Growing Sabal minor from seed in Central VA

[TJ_Palmetto]

I've successfully germinated some Sabal minor palms from seed I collected in October 2024. Unfortunately I lost one after repotting but the rest seem to be doing well. I have them in small 16oz coffee cups. I'm nervous about over watering and I don't want to repot until these guys are really root bound. Any tips on watering seedlings? Hope they put on a lot of growth when I move them outside in the spring. Also, when could I expect more mature palmate leaves from these guys?

[SeanK]

Palms definitely need drier soil in winter than in summer.

[PalmatierMeg]

Sabals put down deep saxophone roots and need deep pots - 8-10”  - to contain their roots and underground stem. Those little cups are too shallow and are only half full of soil. No point in disrupting what’s already done but next time use a much deeper pot substitute like a 16 oz water bottle with the top cut off and 1/2” drainage holes cut through the bottom.

[NC_Palms]

On 1/9/2025 at 7:48 AM, TJ_Palmetto said:

Also, when could I expect more mature palmate leaves from these guys?

Give it a few years. If that. They take a long time to develop palmate leaves 

[TJ_Palmetto]

Thanks guys for the advice! Yeah from what I've read they grow really slow and I'll be sure to repot them in something deeper once their root bound. Didn't know sabals had a taproot

[PalmatierMeg]

7 hours ago, TJ_Palmetto said:

Thanks guys for the advice! Yeah from what I've read they grow really slow and I'll be sure to repot them in something deeper once their root bound. Didn't know sabals had a taproot

It's not a taproot. It's a "saxophone stem", so-called because of its shape and, in most Sabal minors, because it grows underground. Never try to transplant a Sabal minor that is going palmate. You will almost surely shatter the stem and kill the palm. Good luck with your project.