Washingtonia Filifera seeds

[Nikoskater]

Hi everyone!

I’ve found someone selling few Washingtonia Filifera seeds and I have some questions about.

what is the best time of the year to sow them?

how long can they be stored before sowing them?

are those in the pictures Filifera seeds?

thanks everyone!

[ZPalms]

4 hours ago, Nikoskater said:

Hi everyone!

I’ve found someone selling few Washingtonia Filifera seeds and I have some questions about.

what is the best time of the year to sow them?

how long can they be stored before sowing them?

are those in the pictures Filifera seeds?

thanks everyone!

Hello! You can germinate them anytime of the year, but personally, the best time is before spring so they can sit outside all summer and enjoy the heat!

I'm not sure how long they can be stored, but I know they have a pretty decent shelf life. I've seen people who have had them for 2 years and still some sprouted, and recently saw somebody who kept some for 4 years and a couple sprouted, so I think it varies.

It's hard to tell if they are filifera seeds, as all Washingtonia seeds look similar. The only way to truly know if they are filifera seeds is to get them from someone who has access to pure filifera, away from all the hybrids and robustas. So if the seller has access to pure filifera, then that's the only way to know if they are pure because otherwise, you could have filibusta! 

Edited February 15 by ZPalms

[Nikoskater]

2 hours ago, ZPalms said:

Hello! You can germinate them anytime of the year, but personally, the best time is before spring so they can sit outside all summer and enjoy the heat!

I'm not sure how long they can be stored, but I know they have a pretty decent shelf life. I've seen people who have had them for 2 years and still some sprouted, and recently saw somebody who kept some for 4 years and a couple sprouted, so I think it varies.

It's hard to tell if they are filifera seeds, as all Washingtonia seeds look similar. The only way to truly know if they are filifera seeds is to get them from someone who has access to pure filifera, away from all the hybrids and robustas. So if the seller has access to pure filifera, then that's the only way to know if they are pure because otherwise, you could have filibusta! 

Thanks!

[Nikoskater]

I’ll keep you guys updated

[Pal Meir]

The eophyll might look something like this, much more delicate than that of W robusta:

[Pal Meir]

The difference between the two Washingtonia species in the first year after germination:

 

[Nikoskater]

On 2/16/2024 at 10:25 PM, Pal Meir said:

The difference between the two Washingtonia species in the first year after germination:

 

How tall do you think they can get if they’ll stay in a pot for all their lives? Obviously giving them space when they’ll get rootbound?

Last year I got a potted robusta (I was told it was 4 years old) and it’s now 50 inches tall with a 4 inch trunk, but needs to be repotted (I see the roots pushing to excape through the drainage holes but I’m waiting for spring to repot

Also what is the lowest temp can the seedlings handle?

[Pal Meir]

3 hours ago, Nikoskater said:

How tall do you think they can get if they’ll stay in a pot for all their lives? Obviously giving them space when they’ll get rootbound?

Last year I got a potted robusta (I was told it was 4 years old) and it’s now 50 inches tall with a 4 inch trunk, but needs to be repotted (I see the roots pushing to excape through the drainage holes but I’m waiting for spring to repot

Also what is the lowest temp can the seedlings handle?

I have a photo of the W robusta from 1974, then two yr old:

But almost all palms I owned didn't survive the long absence from home during my word trip 1977-1980. So I can only add a pic of another W robusta which germinated in 1980 as a nine yr old potted specimen in 1989:

If you prune the roots you can keep them for decades in pots.

 

[Dwarf Fan]

18 hours ago, Nikoskater said:

How tall do you think they can get if they’ll stay in a pot for all their lives? Obviously giving them space when they’ll get rootbound?

Last year I got a potted robusta (I was told it was 4 years old) and it’s now 50 inches tall with a 4 inch trunk, but needs to be repotted (I see the roots pushing to excape through the drainage holes but I’m waiting for spring to repot

Also what is the lowest temp can the seedlings handle?

Seedlings should be able to handle cold down to 25F (-3.8C). Below that threshold they might start to take damage.

[JohnAndSancho]

These are almost ready to be potted 😂😂😂

[ZPalms]

34 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

These are almost ready to be potted 😂😂😂

Omg get those dudes out 😂

[Leelanau Palms]

Yes, plant them now. Free the palms!

[JLM]

1 hour ago, JohnAndSancho said:

These are almost ready to be potted 😂😂😂

Actually looks like they were ready to be potted yesterday and the day before yesterday

[JohnAndSancho]

1 hour ago, JLM said:

Actually looks like they were ready to be potted yesterday and the day before yesterday

And like 2 months ago when I was told to pot them up

[Nikoskater]

On 2/21/2024 at 11:50 PM, Pal Meir said:

I have a photo of the W robusta from 1974, then two yr old:

But almost all palms I owned didn't survive the long absence from home during my word trip 1977-1980. So I can only add a pic of another W robusta which germinated in 1980 as a nine yr old potted specimen in 1989:

If you prune the roots you can keep them for decades in pots.

 

Root pruning is done to keep the pot size the same, but does it affect the growth in height?

[Nikoskater]

Seeds received, in a few weeks I’ll plant them, I’ll keep you guys updated!

btw compared to the cidp seeds they’re tiny!

[Pal Meir]

20 minutes ago, Nikoskater said:

Root pruning is done to keep the pot size the same, but does it affect the growth in height?

The whole palm tree becomes a little less massive, a little bonsai-like. It will look more or less like the one from 1989, only the trunk will get higher and higher.

[Nikoskater]

On 2/23/2024 at 7:57 PM, Pal Meir said:

The whole palm tree becomes a little less massive, a little bonsai-like. It will look more or less like the one from 1989, only the trunk will get higher and higher.

🙏🏼

[Dwarf Fan]

On 2/23/2024 at 12:33 PM, Nikoskater said:

Seeds received, in a few weeks I’ll plant them, I’ll keep you guys updated!

btw compared to the cidp seeds they’re tiny!

Yes that is the correct size for a Washingtonia definitely smaller than a Canary.

[Nikoskater]

First two seeds dropped in 100% lechuza pon, let’s see what happens 

[Leelanau Palms]

2 hours ago, Nikoskater said:

First two seeds dropped in 100% lechuza pon, let’s see what happens 

What is lechuza pon?

[Dwarf Fan]

3 hours ago, Leelanau Palms said:

What is lechuza pon?

It is a European growing media substrate mix with added slow release fertilizer. 

https://www.lechuza.us/promotion/lechuza-pon-2.7-us.dry.gal/19562.html

[Leelanau Palms]

Cool. Thanks for the education  

[Leelanau Palms]

Check out this thread for additional washy filifera/filibusta seedling experiences: 

 

[Nikoskater]

So 4 of them were soaked for 3 days in water (changed it twice) other 4 were placed directly in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag and placed on the radiator.

It’s been few days and none of them showed sign of anything, they’re now all together in the damp paper towel.

i think the issue is that the radiators won’t kick in as soon as in full winter, so I placed the bag on top of a salt lamp (warmer but constant temp)

any advices?

should I wait summer and place the seeds out in the sun heat?

 

house temp never goes under 65f, but when the radiator heats up (usually 1 hr in the morning and 4-5 hrs in the evening/night) it reaches 70-73f

Edited March 4 by Nikoskater

[Leelanau Palms]

They should germinate with or without heat, but more will germinate and germinate faster with a consistent heat source. The time range for germination can be large. It would be less likely for them to germinate in under 3 weeks. I would favor starting the process now with all your seeds and consistent warmth, plus patience

[Nikoskater]

So do you think it’s better to put them above the salt lamp that’s always on at a lower but constant temperature then leave them above the radiator that heats up few hours a day?

thanks!

[Leelanau Palms]

Depends on the approximate temperatures of each location

[Leelanau Palms]

You might want to get a thermometer and check out the temps at both locations

[Nikoskater]

Tomorrow I’ll measure both places, and let you know! 🙏🏼

[Nikoskater]

On 3/5/2024 at 10:50 AM, Leelanau Palms said:

You might want to get a thermometer and check out the temps at both locations

So salt lamp has constant 87-88f and the seeds bag placed between the wall and the lamp has 83f, the radiator when on reaches 140f for few hours a day 

[Leelanau Palms]

Radiator would cook and kill the seeds. If they've already been on it, they may be done for. The salt lamp location is pretty good!

[Nikoskater]

Thanks, if in a week I won’t see nothing happen I’ll put new seeds near the lamp!

I’ll keep you updated!

[Nikoskater]

Not a single seed sprouted.

i guess the salt lamp is absorbing all the humidity in the bag. I check every 2-3 days and i always find the paper towel mostly dried, even if the bag is all fogged up with condensation.

i worried to ruin all my seeds, so I guess the best way is to just wait for summer and pot them.

any suggestions?

[Leelanau Palms]

Put all the seeds in a baggy with potting soil or sphagnum. Moisten thoroughly., but not soaking wet. Squeeze out air. Place near salt lamp. Be patient.

[Nikoskater]

On 3/12/2024 at 10:58 PM, Leelanau Palms said:

Put all the seeds in a baggy with potting soil or sphagnum. Moisten thoroughly., but not soaking wet. Squeeze out air. Place near salt lamp. Be patient.

Did that and they started sprouting!

thanks!

Now moved to plastic cups under grow light!

[Leelanau Palms]

Great news! Congratulations! Looking good

[Arizona transplant]

I know this reply is after the germination has occurred. My go-to is coco coir in a ziploc on top of gas water heater. Idk the temp but its always warm but not hot. Cheap and no worry about a fire hazard. They will keep for a few months after germination has completed. Ive let them stay until they poked through the bag.

[Nikoskater]

On 4/9/2024 at 6:23 AM, Arizona transplant said:

I know this reply is after the germination has occurred. My go-to is coco coir in a ziploc on top of gas water heater. Idk the temp but its always warm but not hot. Cheap and no worry about a fire hazard. They will keep for a few months after germination has completed. Ive let them stay until they poked through the bag.

I have germinated half of the seeds I own, the rest of them will be put outside in a ziplock bag or community pot and giving the fact that the temperature are rising, I’m hoping to get good results without much hussle, but thanks anyway!

[Leelanau Palms]

Thanks for the update. Mine planted in late December are coming along. I've lost a few along the way to what I expect was fungal infection/overwatering.  They hate cooler temps and love warmth!