What I do when I have multiple rooted cuttings in one pot is turn the pot upside down and put the whole mass ( less the pot) on a grate ( do this outside, of course). Then gently run water over the mass with a garden hose until all of the soil has washed away and all that is left is the tangled mess of rooted cuttings. Now you can easily separate the cuttings, being as gentle as you can. Repot the cuttings. New leaves might go into shock and fall off but all cuttings will come back. Actually, I did three containers of cuttings this way about a month ago (each had about 6 or 7 heavily rooted cuttings )and all of the young leaves stayed in tact and all plants are doing just fine.

Wassup Ry? Hey Steiconi, I called the Department of Agriculture check station at the Lihue Airport today to ask them a few questions about mailing plants of all kinds to the mainland. In general, here's what I asked, and what I was told (not word for word, but a summation) and I was told this by the guy at the HI DoA who answered the phone, so it doesn't mean it's true, lol. I asked if seeds were able to be exported(via USPS, through Fedex, etc. etc.) He said to come down, they'd look them over for bugs and make sure it was clean, clear it, pack it, and I could mail it. I asked if cuttings were able to be exported(via USPS, etc.) He said to come down, they'd look them over for bugs and make sure it was clean, clear it, pack it, and I could mail it. I asked if bare-root plants (various seedlings, Ginger, Heliconia, rooted cuttings, etc.) were able to be exported(via USPS, etc) He said to come down, they'd look them over for bugs and make sure it was clean, clear it, pack it, and I could mail it. I asked, just to make sure, expanding on "bare-root plants" about the plant having live leaves and roots and if they were able to be exported(via USPS, etc) He said to come down, they'd look them over for bugs and make sure it was clean, clear it, pack it, and I could mail it. He made a point to tell me that all plants brought in are susceptible to a "pest-check"; that they would have to pass in order to get cleared. He said that they're worried about dirt and bugs, and to just make sure the stuff is clean. Lol. I have a neighbor who is a retired florist, and she told me about these rules a few days back when I asked her. She said too that it was a long time ago and maybe they had changed since then, but maybe not much. I don't know, maybe if I call tomorrow again I'll get a completely different story... we taking bets? =p Just thought I'd put that out there for some added second-hand info, hardly anything available online, and if you email them...well, you'll have figured it out on your own by the time they get back to you, so no worries, lol. Aloha, take it easy and I'll talk with ya later guys, ~Dave Kauai, Hawaii

How do you mean "...found ants on several of the coconuts"? Ants run around all over the place so it's not unusual for them to climb over fallen coconuts. Unless you mean termites, sometimes referred to as White Ants. I've never had any problem from ants with coconuts. Termites, depending on species, definitely yes. You can just lay coconuts flat on the ground where you want them to grow. The roots just pierce the husk and go straight down into the ground. If you want them in pots, it's the same thing, lay them flat on the soil. From there it's just like any plant, maintain moisture especially in hotter weather.

You'd probably have more chance with the brown dehusked coconuts. I'm not sure if the US treats them differently than the UK but I know they can easily be made to sprout here. Just put the coconut on its side in a deep pot of well drained soil rich in potash. Make sure the coconut is almost fully covered; dehusked coconuts need the weight of the soil around them prevent them from cracking open. Keep warm, but not too warm (this can also crack the coconut). The green coconuts might be able to sprout if you find the biggest most mature one and put it in a warm place in the sun for a while until the outside goes brown. Then plant it like a normal coconut. I think someone else suggested that method too.