Beginning the germination process! – Page 26 – Germination – PalmsNorth.com

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · 2011-01-28T23:49:38Z

I'm now starting to prepare for (hopefully) germinating quite a variety of seeds. I have somewhere around 100 different species of seed that I'll try to germinate, but I'm going to start with the seeds which I have the most of. Later on, I'll try to germinate the rest. I'll try to document the process as best as I can (ex. numbers of seed, days to first signs of germination, temp/soil, etc) throughout the coming months (or years :lol:), and hopefully this post can serve as a reference for anyone else trying to germinate the same species! I'll take some pics with my BB.I've began converting my computer room into a bit of a "germination room". Many of the seeds require heat in order to grow (sabals, etc). I looked into germination mats, but it would cost hundreds of dollars to cover a 6' x 6' area. I've ordered 24' of Flexwatt heat tape (the 11" width), as well as some dimmer switches to attach to the tape. The dimmer switches control the amount of power that goes into the heat tape, therefore controlling the temps. I'm going to cut the tape to size, lay it on the floor, and use it as a germination area. I'm also going to be trying out a product called Nitrozyme, which has been recommended by many palm websites for increased germination. To try to get a comparison of the product vs. nothing, I'll have a seperate space where I'll apply Nitrozyme to some seeds, and nothing to others. I'll check which ones germinate first, and if there seems to be any increased growth due to the product. I only have a 100 ml bottle, so I'll have to make it last! :lol: In the next post, I'll list which seeds I'll be trying first. Hopefully I'll start sowing them sometime next week!Cameron.

CTPalm

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Cameron - I wish I could buy seedlings from you. You have everything!!! When you started this post I could not believe it was possible. Great job!

I did finally get my Sabal Minor seeds to sprout - after moving them on top of my cable box with the Foxtails. I have the Musa Sikkimensis there now too we'll see if that helps.

Paul

Posted : 05/04/2011 7:40 pm

canadianplant

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Cameron, grats on the McCurtain!

I hope the Etonia seeds sprout. None of my Sabal havnt, but they dont have bottom heat, which im sure undoubtingly slows germination for em. i think Sabals are some of the nicest palms...

Im just getting into rhodies. Closest thing I have here is a type of "Labrador Tea" ( which is badass in itself), other then the ones i can buy.

Those Aloe seeds sprouted finally. I came back to find my tracky seedlings are 3 or 4 inches high now, ready to be potted up. Same with the W.Filifera. And my Passiflora Incarnata seeds sproutedl. Im excited to see how hardy these actualy are. As well as 10 - 30 Paulownia seedlings 😯 I have way too much..

My Gloriosa Lily seedling have been weird, they have never gotten any bigger then 2 leaves, before staling growth, dying back, then regrowing again. It died when I was away as well as pushed up new growth.. LOL

Its crazy how many seedlings you have man... Grats again.

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

Posted : 05/04/2011 7:47 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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I went to the meeting, and the age difference between me and the youngest member is at least 25 years... 😆

Paul and canadianplant, congrats on the germination successes!!

Posted : 05/04/2011 9:00 pm

lucky1

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That's a heck of a lot of gardening experience in that meeting room, Cameron!

I bet they were interested in your project.

Barb

PS--so since you're home at 9:04 pm, suppose you folks didn't hit the bar to close the meeting? 😆 😆 😆

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 05/04/2011 9:03 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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10:04, but no either way 😆

Posted : 05/04/2011 9:11 pm

lucky1

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but no either way

That's a shame.
Sheesh, you should be on this side of Canada... 😉

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 06/04/2011 11:53 am

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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2 pics:

Butia eriospatha:

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis. You can just make out that the top seedling is starting to have the divided fronds:

Posted : 13/04/2011 4:10 pm

lucky1

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Congrats Cameron!
I've heard those two species aren't easy to get going.

Young bottle palms have wide, coarse-looking juvenile leaves.
But the beautiful big fronds aren't far behind.
Same with the start of the bottle bulge, which is very cool looking.

Well done!
Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 13/04/2011 4:18 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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Thanks, Barb. I'm waiting for the "bottle" trunk to start!

Posted : 13/04/2011 4:27 pm

lucky1

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They sure seem to be attracted to your keyboard (maybe the monitor) 😆 😆

Maybe try some red/blue lights on them...
Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 13/04/2011 4:31 pm

damir

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cameron, any yucca aloifolia germinated?

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/14279.html

Posted : 27/04/2011 8:07 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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Damir, I don't have enough room to germinate the seeds! 😆 Hopefully within a couple of weeks I can get them planted. I'll post some updated pics of everything soon.

Posted : 27/04/2011 9:05 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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Here's a small update on how some of the stuff is progressing:

Sabal minor "McCurtain" in front, Sabal minor "Cape Hatteras" and regular Sabal minor behind, and 2 containers of Sabal minor var. Louisiana in the back

T. "Hayes Stiffie" in the front, and T. fortunei from Tennessee in the back

T. fortunei "Tesan, South Mountain"

Nannorrhops ritchiana var. Kashmir

Butia eriospatha

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis on the left, Dioon edule on the right

Macadamias on the top, P. trifoliata, Yuzange, Thomasville citrangequats and Changshu kumquats in the middle, T. fortunei "Chusan" and "Tesan" on the bottom, along with a Phoenix dactylifera grown from a seed I found in Luxor, Egypt

Cameron.

Posted : 29/04/2011 9:33 pm

canadianplant

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HOLY HELL....

THings really took off didnt they? they look happy, mabey some more light but, thats easily fixed.

Nice score on the Luxor seed! I jsut bought a pack of dates and planted the pits..

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

Posted : 29/04/2011 9:49 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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Yeah, the D. edule and N. ritchiana are getting pretty lanky, I know they need a bit more light! 😆

You can see a nice blue-ish tint on some of the sabals in the first pic. Those ones are keepers for sure!

Good luck with the phoenix seeds!

Posted : 29/04/2011 9:51 pm