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Growing palms and tropicals in cold climates
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Topic starter
I've got the Sabal minor seeds soaking in baggies.
I wondered about warmth so have them in with my tropical fish. The fish would rather eat them but that probably wouldn't help with viability.
This makes me wonder. Do we know if the seed wasn't in a baggie would it ruin the water for the fish, ie any toxins leach out that we know of?
Anyway my next step tomorrow will be to baggie the seeds with media. I may then put them back into the tank until I see some germination. Makes me wish I bought a seed germination mat in the spring.... must make a note on that.
I can't remember who posted their aquarium and seed picture on here but I thought... why not?
Seeds soaking:
Sabal minor left overs bought several years ago on ebay (perhaps no longer viable)
Sabal minor NE Texas
Sabal minor McCurtain
Trachycarpus fortunei left overs for Banana Joe (perhaps no longer viable and I wonder if they are a fortunei waggie cross as he said they were quite a stiff leaf type)... these are what produced my plants in the garden that have survived with mulch these past three winters... thanks Joe)
Trachycarpus fortunei from my English Bay excursion last year
Poncirus trifoliata
IF I'd been with it I would have tried different techniques and compared them. I realize the heat for the Trachies is overkill but the tank is only at 24C/75F.
With the Trachies I usually follow Joe's technique and baggie them and throw them on the top of my kitchen cupboards. It worked great as I kind of forgot about them and then a few months later when I thought to look I had a baggie full of happy seedlings.
I've also used the houseplant technique and put seeds in my houseplant pots and then happily been surprised when seeds begin to germinate in the pots I am tending anyway. This way my houseplants can serve as starter babysitters.
Posted : 07/09/2009 9:46 am
ronbruce, I have no experience with starting seeds in fishtanks with fish so can't answer that, but I do agree that several methods should be tried to compare processes.
Someone said attaching a perlite-seed filled baggie to the back of computer monitor works too, as long as you don't totally block the vents.
Here's a pic of my little plastic greenhouse with Christmas lights for heat.
I've even used a food warmer, with a spacer between the element and a metal baking pan so it doesn't get too hot.
These mats are good 'coz they don't get too hot.
And--when all else fails, and it happens to be WINTER--you can use wood stove heat.
then I got really impatient with Bismarckia nobilis, and took a hammer to the bloody thing!
Good luck!
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 09/09/2009 6:45 pm
Topic starter
Thanks Barb, looks like you've tried lots of ways. I must follow your path. 😀
Next year I'll buy a seed germination mat, it's got to be better than soaking my baggies of seeds in the aquarium... of course if this works.
I planted all the seeds up today and put them back in the fish tank. Poor fish. .....
Posted : 09/09/2009 11:32 pm
I believe the trick with palm seeds is temps of 85 to 95 F...
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 10/09/2009 1:52 pm
Topic starter
Dang not quite hot enough. I'm sure the Trachies will pop but maybe it's still too cool for the Sabals. Hmmm. 😉
Posted : 10/09/2009 5:55 pm
It may simply take longer at lower temps.
Fresh seed is the most important factor, then temps.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 10/09/2009 7:04 pm
90* - 95*F seems ideal for Sabal seeds.
Here's some more DIY germination rigs,
http://palmsnorth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=696
Steve
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Posted : 10/09/2009 10:08 pm
Topic starter
Steve, thanks for the post. Now I know what to do with all my older Christmas lights I'm not using anymore. And I just happen to have a spare aquarium too. Hmmmm.
Perlite is the way to go then or any soil free media?
Was it your PVC pipe containers I saw awhile ago too? Now that is innovative. 😀
Posted : 11/09/2009 9:44 am
Sphagnum moss seems to work well for Sabals.
Perlite being sterile is good medium for seeds that take a long time, or are susceptible to rotting.
I have germinated lots of seeds just using an aquarium & Christmas lights 😆
You can regulate the temperature somewhat with a covering on top of the aquarium.
Steve
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Posted : 11/09/2009 10:40 am
