This is good, becasue it makes it easier to get what i want. The main problem for me is room. I dont have many windows available ( tons of houseplants), so id have to make a small "gorw op" in the basement. The other thing is time. Some plants wont be reado to go out in the garden for 2 or 3 years iin soem cases. Not that i dont have the patience, i may or may not have room. The other hard part is getting them shipped early enough, that i can get them really growing before last frost. ID have to get them in the next weeksm or march or next year.

So really, im not sure what i should do. Mabey a bit of both? Most if not all of you have way more experience with these types of plants, and situations them me ( ive ordered say, 20 pack of palm seeds, and mabey had 5 or 6 plants all together germinate..... then again ididnt really try). What would you all suggest? Or what experience do you guys ( and gals of course:P) have with germinating seeds, and or ordering started plants? In your opinions, what would you say is the better way to go??

If you could start off with at least seedlings I think you'll be better off. I wish I had more time because I would mail you some sabal Lou. and etonias. I'm so pressed for time right now it crazy luckily the weather has be kind to me here so far, everything is still outside. I'll pm you when I get a better handle on things and see if your weather is still ok for shipping.

For inside I would look for some grow lights on craigs list, there's some good deals out there I just got 2 400 dollar lights plus 4 bulbs for 100 bucks last week.

Bill

While your trying to figure out what to do,get some seeds and start growing,
this way you won't have to wait as long when you make up your mind 😀

Sooner the better really,you may even be able to ship to people up there and make your money back plus.

I have way to many seedlings this winter to bring in for the amount of windows,I am going with some
supplemental grow lights(in the corner) next to my window to light up the dark spots and give me some extra space.

Canadian, Don't feel alone in this. When I first began this hobby (fresh out of HS) there was 1 source for 'tropicalesque' plants in Canada, and it was waaaaay out on the west coast. So, I decided that I would grow most of my plants from seed. The situation has since changed and we can get, basically, whatever we want to grow as plants (some of the rarer bamboos etc. are still sketchy since they generally have to come from Europe due to the USAs archaic bamboo rules)... Anyway, I converted a corner of the basement into a 'grow-op' type set up. I buy light fixtures when they're on sale (i.e. less than 12 bucks), and am sure to get the el-cheapo grow lights (usually something like $4 a bulb). I am referring to the 'shop' type lights here (long fluorescent tubes).

Here are the problems I've encountered:

1) Timers don't generally have a ground, which is a pain for automating day length. Make sure that there is that third prong on any timer you buy!
2) The lights don't go on sale very often, get them when you can!
3) Sometimes the grow lights will burn out very quickly. Brand does not seem to matter. This can be very frustrating.
4) basements are COLD and most things don't grow well when the temp hovers around 15-18C (Trachycarpus is an exception).
5) Germination of seeds in these cold temps is also VERY slow. I've waited 7-8 months for Sabal seedlings to poke through. Better to get some seed-mats to speed germination (for many banana seeds these mats are required since they give the hot/cool that helps break dormancy).
6) You need to be wary of infestations of insects. Aphids are especially problematic on things like banana and Brugmansia.

Good luck!

Bill i hear ya.... my backs been out for 2 weeks.... i havnt touched anything outside for a month at least. The temps here are a bit weird this time of year. I woudlnt send much out in way of live plants right now. STuff that is dormant would be alright id assume. Personaly ii think it be better for both of us to discuss this in the spring.

I would love to start with seedlings too. I just dont wanna have to trouble all parties involved with a PS cert.

Good idea about cragslist. Here we use Kajiji same thing different pile. Good deal on the lights dude !

That was my mindset eric LOL. I only got mabey 2 weeks before it gets below freezing constantly at night, and would kill most warmer climate seeds. I was definetly going to get extra to give away, or send around the country. I usualy get my seeds from seedrack, TM seeds and RPS. Ill just have to worry aboyt the ones from RPS, theyll take the longest.

Great idea anout the lamp. I got some west windows beside dark corners.

As for germinating the palm seeds..... I have been thinking, and there is a method thats used to germinate reptile eggs that would work perfect. Ffill an aquarium with 1/3 full of water, and insert a containfder full of sand, thats water tight. Place an aquarium Heater ( they are VERY accurate at getting the temperature Within a degree or 2 of what you need. Seeing as palm seeds dont need light, you can put this anywhere. For bananas, you just throw on the aquarium light, with rpoper bu,bs inserted. You dont realy need to worry about humidity, casue theres water inside the aquarium.

Thanks paul.... i think we need an "AA" type thing for us stuck in canada....

A buddy told me about trying to use the fourescents. He said they work great, except for plants that demand super high amount sof light ( he said they didnt work for his cacti). BUt had awsoem success with veggies, and annuals. Like you say for most palms and bananas, cool temps is not what i want for germination. The best part, is in april, soem times march, my portch stays above freezing at night, and gets into the 20s during the day due to the sun. And some of it gets really good light.

I have a good timer, takes up a whole socket, but is ground on both plugs. Jus thave to dig it out.

Temps are the problem i guess. Most annuals or colder climate perennials will grow well in the basement for a while, but as u stated, most "tropicalesque" plants wont. I might have to invest in some seedmats.

As for pests, inside i only have to worry about spidermites 90% of the time. My basjoo may have aphids, but i spray all my plants bi weekly ( some weekly like my ficus religiosa, always gets spidermitses indoors) with a mild dish soap solution ( a very small drop in a 2.5 pint pressure mister) I try to mist my plants with water everyday as well.

CP,
both!
starting from seeds is fun. I also use lights in winter. Mine are all still outside (I figure a little cold can't hurt!) but they'll be inside soon.
As for container palms I too cannot find them locally except when a store makes a mistake and brings us palms intended for Texas! 😆
My solution is road trips. I get down to Texas about once a year for a variety of reasons (=horse shows).
So, can you take a driving vacation down south (say, North Carolina) and bring home palms?
--Erik

I would love that cept i dont have alisence myself (i know people who would be up for it). You need a passport now too to cross the border. Also, they hold plants from 2 weeks to 2 months when you try to cross the border, unless you hae a photosanitary cert. ( as far as i know, the EPA has to inspect th eplants either at the nursury, or the border before i can get any certification) Huge pain in the ass. My best bet would be to drive to toronto ( 12 hours) or to vancouver ( 2 days one way). As far as i know, vancouver would have the best chance of having anything worth wild.

Bummer.
Some US states require phyto. but not OK so I'm good, incl. for incoming shipments of mail-order palms.
Long-term, I say grow a bunch of palms from seed and go into business selling them a decade from now. 😀

MY grandma tried to bring some plants back from minnisota ( im less then a 4 hour drive to duluth), she got em taken away at the border, and never seen them again. She tried once again, but by the tme she could pick them up, they were dead. Oddly enough she can bring fish accross the border with no problems what so ever ( odd how i can bring things over that wont survive naturaly here, yet, you can bring fish that can survive in the lake 😕 )

I could sell seedlings as you suggested as well. Much cheaper to send through the mail and i dont have to wait as long. I would want to get some banana and mabey some ginger. I hve a better chance of selling things localy, if your able to dig em up for the winter. My alocasia odora put out 3 new plants, so i can separate those. Also, I have 2 plants of Colocasia Fallax. ITs a smller form, but with in 2 years itll create a large colony if not dealt with. The thing is TINY, the size of a nickel, with leaves smaller then a pencil erasor.

I also have some rarer palms that would do well indoors. I ordered some Dypsis Lanceolata ( IVowowo palm) and dypsis arenarum ( sand palm). Both may only survive in cultivation. The Ivowowo seeds were almsot all germiated upon reciveing them. Their just starting to open up their first leaves. Nothing from the CHameadorea radicalis seeds, or my trachycarpus nanus seeds yet 😡 I got a feeling theyll sprout just before spring.

I had things outside till the end of september. THats pushing it enough here ( first frost is sept 15th here), the only thing outside is my coryline, which seems to be enjoying the light frosts, and my poor king sago, that hasnt pushed leaved out in years ( still alive)

I think the others have advised you well. Construct a set up and start growing things like crazy. One thing I have found is that I may locate the best deal on whatever and I grab it. Sooner or later, an even better deal emerges. So I would think you will eventually find the plants you seek. But in the meantime, sprout them from seed.

I recommend the seed mats as well. Makes a big difference.

I recommend the seed mats as well. Makes a big difference.

I got one recently but haven't used it yet. This is a novice question, but how exactly do you use one? I don't want to fry things....

THe only type of heat matts in used to are the undertank heaters for reptiles. You place them ont he outside bottom of the cage/terarrium.

The thing is, if I use the method with the aquarium thermometer, i wont have to worry about heat mats at all.

Well, if the past few years say anything, were warming here, and drying up a bit. Which means people will be demanding different plants. Within 20- 50 years, tronto ontario is said to have the climate of southern kentucky.

I think this is my order - Needle palm
sabal palm
Trachycarpus Fortunei/nani tal
Hedychium coronarium var. coronarium
musa iterians ( burmese blue), yunannensis
musa helens hybrid

I have the reptile mat already--for the lizard.
The new one is said to be for seed germination, but requires and unspecified thermostat. Plus layers above and below.
I'll figure it out.
As for your list, well, I'm new to palms. From what I can see, around here, Sabal minor beats needle palm in winter hardiness.
But remember, S. minor is native here! 😀
--Erik