Has anyone tried germinating variegated caryota mitis seeds?

[freddie]

Just got a few seeds in the mail today. Has anyone tried them? Any special treatment/conditions needed or just soak them, put them in a bag and wait? Thanks!

[Lucinda]

Soak and sow. I cleaned and germinated a few seeds harvested fresh from a nearby clump. They took seemingly forever to sprout and the survival rate was low. Fifteen or so plants remain today out of about 100 seeds started two years ago. Do take into account that I am relatively new to this palm growing stuff and have a lot to learn.

Good luck with yours.

Lucinda

[Gileno Machado]

Hi Lucinda and Freddie,

I sowed 10 seeds of the species some 6 months ago and had only one sprout so far, unfortunetly lost after transplanted into soil mix a couple months ago. The seedling came out with strong variegation but declined rapidly in contact with soil mix, even under moderate/deep shade. I've lost my hope for the remaining seeds at this point...but we never know when to give up and trash rare palm seeds, do we?

[Borgy230]

I bought some about a year ago, on ebay of all places, from Thailand, 20 seeds. they arrived already cleaned. All 20 seeds germinated, of the 20, 11 had great variegation, 2 were completely white, and 7 were completely green or poor variegation. I find it just as easy as to germinate as any other caryota.

[freddie]

Thanks much for your replies! LOL Gileno, I can't even trash common seeds. I emptied the contents of a passionfruit into a pot three years ago... have taken 140 plants out of it so far and there's another half dozen or so seedlings sprouted in the past couple of months! You just never know with seeds, guess some of them are sleepers and then one day they wake up!

Lucinda, hey if you're harvesting and cleaning seeds yourself that's way advanced compared to me. How are the 15 survivors doing? Did you get some nice variegation?

I bought some about a year ago, on ebay of all places, from Thailand, 20 seeds. they arrived already cleaned. All 20 seeds germinated, of the 20, 11 had great variegation, 2 were completely white, and 7 were completely green or poor variegation. I find it just as easy as to germinate as any other caryota.

Borgy, thanks that is promising news because my seeds also came from Thailand, bought off ebay. Hope I have similar success as you.

cheers, Freddie

[Kris]

Dear Friends

I have germinated these Caryota Mitis seeds but the regular form.I think there is no difference at this stage as long as you have fresh seeds to try on.For me 8 germinated out of 10 seeds.that is the ratio i got.And by the way if you are collecting these fruits from the wild,and you are going to clean them for seeds then kindly be careful,they are neuro toxic,when you come in contact with the fruit pulp or wet seeds they itch like hell through out the body..

Caryota mitis

Love,

Kris

[Really full garden]

I like Borgy got 20 seeds from Thailand and all germinated in less than 8wks.I had 4 completely white ones, 6 variegated and 10 all green.Some of the all green ones are starting to show some variegation.Mine get morning sun and are in very well drained planting mix.