World Famous Dypsis Decipiens has seedlings

[TheMadScientist]

THIS IS NO APRIL FOOL'S JOKE, it just happened today.  With permission from the Sullivan Family in Ventura, I have been documenting some of the species start of flowering to when seeds seem to become ripe to harvest during 2021.  Then Mother Nature throws a curve ball.  So. Cal. has been having it's typical DROUGHT, then the rare storm shows up...5 days with about 5 inches of rain coupled with 40-45 mph winds gusting to 50-60 mph and all of the seeds were off this palm, in the street gutter and on the grassy parkway where tiny worms were attacking them.  So many had to be thrown out during the cleaning process at home.  What was left of the fruit rubbed off by hand.  I did do a water soak for 1 day, 2 hour hydrogen peroxide soak to kill buggies and bacteria.  Photo #1 showing seeds just prior to being placed in 20 member community pots where some were 71 deg. F, some were 79 deg. F in my converted ice chests with 40 watt drop lights with lid raised photo #2, some were outdoors going through what nature not lower than 49 deg. F had and some in the garage steady between 50 - 60 deg. F.  Photo #3 & 4 are the 2 seedlings that had just pushed green through to peat/perlite surface, which I took an ice pick to move a little material away for the photo shoot.  The container closest to the light source was 79 deg. F and the container furthest away was 71 deg F.  I will update this thread as the family grows past 2 seedlings.

[aztropic]

Seeds all looked great! Hope you get more than 2 sprouts for the effort...

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

[TheMadScientist]

These 2 were the first TODAY.  I can't draw any conclusions yet about temperature, but I did read they prefer room temp.  I am that really frugal guy, so I had to pump up slightly what I interpret room temp.s should be.

[BayAndroid]

What's the plan for the seedlings? 

[Darold Petty]

Congratulations, Scott !  

[TheMadScientist]

42 minutes ago, BayAndroid said:

What's the plan for the seedlings? 

Will, you ask a great question at this early stage with this species.  I have read so many posts over the years from those I consider experts, asking "Has anyone ever germinated seeds from the well documented palm"?  I don't remember seeing anyone stating...."YES, I DID".  Timing the moment to harvest any seeds is difficult more than 1 hour away (did I mention gas prices?).  When I knew about the brutal storm, arrived to see every seed off the palm, seeing the tiny worms, I had ZERO confidence of germination.  I have found that GIFTING can bring happiness to friends, family and to those on this forum that understand the effort required to get to this point.  I have read about something called "Cryptogamic root disease" that could be the next issue to solve, if it's possible.

[BayAndroid]

For context, can you post a photo of the tree from which the seeds came from? I might have seen it before, (not in person) but I don't know for sure.

[TheMadScientist]

There are much better photos of these 2.  I was looking for photos that might be 2013 when @DoomsDave was taking @Tassie_Troy1971 on 1 of many PRA's ( palm related activities) in So. Cal.   I took these 2 photos about 6 weeks after the start of the flowering process as I had forgot to bring my IPad Air2 so they weren't to see the portrait of the entire palm.

 

[BayAndroid]

Ok, I have seen this one before. Very nice! 

[TheMadScientist]

UPDATE CONCLUDING THE FIRST MONTH OF GERMINATION... 30 have been "potted up to 20 oz. cups" after breaking down 4 community pots.  This photo is of the 15 of those 30 showing the most growth and moved outside under the canopy of the California Pepper tree, while the other 15 remain in the germination boxes.  Root development on the tallest seedlings is close to 6 inches.  None of the "room temperature" community pots developed any seedlings, so they have moved into the germination boxes  receiving elevated temp's.  Breaking down the first 4 community pots, I discovered approx. 12 seeds that were completely eaten internally leaving just the outer shell.  As you can see at the top of this post, I soaked all of these in hydrogen peroxide for 2 hours hoping to kill the worms seen during the collection.  I have found enough seeds starting the germination process to rebuild a couple of community pots.  I was reminded of the importance of using "peat moss/perlite"...roots don't get damaged, roots seem to grow better with the ease of movement, water retention without being soggy.

Now about this species.  I have asked a number of members that have had seed producing palms to learn about flowering regularity.  When I got permission from the Sullivan Heirs, he stated that both senior and junior had not produced any seeds in 2020 and on a recent trip, flowering should have started already for late fall harvesting....nothing happening.  Add any knowledge you have on this subject.

[Tassie_Troy1971]

On 4/3/2022 at 4:06 AM, TheMadScientist said:

There are much better photos of these 2.  I was looking for photos that might be 2013 when @DoomsDave was taking @Tassie_Troy1971 on 1 of many PRA's ( palm related activities) in So. Cal.   I took these 2 photos about 6 weeks after the start of the flowering process as I had forgot to bring my IPad Air2 so they weren't to see the portrait of the entire palm.

 

Yes it was May 2013 when Dave drove me to Ventura.

[JubaeaMan138]

20 minutes ago, Tassie_Troy1971 said:

Yes it was May 2013 when Dave drove me to Ventura.

Why the orange straps I have asked this before any ideas?

Edited May 1, 2022 by JubaeaMan138

[JohnAndSancho]

Can I ask a dumb newbie question? 

 

The palm is gorgeous but what makes this particular palm famous and special? No disrespect intended, I do not know palm history and would like to learn. 

[The Gerg]

Being that I live in Ventura and this property is about 2 1/2 miles down the road I often take a slight detour home just to take a look at what’s happening with the palms.

Separately, I happened to stumble across another Dypsis decipiens also in mid town Ventura. I dropped my sons friend off and this was right next door to where his friend lives. Imagine my pleasant surprise. This one has split into 3.

[BS Man about Palms]

As the Sullivans had a nursery way back when, there is a high likelihood that that decipeins is connected to Pauleen somehow. Either an old property they had or they sold it to the owner...

[TheMadScientist]

Thank You @BS Man about Palms for mentioning about a Nursery.  I had never seen that in the many posts I've read about The Sullivan Properties.

@JohnAndSancho, based on the size and variety of so many rare species, PT members with interests in palms make this a "MUST SEE" location on their bucket list.....from locals, So. Cal. to Nor. Cal., out of state along with International visitors.

"Orange Strap", this junior DD is the anchor to keep some palm closer to the house from becoming an insurance claim, but I've never paid attention to which species.  There are additional "Orange Straps" holding the massive multi-headed Chamaerops Humilis from collapsing.

[tinman10101]

On 5/1/2022 at 6:18 AM, The Gerg said:

Being that I live in Ventura and this property is about 2 1/2 miles down the road I often take a slight detour home just to take a look at what’s happening with the palms.

Separately, I happened to stumble across another Dypsis decipiens also in mid town Ventura. I dropped my sons friend off and this was right next door to where his friend lives. Imagine my pleasant surprise. This one has split into 3.

wow thanks for sharing greg.  to me and probably most of us, its like finding a unicorn. LOL

[TheMadScientist]

For those of us that attempt to PERPETUATE A PALM SPECIES, days like this can happen causing us to wonder what we didn't do correctly.  Coming up on 6 months after germination, in a basket containing 15 getting the same exact attention relating to heat, water, wind.  ROOT development is much better than I expected, I couldn't see any darker portions on the roots suggesting "DAMPENING OFF".

[Tyrone]

7 hours ago, TheMadScientist said:

For those of us that attempt to PERPETUATE A PALM SPECIES, days like this can happen causing us to wonder what we didn't do correctly.  Coming up on 6 months after germination, in a basket containing 15 getting the same exact attention relating to heat, water, wind.  ROOT development is much better than I expected, I couldn't see any darker portions on the roots suggesting "DAMPENING OFF".

Sunburn and cooking from excess heat???

[BayAndroid]

To bring this back to life, is there an update on these seedlings?

[floridaPalmMan]

Bump

[KrisKupsch]

A friend here in australia has several mature of which he has grown a couple hundred now and started sharing them about. 

Edited January 3 by KrisKupsch

[happypalms]

2 hours ago, KrisKupsch said:

A friend here in australia has several mature of which he has grown a couple hundred now and started sharing them about. 

And I was lucky enough to get two of them thanks Kris a great gift palm 

[Harry’s Palms]

I started visiting Pauline’s house , after hearing her history from a fellow collector, in about 1990 . I never met her but would ride my bicycle and just look at the collection from the street. I met Terry coincidentally at a Starbucks in Ventura years later and would spend quite a bit of time talking about his mother’s collection. At that time he was maintaining both the Ventura properties and the estate on the Big Island with some help from his brother. He lived right next door to Pauline’s corner house. I lost track of him after his mother passed. I haven’t been by there in some time to see how things are holding up or if Terry is still around. He is a super nice guy .

[flplantguy]

I hope these are still doing well!  It's one I would love to unlock the secret to here in Florida.  I think my spot could do it, but all these obstacles to growth make it hard to find!  If anyone knows a place to get one please let me know.  When I spoke to Jeff Marcus he said they were not sprouting in the wild anymore either, or at least there were none observed, so this species is one I worry about and hope to help conserve.

[floridaPalmMan]

On 1/3/2024 at 2:33 AM, Harry’s Palms said:

I haven’t been by there in some time to see how things are holding up or if Terry is still around. He is a super nice guy .

So... can I selfishly ask you to look him back up again?

I see he used to sell these seeds in large numbers here back in 2011-2013 but he hasn't logged on here since 2013.

I've been searching for a seed source for this palm for years now and can't find anyone that has some. It's insane.

PM me please if anyone has a source. We need to keep this species alive. It's too beautiful to let die off

[Harry’s Palms]

4 hours ago, floridaPalmMan said:

So... can I selfishly ask you to look him back up again?

I see he used to sell these seeds in large numbers here back in 2011-2013 but he hasn't logged on here since 2013.

I've been searching for a seed source for this palm for years now and can't find anyone that has some. It's insane.

PM me please if anyone has a source. We need to keep this species alive. It's too beautiful to let die off

Yes, absolutely it has been done. I will PM you .

 

[David B]

Sorry to hijack the thread. Anyone have experience shifting decipens?