Went a little crazy ordering palm seeds

[robsp2000]

I went for the 20 pack discount and I got these seeds coming. Should be interesting to see how many I can grow:

Archontophoenix maxima

Areca catechu

Bismarckia nobilis (Silver)

Clinostigma exorrhizum

Coccothrinax borhidiana

Cyrtostachys renda

Dictyosperma album

Dypsis bonsai

Dypsis leptocheilos

Dypsis malcomberi

Dypsis prestoniana

Dypsis sanctaemariae

Dypsis utilis

Elaeis guineensis (Tenera)

Geonoma calyptrogynoidea

Hydriastele cylindrocarpa (= Gulubia c.)

Phoenix dactylifera

Phoenix roebelenii

Phoenix theophrasti

Syagrus sancona

I have had a lot of success using ziplocks on my first attempt at germinating palm seeds. At the same time I set up about 7 of the seed starter trays - which was a real pain to manage and had a way lower germination rate then the same seeds in bags. I'm hoping I can do the same with most of these.

[Jeff Searle]

I'm confused, what's so crazy about it? HOPE YOU GET GOOD GERMINATION.

[Walter John]

I'm confused, what's so crazy about it? HOPE YOU GET GOOD GERMINATION.

I concur, by the way, how does one pronounce calyptrogynoidea, I keep getting tongue tied on that one. CAL-IP-TRO-GEE-NOY-DE-AH ? or CAL-IP-TROG-EE-NOY-DE-AH ? or what ? where's the teacher ?

[robsp2000]

In my first attempt at germinating seeds I went around Key West picking up anything I liked to see if it would work. I ended up planting over 600 seeds in seed starting trays and putting about 500 more in ziplocks. Never thought it would work, I thought if I planted 100 I would get 2. Now I got 50 Royals and 30 King Palms plus 20 I can't identify yet. I have a very small lot so don't know where all the pots are going to go. Think I will probably be having a palm tree tag sale or give away next year. Even so I still am going to try to germinate all of the seeds from the 20 varieties I ordered!

[SanDimas]

Funny....

Im in the same lot also.

Although I ordered the minimum order from RPS (5packs).

Thank to all the good thread and mentoring from experienced members, 2nd week of growth on

my Baobab grandieri and Schizolobium parahyba.

Still inside the closed zip lock bag. Im going to repot by next wek or so since Im using a sandwich size bag.

Cheers.

[SanDimas]

Wow 50 Royals and 30 Kings....

Garage Sale or Swap Meet?

Have picture of mature palms so they know what theyre buying?

Anyone else try this?

[robsp2000]

Wow 50 Royals and 30 Kings....

Garage Sale or Swap Meet?

Have picture of mature palms so they know what theyre buying?

Anyone else try this?

The cool part is I know the exact palms where I got the seeds from, so I can show photos of the actual palm. I've been labeling them by street intersection as well.

Edited June 30, 2013 by robsp2000

[KennyRE317]

For those that germinate in bags, do you just coat the seeds in medium or do you treat the bags like a planter and fill it with inches of soil with the seed ontop?

[Jonathan]

For those that germinate in bags, do you just coat the seeds in medium or do you treat the bags like a planter and fill it with inches of soil with the seed ontop?

The latter. Then cover the seeds to a depth about equal to their diameter, also make sure that you leave a bit of space at the top for the first leaf to emerge.

[robsp2000]

For those that germinate in bags, do you just coat the seeds in medium or do you treat the bags like a planter and fill it with inches of soil with the seed ontop?

I actually didn't use soil, just damp paper towels.

Edited June 30, 2013 by robsp2000

[HorsesnPalms]

I'm confused, what's so crazy about it? HOPE YOU GET GOOD GERMINATION.

I concur, by the way, how does one pronounce calyptrogynoidea, I keep getting tongue tied on that one. CAL-IP-TRO-GEE-NOY-DE-AH ? or CAL-IP-TROG-EE-NOY-DE-AH ? or what ? where's the teacher ?

When I got to that one I stopped to figure it out too. lol It needs a wiki page displaying the proper pronuciation!

Excellent score!!! The Medjools are super easy to germinate. I first soaked mine for 4-5 days in warm water, changing it everyday on my kitchen counter under a sky light (to keep the water warm) I then put mine into zip lock baggies filled with a mix of vermiculite and sphagnum peat moss (walmart sells 2 cu ft, not all of them but some). I also use Canadian Gold sphagnum peat moss in square bales 2.2 cu ft.Its about a dollar less. I get mine at Walmart too. I put 15 seeds per gallon sized baggie. Then put them on top of my cable box, stereo receiver and router! They are bursting out of the bags. Just make sure they stay moist as they do dry out pretty quickly. The best way to do that is to use a spray bottle filled with warm distilled water. (tap water contains too much crap). I just warm the water up in the microwave.

The crazy part is that I got the seeds at Sams Club!

I added a photo of my Medjools on the cable box and router. :-)

As for the Bismarckia nobilis, those are equally as easy, but cannot be done via the baggie method.Soak them for about 3-5 days in warm water. It produces a better germination time. To start them I purchased large plastic bins, the ones that slide under your bed for storage and some plastic shoe boxes $1 each for those at Big Lots and Dollar General. Then placed about 3 inches of the same vermiculite/spagham peat moss mix on the bottom. The eveningly layed the seeds on top (on their sides) , then using a spray bottle sprayed hot water on them. Put the top back on and left them in the sun. I check daily to ensure they are still moist. I have 300 seeds and in about a week I have 20-30 sprouting big time. The roots are EXTEREMELY DELICATE and will break off. So as soon as I saw the roots I cut the very top off of a 2-liter bottle leaving about a 4 inch hole, then cut holes in the bottom for drainage. Filled it with a mixture of about 50% Miracle Gro palm soil, 35% vermiculite and 15% clean sand from the yard, then carefully placed the seedling in. Bismarkias put off roots about 13 inches long, so place it as close to the top of the bottle as possible. Once done I placed the cut off top back on to keep the greenhouse effect happening. Some tape maybe in handy to keep it from coming off. The bottles go in a shaded area. I think the 2-liter method makes it it super easy to transplant, when the time comes. Because you can just cut the bottle away.

Here are some photos of my 2-liters with the seeds already in them, along with the seed flats for the Bismarkias.

I did put the bottle top back on as well. Just not for this photo. :-)

I hope this helps!

[robsp2000]

I'm confused, what's so crazy about it? HOPE YOU GET GOOD GERMINATION.

>I concur, by the way, how does one pronounce calyptrogynoidea, I keep getting tongue tied on that one. CAL-IP-TRO-GEE-NOY-DE-AH ? or CAL-IP-TROG-EE-NOY-DE-AH ? or what ? where's the teacher ?

When I got to that one I stopped to figure it out too. lol It needs a wiki page displaying the proper pronuciation!

I hope this helps!

Thanks so much for the advice, I had no idea about the Bismarckia nobilis. I have one other question about that palm. I have been trying to collect seeds down here from some that are planted near sidewalks. I found two different types of fruit on the same palm, one is about the diameter of a quarter and the other is larger, like an oversized oblong golf ball. Both have what appear to be seeds in it. The seeds in the larger one are pointed a little and the other seeds are more circular. Are they both seeds? I have searched online for answers but no luck.

I love the use of the cable box and router!

[HorsesnPalms]

It sounds like some of the seeds are just not mature yet. The mature seed should be large, although I grabbed a photo of one of a couple of mine by a meauring tape. As you can see some are larger than others. I tend not to get any smaller than the one you see here. Since the ones you see still have the fruity flesh they will be a bit larger, but not much. I like to wait until they drop to the ground to gather them. Although you can take them from the tree directly. If you see a nice specimen seeding in someones yard, stop and ask if you can get some. Most will happily give them to you.

They are a pain in the behind to clean! ugh, soaking until they get really fermented well, helps. Caution though they stink really bad. You can also use the power drill method as shown here

I did mine before I knew of the drill method and believe me it took about 20 hours for 300 seeds!

[KennyRE317]

I was going to do the plastic bag method but for ease of storing I'll stick to the Tupperware box. if I do a small batch i'll try the baggie way

[edric]

I'm confused, what's so crazy about it? HOPE YOU GET GOOD GERMINATION.

I concur, by the way, how does one pronounce calyptrogynoidea, I keep getting tongue tied on that one. CAL-IP-TRO-GEE-NOY-DE-AH ? or CAL-IP-TROG-EE-NOY-DE-AH ? or what ? where's the teacher ?

Hi Wal, Here ya go, (kah-lip-tro-jih-noh-ee-DEH-ah), Ed http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Geonoma_calyptrogynoidea

[robsp2000]

I'm confused, what's so crazy about it? HOPE YOU GET GOOD GERMINATION.

>I concur, by the way, how does one pronounce calyptrogynoidea, I keep getting tongue tied on that one. CAL-IP-TRO-GEE-NOY-DE-AH ? or CAL-IP-TROG-EE-NOY-DE-AH ? or what ? where's the teacher ?

As for the Bismarckia nobilis, those are equally as easy, but cannot be done via the baggie method.Soak them for about 3-5 days in warm water. It produces a better germination time. To start them I purchased large plastic bins, the ones that slide under your bed for storage and some plastic shoe boxes $1 each for those at Big Lots and Dollar General. Then placed about 3 inches of the same vermiculite/spagham peat moss mix on the bottom. The eveningly layed the seeds on top (on their sides) , then using a spray bottle sprayed hot water on them. Put the top back on and left them in the sun. I check daily to ensure they are still moist. I have 300 seeds and in about a week I have 20-30 sprouting big time. The roots are EXTEREMELY DELICATE and will break off. So as soon as I saw the roots I cut the very top off of a 2-liter bottle leaving about a 4 inch hole, then cut holes in the bottom for drainage. Filled it with a mixture of about 50% Miracle Gro palm soil, 35% vermiculite and 15% clean sand from the yard, then carefully placed the seedling in. Bismarkias put off roots about 13 inches long, so place it as close to the top of the bottle as possible. Once done I placed the cut off top back on to keep the greenhouse effect happening. Some tape maybe in handy to keep it from coming off. The bottles go in a shaded area. I think the 2-liter method makes it it super easy to transplant, when the time comes. Because you can just cut the bottle away.

I'm in Key West, where it is about 90 degrees all day and full sun most days. Should I still put these boxes in direct sun or would that be too much heat?

[_Keith]

Good luck, Penicillin won't cure your condition. And hanging around here will only make it worse. Just repeat after me, "My name if Rob, and I have a problem." That won't cure it either, but you'll have plenty of company repeating it with you.

[robsp2000]

Update on my order:

Archontophoenix maxima - 5 weeks (Ziplock, paper towel - nothing)

Areca catechu - (Soaking now)

Bismarckia nobilis (Silver) - (Soaking now)

Clinostigma exorrhizum - 5 weeks (Ziplock, paper towel - nothing)

Coccothrinax borhidiana - 5 weeks (Ziplock, 4/13 germinated - rest molded)

Cyrtostachys renda - 5 weeks (Ziplock, paper towel - nothing)

Dictyosperma album - 5 weeks (Ziplock, paper towel - nothing)

Dypsis bonsai - 5 weeks (Ziplock, paper towel - nothing)

Dypsis leptocheilos - (Soaking now)

Dypsis malcomberi - 5 weeks (Ziplock, paper towel - nothing)

Dypsis prestoniana - 5 weeks (Ziplock, 5/24 germinated)

Dypsis sanctaemariae- 5 weeks (Ziplock, 1/20 germinated - rest molded)

Dypsis utilis - 5 weeks (Ziplock, paper towel - nothing)

Elaeis guineensis (Tenera) - (Soaking now)

Geonoma calyptrogynoidea - (Soaking now)

Hydriastele cylindrocarpa (= Gulubia c.)

Phoenix dactylifera - 10/10 germinated in 1 week

Phoenix roebelenii - 5 weeks (Ziplock, 6/25 germinated - rest molded)

Phoenix theophrasti - 12/13 germinated in 1 week

Syagrus sancona - (Soaking now)