Hand pollinating chamaedorea Metallica

[happypalms]

My chamaedoreas are flowering. I have already done the adscendans. I have been observing the Metallicas and have had two male plants that have been ready to collect pollen from. I just cut some male flowers carefully and the white pollen falls in my hand then I  just close my hand around the female flowers with the male flowers. I was  successfull last year with only about a dozen seeds setting. That’s enough seeds for future generations to be replanted in the garden. See how I go this year. I could use an artist brush that might be more successful but when iam working in the garden I casually observe and if any pollen is ready i collect it there and then. Once the seeds are set I put them in a plastic bag with a few holes cut in the bottom to keep the rats and possums away.

[Patrick]

Thank you! I have several but they never get any seed. I need to focus my attention on them a bit more...

[Central Floridave]

smart idea to bag them like that!   

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, Patrick said:

Thank you! I have several but they never get any seed. I need to focus my attention on them a bit more...

Watch the males closely the flower will go orange when close. If you need to store the pollen in the refrigerator until the females are ready. 

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, Central Floridave said:

smart idea to bag them like that!   

I did use the green tree guards. But I found the clip seal bag works just fine with holes cut in the bottom damm rats and possums with exspensive taste. 

[Pal Meir]

I did the same 25 years ago and had a lot of children; here one example of my pinnate variants:

[happypalms]

8 hours ago, Pal Meir said:

I did the same 25 years ago and had a lot of children; here one example of my pinnate variants:

My holy grail palm, if only I could find a dozen pinnate form. Yours are absolutely stunning!

[Harry’s Palms]

I have 8 large Metallica plants in 2 pots ( 4 in each pot )I have had them for about 20 years or more . A few years ago a baby popped up in one of the pots , I hadn’t really paid attention to the flowers to see if there was male / female flowers. Obviously there were and at least one seed germinated in the pot . Now one pot has 5 Metallica! 
     Nice job Richard on keeping your palms producing . Harry

‘The pot on the left , you can see the short one growing with its parents. 

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I have 8 large Metallica plants in 2 pots ( 4 in each pot )I have had them for about 20 years or more . A few years ago a baby popped up in one of the pots , I hadn’t really paid attention to the flowers to see if there was male / female flowers. Obviously there were and at least one seed germinated in the pot . Now one pot has 5 Metallica! 
     Nice job Richard on keeping your palms producing . Harry

‘The pot on the left , you can see the short one growing with its parents. 

Some beautiful palms there. Instant garden if you plant them out. I have the perfect spot for them in my garden. There a couple of plants you see on buy swap and sell that’s for sure absolutely perfection well done. That’s how i started taking notice of my chameadorea palms I noticed one seed one day and that seed got thinking how to get more seeds. 
Ricahrd