PalmsNorth.com

Six of 50 Wodyetia bifurcata have popped in 6 weeks. Sorry for lousy pic quality.



LED light box goes over top (2" gap) for 12 hours overnite.





First time palm seeds have been successful for me.
Even if the other 44 don't germinate, I'm a happy woman

Now to keep 'em alive
Barb

Nice work Barb There's likely to be more germinating in the coming weeks. That's one palm I've always admired but never started. I did about 50 King palms (Archontophoenix alexandrae) in March '08 and about 85% inexplicably aborted shortly afterward. I have three survivors. Keep us posted on their progress.

Cheers, Barrie.

Barb, That's nice to see

Let us know how that LED grow light works out.


Steve

Thanks guys.

7 have popped as of this morning.
Some that were nearest the wood stove may have been cooked.

One row of the LED lights has failed for no apparent reason.
12 hours under the LEDs hopefully is enough.
There's a bit of green showing on a few.

Barb

12 have popped at 7 weeks.


Barb

Isn't it nice to work with fresh seed?
Look forward to seeing their progress!

Steve

It sure is, Steve.

Because I don't have a GH, if seeds took 5 or 6 months, I'm sure I'd forget where I put them.
Barb

16 up of 50 in ~8 weeks.

Since I've never before germinated a palm seed (and heaven knows I've tried), this so interesting.

Didn't see a "button" (probably the soil hid it).
What I thought was the first leaf has abruptly stopped, and a leaf seems to be growing out of that...a sheath, I guess.

And little dots on it. Hopefully that's not fungus gnat poop.

Strange that the community pots on a heat mat are popping at about the same rate as those without bottom heat.
Thank you, nearby wood stove!





Barb

30 of 50 have popped in 11 weeks.

The earliest seem to be moving along nicely.
Some are under the red and blue LED light box, others are beneath a 4-foot fluorescent 32 w.
Can't see any difference in growth between the LED and fluorescent.
However, I've recently heard that red light is better for plant growth...will check further.



Oops, even cut their heads off in the pic!


The CFPACS currently offers seeds from Puerto Rico...quite a variety.

Barb

Looking good Barb
Your woodstove method is showing good results!

I'm still looking over the newest seed list, it's quite tempting


Steve

Looking good Barb
Didn't know you could raise seedlings in a discotheque



I hope you will wait a while to plant those outside

Steve and Jim,

Thanks guys! The woodstove is the prime factor in germination success, as my heat mat is puny and doesn't hold many pots.
I "Google Imaged" each name on that seed list, and then reminded myself to save seed-starting for a Fall/Winter activity to dispel boredom.

Disco! I'm short the mirrored ball and loud music
The basement emits an eerie glow at night.

I promise...the seedling Foxtails won't go outdoors until June (how's that?!?!)

See what you think of this: red mulch! In a catalogue, tomato plants were pictured with a red plastic over the soil. The article said: "From time to time research comes up with some astounding results. This is one of them. When this red plastic mulch is put on the soil under tomatoes, it will increase yields by up to 20% over black mulch, and makes the fruit set earlier. It works by reflecting a certain spectrum of light back to the plants, which in turn triggers photosynthesis to stimulate rapid growth and development. The research was done by a number of universities and our own tests proved it accurate. Also works with strawberries."

Always wondered why LED boards included red and blue lights, versus white lights. Hope they're as good for juvenile palms as for vegetables!

Barb

I promise...the seedling Foxtails won't go outdoors until June (how's that?!?!)




Might be the coldest time of the year there!

Might be the coldest time of the year there!

You might be right!

This picture hit the local paper two years ago April 23, 2008. In case it's not obvious, he's sitting on his diving board...





My place a few days before that:



There's more:



Enough, right?
Barb

That's crazy about the snow that late!

I have heard about the red film doing wonders for tomato's. You just gave me an idea, I'm going to staple some red film over my washy hut!

Thanks Barb

Yea,that is late in the season.

Somebody told me it snowed here in June once,he is very old and was probably lost.

Careful, that Washy may grow upside down.
I think the red film is supposed to go on the soil

Barb

Will see I guess

I'm in grow mode for sure, I'm going to hook up the medal halide bulbs in the grow room down cellar. I only have two out of the 3 bulbs, I guess 350w will have to do for now until I can get another one.

Bill

350 w will cover a good-sized area.
How's the basement temperature?

Barb

Time to get some from Community pots to individual pots.

Wasn't easy getting them out of their community pots.
Gave them a dip in SuperThrive before potting up.



Learning why palms like TALL pots, even for germination.



Made quite a mess in the basement but it was fun.
One day I will have topsoil, pots, and perlite AT THE SAME TIME



I added topsoil around the seed with a SPOON (of all things!!! ) so soil wouldn't wash away.
This is when misting works better I think.

Barb

That's awesome Barb!
I hope you didn't have to drink all those double gulps
What are you going to do with all those peach trees?

Gulps hold beer quite nicely, saves on trips to the fridge

They'll be lined up like soldiers on the patio this summer...can't wait.
Imagine a row of foxtails

Barb

double gulps are awesome. whats that? 64 ounces of your favorite beverage. now if you could just get 2 chili cheese dogs and a super big gulp for (USD) $1.99 you'd have lunch taken care of. Your foxtails look great. I've said this before, but this weekend I'l post a pic of young foxtail I have growing from seed. You will likey I'm sure.

I'm getting you guys confused now

The front lines,lined up on the porch,like little tiny soldiers.

I like my beer to stay ice cold,so no buckets for me

Yes Kent you did promise foxtail pics...waiting...

...trick is to save the beer until AFTER the repotting
Otherwise they all lean.

Barb

Finally have pics of my foxtail palm germinated in September 2006. I have 2 of these.



and another of the same one.

Very nice!

Hey Kent, nice size for 3 and a half years.
Looks gorgeous.

I can never tell the difference between a Foxtail or Fishtail when they're that age.

Do you have it in full or part sun in summer?

Oooooh, wish mine were that size already.
Thanks!
Barb

they do grow very fast for a plam tree. I have one that I purchased as maybe a three footer (about the size of my pic) and three and half years later its over 7' tall. Very nice growth. I keep the younger ones in a protected area, they get summer sun from about 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The big one gets summer sun from 9:00 AM to 5 PM. good luck. I'd keep your little foxtails well protected this summer, maybe some dappled sun shine under a tree. Or, you have enough to experiment. good luck.

Appreciate the tips, Kent.

Even though I have enough to experiment (~30 so far), I'd hate to lose even one.
Such robust little beggars

Hoping to finally...yes finally...get a misting system on the patio this summer.
Should relieve dry wind stress on all my palms and cycads that spend summer out there.

Thanks!
Barb

Oooooohhh
A misting system?
Did I here tree ferns?

oops, missed this Jim!

Nope, no tree ferns for me.
Reminds me of where I lived as a kid.
Too much water...slugs, skunk cabbage, swamp conditions at Vancouver house.
So now I've got the opposite...live in a desert with severe water restrictions by end of April.
Sheesh...can't win!
Barb

Hey lucky yo have any updated pics??????

Hi canadianplant,

They haven't grown much, but are putting out second leaves.



Thanks for asking!
Barb

Ahhh very nice! IF you like them, look up a type of "dypsis" called " madagascar foxtail palm... very very sexy and rare.....

http://rarepalmseeds.com/shop/DypMar.shtml

canadianplant,

wasn't aware there was a Madagascar foxtail...it is gorgeous.
Still looks like a fishtail (versus foxtail) to me
One day I'll get the hang of telling them apart.

I simply HAD to have a foxtail when I saw this pic from "atree4me".

oh ya Theres a couple that look similar to the foxtail, but I thikn the foxtail is a bit fuller ...... Heres another one
http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/NorNor.shtml

They look good, and seem to love those cups . We dont have 7 11 anymore here, I cant get those awosme germinating cups:P I have to stick with yogurt containers.

They look really good..... They should start to size up good anytime

Also, in terms of your droughts, I have a book that may help you and your garden.... PM me and I cn email it to you.....

Thanks Canadian.

Many of these 9 month old Foxtails have a second set of leaves now.
When should I pot up into new containers?

They'll spend winter indoors in a warm sunny window.
Does anybody know how delicate Foxtails are for root disturbance (i.e. brahea armata, bismarckia nobilis are very very touchy).





Thanks!
Barb

I've germinated a few foxtails, moved them up in container size and never had a problem or set back with root disturbances. I am always careful though. Take your time, try to disturb as little as possible and you will be fine.