I would spray it with some insecticidal soap and a fumgicide. I'm not sure what that is but I don't like the looks of it.

I would cut that stem off if it was me. Looks bad and put some fungicide on it.

orchiddude and andyandy,

Funny how us palm people think alike, isn't it? After potting the coco up yesterday, I applied some Immunox to the bad place, and will give the whole plant a good second 'bath' in the stuff this morning.

It's pretty obvious that stem was seriously injured at some point. I'm just hoping that it was some type of physical injury, as opposed to something insect or disease related. But I gotta tell you orchiddide, I had the same thought you did...just cut the stem off. Can't see where there would be much harm in that, especially since this coco already has a new leaf spear emerging.

I emailed the seller this morning, with the same 2 pics I posted here. I'll wait and see what his response is, then follow-up here after that. Thanks to both of you for your advice!!

I can't tell form the picture if the frond in question is the newest one or the one just before the newest one. If it's the newest I would wait until YOU see active growth from the spear yourself. If it isn't I would not have any heartburn about cutting it off now. Also don't let the height intimidate you. This past April I would have bet you that my coconut was going to be 7 feet tall (excluding the pot) by the end of summer. The younger unfeathered fronds tend to grow strait up. The feathered pinnate fronds push up and then tip over to a 90 degree angle. Mine is now about 6 feet tall (including the pot). Be sure to keep it in the warmest and sunniest location in the house. Good luck with it and welcome to the club.

Its good you cut that thing off, everytime I look at that picture, I want to cut it off myself...LOL Rough looking, keep it warm and everything will be ok.

I'm not sure exactly what that is but like you, I'd guess it was some sort of physical damage. I personally wouldn't cut that frond off unless it was all browned up. If just that portion of the stem is brown with the rest looking green, why not go ahead and leave it?

Just an update.....

The seller finally got back in touch with me....wanted to know what the problem was and if he should send another plant. I guess a lesser person would have taken advantage of that offer, but 1 coconut is enough for right now. Wrote back and described the dark spot, will have to wait and see what his 'diagnosis' is....whatever caused that dark spot, I'm convinced it happened before the palm got shipped.

I can say the brown streak has shown marked improvement. If this was due to me applying the fungicide, potting the palm up, giving it some fresh water, or just getting it out of the box and into some sunshine...who knows?

andyandy,

The more I look at the that frond, the more it appears to be the oldest one. If not, next to the oldest, since the new leaf spear is coming up between the 2.

The seller sounds like a straight shooter. What is his name on Ebay?

Don't look like a big deal to me really. It should grow out of that.

Well, looks like I'll have TWO coconut palms to care for this winter. The seller said he thought the brown streak was related to heat stress that occurred in transit. He's sending another coconut this week. I even told him he didn't have to do that, but I guess he wanted to make sure I was a satified customer.

karelc,

The seller does seem like a genuinely nice guy and a 'straight shooter' as you said....something that's getting harder and harder to come by on eBay. His id on ebay is billy143pr. He lives in Puerto Rico and must have a small nursery. Sells a little of everything from breadfruit trees to coco palms.

Wingo-
Good for you, you'll be surprised at how fast they grow even in winter (provided they are given DIRECT sun not "bright light". Mist them as much as you can stand to, makes a point of misting them directly into the cracks and crevices between the fronds (trunk). Any chance you get take them outside in the winter (rain and 60 take them out for even just a few hours). Good luck with them, you'll have to post a picture of the new one. I moved my three in yesterday for more or less the fall/winter/spring. We're about 12 degrees below normal here. I hope I can take them out for a few days in a week or so. When I'm home for a sunny day I'll take a picture showing them in their winter home.

Did the Cocos come from PR? It needed a phyto cert to come to the mainland.

Anyway, I think y'all are worrying about nothing. Walk outside and scrutinize every plant in the yard. Nothing's perfect.

Alex is right, don't stress about one brown spot. That said, I don't like the white spots. If they don't go away with fungicide, cut off the leaf. If they do, leave it because the green parts more than make up for it. In any event, don't worry about the plant, it will be fine.

wingo. If you can actualy wipe the white off with a damp cloth, I'd do that and then treat with insecticide.

I have found that physically removing anything live, like scale or the white stuff, actually works better than just chem treatments alone.

Just my 2.5 cents. ):)p

I sure wish i could find a seller like that.

now... What are your plans for growing the cocunut ?