Here is a photo of one of my needle palms male infloresence. I think it is just about done so I want to save the pollen for future use. Do I put it in the fridge, freezer or cool area of the house ,any ideas?I don`t remember ever seeing this topic on this board or others.
http://groups.msn.com/OkanaganPalms/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=248
John
Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a
Link is to an Article dealing with Cycad pollen collection & storage.
I would think a lot of this would hold true for Palms too ?
http://cycadjungle.8m.com/cycadjungle/Collection%20and%20Storage%20of%20Cycad%20Pollen.html
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That is a good sized needle you have. How big is you trunk on it? I am just wondering how big do they need to get before they flower. Hey if mine turns out to be a female we can let them have fun together.
Hopefully they will make beautiful babies together.
Wes North Vancouver Zone 8b/9a
Keats Island BC Zone 8a
Palm Springs CA Zone 9b/10a
Steve thanks for that link on pollen storage. Keeping it in the fridge 2 days then into the freezer with individual paper packets in glass jar. They say it should be good up to three years. Wes I bought 3 needles from Tony at Broadway gardens last Oct. The one pictured here is I`m guessing 6 or 7 years old and 7 inches of trunk. It was placed in my winter palm room with 14 hours of light wich I`m sure induced the infloresence. You are welcome to some pollen in the future.Some fresh needle seeds would be great.
John
Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a
Many Rhapidophyllum hystrix will produce both Male & Female flowers. The only one's that I know of that a truly Male are the Bull Needles.
Laaz where are Bull needle palms native to and or are they interdispersed among other wild needle populations? This one shows no sign of seed pods so I`m guessing it`s a bull needle. Are there any significant differences amongst the different sp. How many different sub species are there? Thanks.
John
Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a
Bull's are interdispersed in wild populations. Bull's are male only & usually have a single fat trunk with no suckers or very few.
Have a look here for some info. http://www.chillypalmtree.com/NEEDLEPALM.html
Laaz thanks for the info. To bad Chilli palm co. doesn`t ship to Canada. They have very reasonable prices for their cold hardy palms.
Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a
Actually they are a bit expensive. Locally I can get 7 gal needles for $40-50 (Just got two 10 gal for $25 each), 3 gal Saw palmettos for $20-22, Sabal minor any size $free 😉 And Sabal Palmetto any size from 5 ft to 15 ft of trunk for $125 each.
Here's some good prices on palms... http://www.palmsandtrees.com/products/al_palms.html?plantclass=P
Laaz thats a great deal on those needles and Saw palmettos and S.minors free WOW. I hope it`s a buyers market for houses cause I`m a movin 😀 Thanks for the info as usual.
John
Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a
