interspecific or intergeneric) produce seemingly good embryos that don't develop, for a number of reasons, because a growing organism proceeds by chains of different organic reactions with a unique string of intermediates, and a wide hybrid can produce competing chains whose "gears clash". Frequently such embryos can be artificially coaxed to maturity by using the techniques of zygotic embryo culture. This subject was discussed in more detail in the Ways of 'growing' seed from aborted seed pods message thread. MM

Hello ftlauddude, welcome to Gardenweb! Young coconuts like your's, feed off the nutrients in the seed when sprouting.Over time as the palm matures, the seed slowly rots away in about 2-3 years.To transplant it safely, make sure the seed and the young palm are not separated or pulled.Since your seedling is still very young it shouldn't have accumulated a network of roots yet.Additional tip,bury the seedling at about the same level as when it was in the container.This is to make sure that the roots won't be too wet/dry after transplanting.

Lol, I would ask my dad, but he never ment for his coconuts to grow. When I was a kid we use to collect coconuts on the ground bc I was kid and thought it was fun, my dad would indulge me. A couple rooted and turned into tree when we weren't looking. One stands next to a pine tree, almost like conjoined twins. The other right up against the house and had to grow horizontal to find the light and then vertical. I have a couple coconuts laying around in back yard (part of props for a party) they have not done anything. I am not sure I want them to, but I kinda want to see if they will. Good luck. My dad's was just laying on the ground, not put in the ground, they just did their thing when no one was looking.