Newly Germinated

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:13 pm

New plants starting during the winter months makes the time pass so much quicker!

Here's a couple that are just starting on their first fronds,

Ceratozamia microstrobila

Encephalartos transvenosus

Steve

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:41 pm

Why did you wrap cardboard paper around it?

Just kidding,great pics!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:53 pm

Great photos Steve, to catch those silken hairs.

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:30 pm

Thanks for the comments! For me, the camera catches far more detail than I will ever see. (even with my good glasses on

Things are still moving along,

Here is another Ceratozamia a little further along,

Leaflets are just starting to open,

Steve

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:37 pm

THAT IS AWESOME!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:39 pm

Exceptional pictures, Steve.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:30 pm

Thanks for the comments, feel free to add photos!

A couple more as they progress,

Ceratozamia microstrobila

Encephalartos transvenosus

Cycas debaoensis

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:31 pm

They're sure responding to warmth! "Periscope up"!

Those c.debaoensis seeds are wonderful, germinating quickly.
Truly beautiful seeds.

Reminded me of this almost pushing the seed off the soil

Keep your camera handy the next 2 or 3 weeks. It's magical.

Barb

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:33 pm

Awesome pics Steve. What type of camera do you have? The way you can magnify on your close ups is amazing. The detail!!!

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:13 am

Barb, That looks familiar, have a couple doing the same thing

I'm using a light mix with these, so it has to be the fast growth rate!

Wes, Thanks! these are a mix from two cameras.
An older Ricoh Caplio G3, only 3 mega pixel, but it's small size and 1cm focus range make it ideal for macros.
The other is my newest, a Nikon D40

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:53 am

Yes, fast growth causes the seed to stand up out of the pot.

My mix was obviously heavier than yours. They still stood up.
I added fresh soil with a teaspoon so it wouldn't break.

Maybe throw a phone book on top

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:26 am

Really cool pics-
Drop anchor....and set sail!

virtualpalm · Post by **virtualpalm** » Fri Jan 01, 2010 5:18 pm

Very nice photos, indeed, Steve! I thought you (and others) might like to see some (lesser quality) photos of seedlings from that same batch of Encephalartos transvenosus seeds a little further along here in warm Miami.

Happy New Year everyone!

Jody

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 01, 2010 9:38 pm

Holy cow, they're growing right through the shelves!

Jody, what is the top dressing?
Pieces seem too large to be perlite.

Happy 2010 to you, too!
Barb

virtualpalm · Post by **virtualpalm** » Fri Jan 01, 2010 9:44 pm

lucky1 wrote:Holy cow, they're growing right through the shelves!

Jody, what is the top dressing?
Pieces seem too large to be perlite.

Happy 2010 to you, too!
Barb

Hey Barb. Good question. That is Size 3 perlite -- which is often used in orchid mixes. I buy it in large bags at an orchid supply store here in Miami. I use it as a sterile topdress for newly germinated seeds to reduce fungal infection and ameliorate the moisture content right next to the seed.

Jody

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 01, 2010 9:58 pm

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

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:23 am

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

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:35 pm

Here's a Cycas debaoensis sending up two initial fronds,

Steve

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 10:38 am

How long did those take to germinate Steve? Nothing yet with my seeds.

Bill

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 10:53 am

Bill, I received the C.debaoensis seeds on 12/11, they all germinated within a week

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

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 1:28 pm

Thanks Steve!

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:47 pm

A couple recent photos,

Encephalartos transvenosus frond opening,

Latest Ceratozamia microstobila to germinate,

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:32 pm

Vigorous looking.
Great photography Steve.

You must be happy with the camera change.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:42 am

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

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:03 am

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

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:45 am

Barb, They are just waiting for spring

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/38 ... 140197278/

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

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:29 am

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

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:11 pm

The Cycas debaoensis fronds are starting to open

Ceratozamia,

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:31 pm

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

leaf segments.
Of mine, two have six, two have 8

but amount of dividing varies considerably.

Enjoy!
Barb

Gartem · Post by **Gartem** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:17 am

Dioon Edule

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:41 am

Congrats, Gartem!

What was your germination time?

After C.debaoensis, D.edule are my favorite.

Barb

Gartem · Post by **Gartem** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:30 am

Sowing 5.01.2010. Actually 34 days. But somehow germ grows up. Even let them grow up and they would see.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:20 am

34 days is excellent!

Bottom heat? or a sunny window?

Gartem · Post by **Gartem** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:33 am

It is at the aquarium, is obtained without light, with the bottom warms a bit.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:40 am

Excellent job!
I enjoyed viewing your Flickr photostream too.
Lovely plants.

Barb

Gartem · Post by **Gartem** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:04 am

Thank you.

Gartem · Post by **Gartem** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:36 pm

I transcribed it into another container, 15 cm in height. Second seed musty.

Gartem · Post by **Gartem** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:11 am

Dioon edule
I pulled a little earthen mixture

Gartem · Post by **Gartem** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:35 am

Dioon edule

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:09 am

Artem, looking good

PalmsNorth.com

Newly Germinated

Newly Germinated

Cycad Pics