What's your soil mix for these?

I've never been able to find out if they prefer more acidic--versus, say, a 7.2--soil (which is my property's pH)
They do like light shade and high humidity, that's all I know.

Waiting for your first leaves...
😀
Barb

Barb, Some of these are in a 50/50 orchid & container mix. The rest are in a container mix with 30% perlite added.
(Slim pickings for off the shelf stuff this time of year 😆

I prefer to use a mix with lots of perlite, makes it a lot easier when re-potting. Have no idea about the ideal PH ❓
In habitat, these tend to grow on & around limestone cliffs, but that may just be where the survivors ended up.

Thanks for the light/humidity observations!

Steve

I think I've got less perlite in my mix than you do, also caused by "shelf shortages" at repotting time.

I've heard references to limestone too, yet if in habitat they're under a canopy, there'd be a lot of leaves decaying on the floor, along with bird poop.
Steady moisture from high rainfall would presumably turn the soil towards the acidic scale, no matter what the underlying rock is.

A theory that may be way off base, LOL.

I don't want to risk one of my four C.debaoensis but am wondering if they'd prefer a slightly acidic fertilizer.
What do you think?

Barb
PS--we seem to be on page 6 of 5 😯
But there's no page 6 when coming from the index, hmmm.
Jay, help!

Presto...page fixed! Thks boss!

Barb, from my experience and from listening to others who are growing this species, Cy. debaoensisis highly adaptable when it comes to soil and fertilizer. You should not have to use any special products or techniques to get them to grow well.

Jody

Now that you mention it, Jody, I now recall you advised me that previously.
But I figure it's easy to look after a plant if one provides exactly what it's happiest growing in.

I've got such a buggaboo it seems about soil pH, knowing mine at 7.2 is almost too alkaline for a lot of plants that I like.
So I've learned to use sulphur, or judiciously-applied epsom salts, or whatever to correct it for the plants I want.

It occurred to me that palms might have preferences too, yet the myriad of great educational sites barely touch on the subject, with the exception of LY suspected to be because of Florida's alkaline sandy soils.

Thanks!

Hopefully the horrible week-long freeze in Florida left your gorgeous plants relatively unscathed.
We were sure thinking about you folks!

Barb

Some progress photos,

Steve

Photos like this make me realize that a palm unfurling a frond cannot compare to the same process on a cycad.
Outstanding photography.

Barb

Thanks Barb, Palms have their own beauty, I like them both 8)
Now if it would warm up a little, I'd have some photos of Palm fronds opening 😀

Steve

Great pictures Steve!

I snatched up a few cycad seeds in Florida, I might need to pick your brain about them later.

Bill

Thanks Bill, What did you find?
How are the other seeds working out?

Steve

Steve,
This is what I got.

Dioon spinulosum, Macrozamia moorei, and coontie. There wasn't tons to choose from unfortunately.

I hope there still all good, I'll take a look at them tomorrow.

Bill

Bill, Sounds like a good selection!
If from this year's harvest, they should be ready to germinate this spring. Coontie seeds dry out pretty quick, is the fruit still on? That is the best way to store them.

Steve

Steve,
Yes the fruit is still on them, I'll take some pictures of them to show you what I'm working with.

Bill

C. debaoensis first leaves 8)

Steve

Nice picture Steve.

Yippeeeeee, the young leaf is wavy.
You'll find that each of your five or six seedlings' leaves have their own distinct characteristics, and include varying degrees of waviness.

Are they all leafing out now?

Barb