Sowing zamia fischeri

[happypalms]

I collected some Zamia fischeri seeds cleaned them with a small power wash they have had 6 weeks delayed maturation so time to plant them and seem what happens the seeds were collected from my 20 year old Zamia plants 

[Merlyn]

@happypalms I have a few mature Vasquezii plants and was thinking of growing seedlings from them.  What do you do for temperature, water, and typical germination time on these?

[happypalms]

11 hours ago, Merlyn said:

@happypalms I have a few mature Vasquezii plants and was thinking of growing seedlings from them.  What do you do for temperature, water, and typical germination time on these?

Good question I could ask the same from you this is my first time trying to propagate them I would assume around 25 to 30 degrees Celsius the same mix as my palms coco peat perlite mix with all the water squeezed out you will know the sound in your hand when you squeeze the moisture out I have germinated a few other Zamia sp all I know is don’t water them a lot as I have lost a few to fungus completely fine in the medium and doing well and out of habit I water them and then they die from fungus keep them on the dry side iam still learning Zamia sp other cycas sp not a problem for me one would think 3 months or more in germination time there would be someone out there with the grow information and techniques on this species 

[Merlyn]

@happypalms the only cycad I've ever grown from seed was a Cycas Revoluta x Multifrondis.  I got it as a just-barely-germinated seed from Scott W, and put it in a pot with about equal parts perlite, Turface MVP (fired clay pebbles) and generic potting soil.  It was in my nursery area that gets an overhead low pressure fan sprayer every morning.  This worked okay for the Cycas, but both species in the hybrid are ok with lots of water.  So that might not be the best idea for Zamia Fischeri or Vasquezii.

[happypalms]

7 hours ago, Merlyn said:

@happypalms the only cycad I've ever grown from seed was a Cycas Revoluta x Multifrondis.  I got it as a just-barely-germinated seed from Scott W, and put it in a pot with about equal parts perlite, Turface MVP (fired clay pebbles) and generic potting soil.  It was in my nursery area that gets an overhead low pressure fan sprayer every morning.  This worked okay for the Cycas, but both species in the hybrid are ok with lots of water.  So that might not be the best idea for Zamia Fischeri or Vasquezii.

Thanks I definitely need to look into Zamia  propagation as my success so far is not good I might have to change what Iam doing and go into straight perlite cheers 

[Brian]

On 10/2/2023 at 1:41 PM, happypalms said:

Thanks I definitely need to look into Zamia  propagation as my success so far is not good I might have to change what Iam doing and go into straight perlite cheers 

Use straight pumice. I dont lay my seeds down, I just stand them up with about the last third sticking out of the pumice. The bottom of the seed will stay moist but when it starts to dry out , it's time to water them. You dont need to keep the top of the seed moist. They germinate pretty quickly, as do most zamia compared to other cycads. Also, I find that good airflow is critical to preventing fungus.

[happypalms]

19 minutes ago, Brian said:

Use straight pumice. I dont lay my seeds down, I just stand them up with about the last third sticking out of the pumice. The bottom of the seed will stay moist but when it starts to dry out , it's time to water them. You dont need to keep the top of the seed moist. They germinate pretty quickly, as do most zamia compared to other cycads. Also, I find that good airflow is critical to preventing fungus.

Thanks for the information greatly appreciated I thought someone out there in palm land would have information on germination