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New plants starting during the winter months makes the time pass so much quicker!

Here's a couple that are just starting on their first fronds,


Ceratozamia microstrobila





Encephalartos transvenosus





Steve

Why did you wrap cardboard paper around it?





Just kidding,great pics!

Great photos Steve, to catch those silken hairs.

Barb

Thanks for the comments! For me, the camera catches far more detail than I will ever see. (even with my good glasses on

Things are still moving along,






Here is another Ceratozamia a little further along,




Leaflets are just starting to open,





Steve

THAT IS AWESOME!

Exceptional pictures, Steve.
Barb

Thanks for the comments, feel free to add photos!

A couple more as they progress,

Ceratozamia microstrobila






Encephalartos transvenosus







Cycas debaoensis






Steve

They're sure responding to warmth! "Periscope up"!

Those c.debaoensis seeds are wonderful, germinating quickly.
Truly beautiful seeds.

Reminded me of this almost pushing the seed off the soil



Keep your camera handy the next 2 or 3 weeks. It's magical.

Barb

Awesome pics Steve. What type of camera do you have? The way you can magnify on your close ups is amazing. The detail!!!

Barb, That looks familiar, have a couple doing the same thing
I'm using a light mix with these, so it has to be the fast growth rate!


Wes, Thanks! these are a mix from two cameras.
An older Ricoh Caplio G3, only 3 mega pixel, but it's small size and 1cm focus range make it ideal for macros.
The other is my newest, a Nikon D40



Steve

Yes, fast growth causes the seed to stand up out of the pot.

My mix was obviously heavier than yours. They still stood up.
I added fresh soil with a teaspoon so it wouldn't break.

Maybe throw a phone book on top
Barb

Really cool pics-
Drop anchor....and set sail!

Very nice photos, indeed, Steve! I thought you (and others) might like to see some (lesser quality) photos of seedlings from that same batch of Encephalartos transvenosus seeds a little further along here in warm Miami.





Happy New Year everyone!

Jody

Holy cow, they're growing right through the shelves!

Jody, what is the top dressing?
Pieces seem too large to be perlite.

Happy 2010 to you, too!
Barb

lucky1 wrote:Holy cow, they're growing right through the shelves!

Jody, what is the top dressing?
Pieces seem too large to be perlite.

Happy 2010 to you, too!
Barb

Hey Barb. Good question. That is Size 3 perlite -- which is often used in orchid mixes. I buy it in large bags at an orchid supply store here in Miami. I use it as a sterile topdress for newly germinated seeds to reduce fungal infection and ameliorate the moisture content right next to the seed.

Jody

Perlite comes in graded sizes?
We northerners are lucky to find perlite...period...on the shelf, let alone a selection

In a two-fold effort last year, I cut up styrofoam into pieces about the size of that #3...cheap way to get aerating bulk mix into topsoil.
Plus I'd get rid of the styrofoam (at least from view).

But my idea bombed.
Between static electricity build-up (attracted doghair from 3 feet away!) and wind-blown particles cruising across the patio all summer long, I'm back to buying perlite.

Barb

Jody, Thanks for the photos, these seem quite robust!
(I'm sure mine would rather be in Miami

Both you sent are doing good! If anything, I should have put them in larger containers from the beginning. They quickly outgrew the 20oz ones.

Here's a "before" photo,






Barb, The only perlite choices here are "Miracle-gro", or "Schultz"
Of course none will be stocked till spring, I've been mixing orchid & cactus mix together to hold me over. Guess it's time to find an online supplier.


Steve

Here's a Cycas debaoensis sending up two initial fronds,







Steve

How long did those take to germinate Steve? Nothing yet with my seeds.

Bill

Bill, I received the C.debaoensis seeds on 12/11, they all germinated within a week
Not all Cycad seeds work out this well, these were properly cleaned, and stored with a proper hold time.
Made a nice Christmas present !

You should start seeing some results with your seeds after 4-6 weeks, good luck with them, and have a safe trip!



Steve

Thanks Steve!

A couple recent photos,



Encephalartos transvenosus frond opening,





Latest Ceratozamia microstobila to germinate,





Steve

Vigorous looking.
Great photography Steve.

You must be happy with the camera change.
Barb

Hi Barb, I've had the new camera since last May, just now starting to learn how to properly use it

All the Cycads have done well this winter, so far just a few leaves burned off in the greenhouse, (had some cold pockets with the -10F/-23C lows), How are yours doing?


Steve

My cycads, despite being warm in the house, south window and misted daily, are at a standstill.
Just like last winter.

Most disappointing has been the Dioon edule.
After ~3 years looks the same as when received.

Indoor palms are leafing out all around the cycads...you think they'd get the idea!

One problem may be keeping the soil too dry...
trying to reduce fungus gnat population

But they're alive!
Barb

Barb, They are just waiting for spring I haven't seen any top growth in the GH with the cooler temps, but have noticed caudex expansion. (It seems to me most Cycads do have a continuous growth pattern when happy)

My Dioons have been somewhat faster growing. For me at least, the formula has been deep containers, a mix heavy in Perlite, full sun, and a deep watering every 1-3 days depending on temps.

Here's one from last summer,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveks/38 ... 140197278/

Good luck with the fungus gnats, I let the spiders have at them last year in the GH. It worked, but now I have a population of little jumping spiders out there.............lol

Steve

Good point about the caudex expansion; I've noticed that too, especially the Z. vasquezii and D. spinulosum.
We lack sunshine during winter, so the D.edule is holding on for spring.
Deep watering every 1-3 days?
oops..I water it once in 3 weeks

jumping spiders versus fungus gnats...can't decide which I hate worse.

Nice video of dioon flush...
I'll have to sit mine in front of the screen!
Barb

The Cycas debaoensis fronds are starting to open




Ceratozamia,





Steve

Super!

Now comes the really exciting part of C.debaoensis.

Whether the juvenile leaves have any characteristic waviness, or perhaps the next flush.
And each plant is a little different from the other.
My four evidence that.

Looks like the first will have 7 (maybe leaf segments.
Of mine, two have six, two have 8 but amount of dividing varies considerably.

Enjoy!
Barb

Dioon Edule

Congrats, Gartem!

What was your germination time?

After C.debaoensis, D.edule are my favorite.

Barb

Sowing 5.01.2010. Actually 34 days. But somehow germ grows up. Even let them grow up and they would see.

34 days is excellent!

Bottom heat? or a sunny window?

It is at the aquarium, is obtained without light, with the bottom warms a bit.

Excellent job!
I enjoyed viewing your Flickr photostream too.
Lovely plants.

Barb

Thank you.

I transcribed it into another container, 15 cm in height. Second seed musty.

Dioon edule
I pulled a little earthen mixture

Dioon edule

Artem, looking good