Cycad cones and flushes

[yeye]

Have you a pic of the cone tracy?

Olivier.

[5150cycad]

13 hours ago, Tracy said:

I think the exceptions, which are not flushing, are the notable ones.  It most definitely is the season in our geographic zone.  This is an unknown Zamia or Ceratozamia.  Spines are unarmed and it never carries more than a couple of leaves at a  time.  This is the first flush since it coned late last year.  I thought I would add delicate and colorful after all the Encephalartos posts.

Cool Cycad Tracy. I agree. Although my ceratazamia is one of the more common species, I always love the chocolate brown color of the fresh new leaves. That’s crazy that is cones at such a small size. How old is your plant? 

[Tracy]

44 minutes ago, 5150cycad said:

Although my ceratazamia is one of the more common species, I always love the chocolate brown color of the fresh new leaves. That’s crazy that is cones at such a small size. How old is your plant? 

I've had it about 4 years and I got it in the citrus pot it is in today.  It hasn't gotten much bigger, which is why I suspect it is a Zamia.  Most of my Ceratozamias were about 10 years from one inch, two leaf seedlings before they coned (pacifica, augustifolia, latifolia and latifolia hybrid).

[Tracy]

6 hours ago, yeye said:

Have you a pic of the cone tracy?

Olivier.

I'll have to search to see if I have any decent photos of the cone.  It was hard to shoot, since the soil has receded in the pot, and the cone was down significantly below the top of the pot.  It has been a long time since I tried taking photos of the cone.

[Tracy]

Something new in my garden, showing a nice flush in the works of opening.  Its Encephalartos (arenarius x latifrons) x latifrons acquired from George Sparkman, but before calling him, I believe he's out of these as I got one of the last he had.  Call him about something else you want though.

[5150cycad]

18 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Something new in my garden, showing a nice flush in the works of opening.  Its Encephalartos (arenarius x latifrons) x latifrons acquired from George Sparkman, but before calling him, I believe he's out of these as I got one of the last he had.  Call him about something else you want though.

I saw these that time I was at George Sparkmans. Looks pretty close to pure latifrons. Wish I could have bought one. Beautiful hybrid. 

[Palm Tree Jim]

10 hours ago, Tracy said:

Something new in my garden, showing a nice flush in the works of opening.  Its Encephalartos (arenarius x latifrons) x latifrons acquired from George Sparkman, but before calling him, I believe he's out of these as I got one of the last he had.  Call him about something else you want though.

Tracy,

Lots of the latifrons traits with this hybrid.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Nice Natalensis surprise. 

[5150cycad]

Great looking variegation. 

18 hours ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

Nice Natalensis surprise. 

 

[Tracy]

19 hours ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

Nice Natalensis surprise. 

So in your experience growing seedlings, what is the likelihood of this holding or just being a passing phase with an Encephlartos seedling?

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

First variegated encephalartos out of 8000 seeds so I can't tell you.  Cycas and palms will loose the variegation easily.  I have a trachycarpus that showed very strong and clear varigation right from the beginning and it has kept it.  All others lost it or were weak and died.

[PalmatierMeg]

My Dioon edule v. 'Queretaro Blue' is flushing. So is its offset; it is also sending out two more offsets. I got this cycad 3 months ago from a local nursery where it was languishing in a low, squat pot with little soil. I'm so glad it is doing well so far in my humid climate. I like it more and more every time I see it.

Dioon edule v. 'Queretaro Blue'

[Tracy]

3 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

I'm so glad it is doing well so far in my humid climate. I like it more and more every time I see it.

Dioon edule v. 'Queretaro Blue'

Getting bit by the cycad bug???  It is not a bad thing.  Although you have to be patient, when you get a flush of a whole bunch of leaves or even just more than the previous flush, it is so rewarding!

[5150cycad]

3 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

My Dioon edule v. 'Queretaro Blue' is flushing. So is its offset; it is also sending out two more offsets. I got this cycad 3 months ago from a local nursery where it was languishing in a low, squat pot with little soil. I'm so glad it is doing well so far in my humid climate. I like it more and more every time I see it.

Dioon edule v. 'Queretaro Blue'

Nice score. Looks very happy at it’s new home. Hopefully it will show off some of its true color once the leaves start to harden off. Nicely grown. 

[Josh-O]

On 6/13/2018, 7:42:40, Tracy said:

Something new in my garden, showing a nice flush in the works of opening.  Its Encephalartos (arenarius x latifrons) x latifrons acquired from George Sparkman, but before calling him, I believe he's out of these as I got one of the last he had.  Call him about something else you want though.

pretty cool. Mine goes in the ground mañana

[Josue Diaz]

Cycas revoluta x deboaensis

 

[Tracy]

11 hours ago, Josh-O said:

pretty cool. Mine goes in the ground mañana

I love this hybrid.  It should be faster than pure latifrons, yet still have a great look.  I'm loaded up with three different latifrons hybrids.  A blue arenarius x latifrons, an (arenarius x horridus) x latifrons and the (arenarius x latifrons) x latifrons.  Only the blue arenarius hybrid is a blue plant, but it shows the fewest latifrons characteristics at this stage (albeit still quite small).

 

3 hours ago, Josue Diaz said:

Cycas revoluta x deboaensis

Josue, this should be a great hybrid with some cold tolerance for the Central Valley, yet also appreciate your summer heat!  I thought about trying one, but at this point don't really have a place to put it.  The ones I have seen are quite spreading so give it some room when you get it in the ground. 

[Josh-O]

23 hours ago, Tracy said:

I love this hybrid.  It should be faster than pure latifrons, yet still have a great look.  I'm loaded up with three different latifrons hybrids.  A blue arenarius x latifrons, an (arenarius x horridus) x latifrons and the (arenarius x latifrons) x latifrons.  Only the blue arenarius hybrid is a blue plant, but it shows the fewest latifrons characteristics at this stage (albeit still quite small).

 

Josue, this should be a great hybrid with some cold tolerance for the Central Valley, yet also appreciate your summer heat!  I thought about trying one, but at this point don't really have a place to put it.  The ones I have seen are quite spreading so give it some room when you get it in the ground. 

awesome Latty collection Tracy

[Tracy]

10 hours ago, Josh-O said:

awesome Latty collection Tracy

While the Encephalartos blue arenarius x latifrons isn't showing much latifrons, it is blue.  It's not quite a fair comparison between it (small center foreground) and the E horridus behind it, because the horridus has been holding that foliage for a long time.  The blue are x lat flushed in Spring, so its holding more of the glaucus sunscreen wax giving it the  nice blue color.  Well I guess if it never shows much latifrons, at least it will be a nice blue!  That said, its barely a juvenile, so it can change a lot over the next several flushes.

[Josh-O]

some longy boostage. This species never disapoints

[Tracy]

46 minutes ago, Josh-O said:

some longy boostage.

Nice... I love this species too!  Such a regal and formal look to them.

[Palm Tree Jim]

9 hours ago, Josh-O said:

some longy boostage. This species never disapoints

Looking good Josh.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Cycas Angulata flush initiating. 

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

Cycas Angulata flush initiating.

Do you always lose all the leaves before a flush on this species?  I'm guessing this is related to the brisk winter lows you get.  All the Cycas species and hybrids I've grown seem to hold at least one flush (sometimes multiple) while pushing a new flush.  I may have an exception this year with my Cycas tropophylla x micholitzii, which has skipped flushing and is pushing a second set of megasporophylls.  The leaves its holding may very well die off before it finishes and flushes again.  I'm at least fortunate that it has a couple of smaller pups which are holding leaves and have continued flushing while big sister does her reproductive thing.  She failed to produce any seed despite trying some Cycas bifida pollen last autumn. 

So do you think its the cold that causes the defoliation before the new flush on yours?

[Firepalm]

On 6/24/2018, 8:37:15, Josh-O said:

some longy boostage. This species never disapoints

Nice plants Josh.  Love the form on the second one!

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

@Tracy this is a recently transplant and is why there are no leaves on it. First flush in our possession.  

[Tracy]

3 hours ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

First flush in our possession.

Extra excitement then to see how it looks flushing in your environment! 

[Josh-O]

Nay x hor boosting now. Tis the flush season

[greysrigging]

I did a bit of a walk through of the George Brown Botanical Gardens in Darwin, Northern Territory of Australia today. My first visit in 18 months / 2 years and I was surprised to find a dedicated Cycad display. This is a fairly new display and although it has been damaged by the recent Tropical Cyclone  Marcus back in March, it is still pretty impressive and given a few years will no doubt be an outstanding collection of Australian native and exotic Cycad species.

Some photos of various local and exotic species.... bear with me as I am no enthusiast really...... and many plants on display don't have ID tags.

Some Northern Territory native Cycads

As I mentioned previously, the Gardens were badly damaged by the tropical cyclone back in March, however a year or 2 of wet season rainfall should improve things. These photos were taken at the height of the 'dry' season, so many plants in the gardens are showing a bit of stress atm.

[5150cycad]

Thanks for sharing. Great pictures 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Very Cool!

[Josh-O]

Some new emergent flushes on my E. Eugene X cupidus

[Tracy]

15 hours ago, greysrigging said:

so many plants in the gardens are showing a bit of stress atm

Despite the stress, thanks for taking the time to share the photos.  Great collection including some big old specimens!

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

White tentacles!!

[GeneAZ]

That's going to be  about 30 leaves!  You've got to post an update in a month when they harden off.

[5150cycad]

1 hour ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

White tentacles!!

Wow!! Is that your cycas cairnsiana? Never seen new leaves white like that before. Gonna be a beauty. 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

@GeneAZ 47 leaves is what I counted this morning. not bad for a first transplant flush. @5150cycad cycas Angulata progress pic from a few days ago. 

I am curious how it will turn out compared to @scottgt in Guatemala.  

[Really full garden]

2 hours ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

@GeneAZ 47 leaves is what I counted this morning. not bad for a first transplant flush. @5150cycad cycas Angulata progress pic from a few days ago. 

I am curious how it will turn out compared to @scottgt in Guatemala.  

Mine large one at the beach has a new little brother (or sister). I recently transplanted one from my highland garden that was not thriving in the cool moist environment ( with occasional pyroclastic blasts). I will take photos this weekend.

[Really full garden]

On July 3, 2018 at 7:11:51 PM, scottgt said:

Mine large one at the beach has a new little brother (or sister). I recently transplanted one from my highland garden that was not thriving in the cool moist environment ( with occasional pyroclastic blasts). I will take photos this weekend.

My C.angulatas at the beach. Both with recent flushes. The smaller one is from the same seed batch. It has been growing in a cool wet environment. The taller one is over 2 meters.

The smaller one flushed less than two months after transplanting. The fronds are just a little too frilly, maybe the next flush will be normal.

 

 

[Palm Tree Jim]

18 hours ago, scottgt said:

My C.angulatas at the beach. Both with recent flushes. The smaller one is from the same seed batch. It has been growing in a cool wet environment. The taller one is over 2 meters.

The smaller one flushed less than two months after transplanting. The fronds are just a little too frilly, maybe the next flush will be normal.

 

 

Very nice!