Bismarckia fruits

[KentiaPalm]

I am wondering if I harvested these seeds at a good time because some photos online show that they are more of a black colour, I also would like to know how to prepare them properly for germination. 

[Fusca]

Those fruits are not ripe yet and probably won't germinate but I've not tried to germinate them when green.  Were there other Bismarckias around the palm where you collected the seed?  Since Bismarckia are dioecious there needs to be a male tree nearby to pollinate the female for production of viable seed.

Edited February 21, 2020 by Fusca

[KentiaPalm]

There are others yes, I can get more later on... what’s the germination method

[Palms Brisbane]

Hi Kentia Palm,

This is what I did. Still in progress of trying to Germinate.

Step 1: Get fruit

Step 2: Soak fruit to soften flesh

Step 3: Use knife to remove flesh

Step 4: Brush to remove left over flesh

Note: Bismarkia have a sinker root. Some people plant straight in long tree pots.
As I do not have greenhouse and want to keep humidity up I did container method but its 16” deep.

Step 5: Throw seeds into fungicide bath for couple mins

Step 6: Setup container. I used 4:1 coir to perlite. If doing again prob would do 2:1.

Step 7: Place seeds in container. Recommend all facing the same way.

Step 8: Put on lid and check in a month or 2

I am about 4 weeks into the process now. 

Good luck.

[KentiaPalm]

Your like a wikihow webpage that’s awesome, as soon as I see those other fruit ripen more I’ll do that method, I’ll make sure my tote container is deep. How lovely !

do Bismarckias take a long time to get huge? I live in Costa Rica I had always thought coming here would make plants grow and.... hopefully this remains true... I know every plant takes time just curious..

[aztropic]

Bismarckia are FAST growers.This tree was a strap leaf 1 gallon planted in 2014.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[aztropic]

This one was a strap leaf 1 gallon planted in 2000.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[KentiaPalm]

Wowsers those are both huge ! 
you should see the colossal size of them here in Costa Rica . I absolutely need to get one to make a bold statement in my garden  I’ll show photos soon with an update of their sheer size 

Edited February 22, 2020 by KentiaPalm

[NOT A TA]

3 hours ago, aztropic said:

This one was a strap leaf 1 gallon planted in 2000.

That's faster than they grow here in S FL!!!!! That thing's huge for 20 years!
 

'76 Duster with Reptile roof, bumper guards, and original wheels? That's a time capsule! Still have it?

[aztropic]

5 minutes ago, NOT A TA said:

That's faster than they grow here in S FL!!!!! That thing's huge for 20 years!
 

'76 Duster with Reptile roof, bumper guards, and original wheels? That's a time capsule! Still have it?

Picture was taken today.75 Plymouth Duster,340,factory 4 speed,3.91 gears,8 3/4 rear,rallye wheels.Ran a best of 14.03 many years ago.Peppy!

Daily driver now... Things don't rust in the desert.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[NOT A TA]

9 minutes ago, aztropic said:

75 Plymouth Duster,340,factory 4 speed,3.91 gears,8 3/4 rear,rallye wheels.Ran a best of 14.03 many years ago.

That's way cool. There's actually quite a few car guys on this forum. We should have a show your car thread some day when posts are slow. I've seen a bunch of great cars in the background of peoples palmy pics.  I've been selling down for years but still have '66 Mustang, '67 RS SS Conv Camaro, 70 Trans Am clone race car, '81 Malibu, '86 Carrera 3.2 5 speed euro widebody cabrio.

[KentiaPalm]

I have a Bismarckia in the neighbourhood

this is how bismarckias perform in high humid wet tropics . (Costa Rica)

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

11 hours ago, KentiaPalm said:

I have a Bismarckia in the neighbourhood

this is how bismarckias perform in high humid wet tropics . (Costa Rica)

Wow this pic almost looks doctored how well this baby is grown , nice find 

[KentiaPalm]

16 minutes ago, OC2Texaspalmlvr said:

Wow this pic almost looks doctored how well this baby is grown , nice find 

I swear it isn’t  

[chocolatethunda]

On 2/21/2020 at 6:30 PM, Palms Brisbane said:

Hi Kentia Palm,

This is what I did. Still in progress of trying to Germinate.

Step 1: Get fruit

Step 2: Soak fruit to soften flesh

Step 3: Use knife to remove flesh

Step 4: Brush to remove left over flesh

Note: Bismarkia have a sinker root. Some people plant straight in long tree pots.
As I do not have greenhouse and want to keep humidity up I did container method but its 16” deep.

Step 5: Throw seeds into fungicide bath for couple mins

Step 6: Setup container. I used 4:1 coir to perlite. If doing again prob would do 2:1.

Step 7: Place seeds in container. Recommend all facing the same way.

Step 8: Put on lid and check in a month or 2

I am about 4 weeks into the process now. 

Good luck.

Great Setup !!! Do you use a heat mat ?

[WaianaeCrider]

On 2/22/2020 at 4:35 PM, KentiaPalm said:

I have a Bismarckia in the neighbourhood

this is how bismarckias perform in high humid wet tropics . (Costa Rica)

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KentiaPalm]

I love having the opportunity to grow these down south. 

[Palms Brisbane]

On 8/19/2020 at 2:02 PM, chocolatethunda said:

Great Setup !!! Do you use a heat mat ?

Hi,

No heat map. I live in the sub-tropics and was end of summer so was hot enough to germinate outside.

Took photo of them now for you.
Most of the ones that don’t have sprout have roots... Just slower.

 

Edited August 20, 2020 by Palms Brisbane

[chocolatethunda]

On 2/21/2020 at 6:30 PM, Palms Brisbane said:

Step 5: Throw seeds into fungicide bath for couple mins

What do you use as a fungicide bath?

[Palms Brisbane]

9 hours ago, chocolatethunda said:

What do you use as a fungicide bath?

 

[sonoranfans]

On 2/21/2020 at 6:39 PM, NOT A TA said:

That's faster than they grow here in S FL!!!!! That thing's huge for 20 years!
 

'76 Duster with Reptile roof, bumper guards, and original wheels? That's a time capsule! Still have it?

In 10 years mhy bismarckia before(oct2010) to oct 2020.  They are one of the fastest palms I have.

[NOT A TA]

18 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

In 10 years mhy bismarckia before(oct2010) to oct 2020.  They are one of the fastest palms I have.

 

There are some nearby that have been there since before I bought my home over 15 years ago that aren't as big as yours. I wonder if they prefer it just a bit cooler in winter or warmer in summer than it is here. Maybe they like the soil over your side better. No matter though, you've got a fine looking palm there!!!

[sonoranfans]

1 hour ago, NOT A TA said:

There are some nearby that have been there since before I bought my home over 15 years ago that aren't as big as yours. I wonder if they prefer it just a bit cooler in winter or warmer in summer than it is here. Maybe they like the soil over your side better. No matter though, you've got a fine looking palm there!!!

I think they want high drainage soil with a lower water table to grow the deep roots.  When I was in miami I saw some in a collectors garden and with 15' of relatively skinny trunk you could push on the trunk and the tree would move.  The soil was a high water table (limestone) rocky soil.  The swollen base of mine is about 34" thick.  Healthy bizzies should have pretty thick trunks.  Bizzies like to grow deep roots and if its constantly wet down there the roots will die back.   The ones planted in "pond lining clay"(near the lake) are stunted by half and have pushed their roots up out of the ground by a foot or more.  The ones in soil that is sandy on the surface, some clay at 3' grew much faster.  Depends on the soil I guess.  But Ive seen lots of them growing along the 75 this year(2 miles from me) and they are really putting on some height while some others are stunted, usually in low wet spots.   Mine isn't especially large, its the smaller crown waxier form.  From what Ive seen there is a form that is less waxy(still grey), less glaucous, and has longer petioles(leaf stems) and then there is a shorter petiole form that has more wax and looks white rather than grey.  ANd no Im not talking about green bizzies, seen them too, they are an unmistakeably different color.  These palms dont prefer cool at all, they love heat, period.  In winter they do not grow noticably.

[NOT A TA]

9 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

I think they want high drainage soil with a lower water table to grow the deep roots. 

Interesting, thanks for all the info! I'll have to look more closely at the ones around here.

[Palms Brisbane]

Update, I left mine too long in tubs... tried to take them out as they were pushing 2nd leaf. The roofs were a matt covering entire base.. most snapped when trying to seperate. Very fragile

Will see how the few that didnt snap go.

Next time I will put them in deep pots soon as germinate.

Edited November 15, 2020 by Palms Brisbane

[KentiaPalm]

Sorry to hear bud. I’ll definitely try your method when the seeds ripen down this way and I’ll update you! 

[chocolatethunda]

Hey @Palms Brisbane,

I was wondering, how long and in what condition can you store Bismarckia seeds? I've just received 100x from rarepalmseeds.com but I've collected more than that after already placing the order.

[JLM]

What is the lowest temp these things can take based on peoples experience? Arent they 9b palms? These are nice palms, would they be able to live in 8b with protection when young?

[Palms Brisbane]

1 hour ago, chocolatethunda said:

Hey @Palms Brisbane,

I was wondering, how long and in what condition can you store Bismarckia seeds? I've just received 100x from rarepalmseeds.com but I've collected more than that after already placing the order.

Hi, Sorry no experience at storing seeds.

Always read it is best to plant palm seeds fresh as possible. I think I read a method a while ago is to cover seeds to be stored in fungicide powered and keep in a sealed cool dry place... but not sure how long that will work.

 

[SouthFLA]

Never pick the seeds off the palm, they are ready immediately after they fall off the tree. If seed smells like over-ripe produce then you know you have a winner. Trash the seeds you picked too soon, not worth the trouble.

These palms are prolific seeders here in south FL. Property owners and landscape architects prefer the male trees to avoid the fruit mess. And even the males have pollen stalks that can leave sticky mess all over your car.

[Bazza]

On 12/25/2020 at 6:44 AM, SouthFLA said:

Never pick the seeds off the palm, they are ready immediately after they fall off the tree. If seed smells like over-ripe produce then you know you have a winner. Trash the seeds you picked too soon, not worth the trouble.

These palms are prolific seeders here in south FL. Property owners and landscape architects prefer the male trees to avoid the fruit mess. And even the males have pollen stalks that can leave sticky mess all over your car.

Had two large ones in my front yard. Really anchored the entire landscape when they were at their peak. One was male the other female. BOTH ended up being a PITA from the flower and fruit stalks. The only saving grace were the seedlings that came up from the fruits I didn't pick up from the ground.

In the end they were both killed by the palm weevil.

And that's how I ended up with a L. sarabus....and Bottle Palm.....right back into the same locations......