Newly Germinated

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 8)
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 8) 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/3870526663/in/set-72157623140197278/

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 8)

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 8) leaf segments.
Of mine, two have six, two have 8 😆 but amount of dividing varies considerably.

Enjoy!
Barb

Dioon Edule