I have never seen a green coconut sprout. Once the fruit ripens, it turns brown,falls to the earth, sits for a long while, then sprouts. I am unsure if the green husk one will ripen now that it is cut from the tree. But it always needs the husk. To "plant" - Lay it on its side, smush down into dirt only about 1/2 - 1 inch- so about 85% is still above soil line. Keep moist, but not wet ,and wait.

Sugar cane (as long as it is pretty fresh) will also sprout the same way. Place cane on its side, smush only a little bit of it into the soil (again so much of it is above soil line). Keep moist. It will sprout at the nodes.

msminamouse,
It is possible to sprout one without the husk. I am not sure of the exact technique but I know it is not able to be done with a green coconut and also not a husked coconut you can buy at the store. It has to be a freshly husked brown coconut.

A search on eBay for "sprouting coconut tree" turned up some coconuts from Hawaii that were supposed to sprout. Both the coconut and shipping were pretty expensive. Wonder what happens if they don't sprout?

There is a thread on the Cloudforest cafe on how to sprout coconuts

http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/forum/29925.html

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.

About that sugarcane... how much of the stalk would one use to sprout?

By the unhusked brown ones, you mean the ones with water sloshing around inside? I never see any embryos in them.

Did you search in the 3 pores(eye's)?