Germinating Howea seeds

[Patrick In MN]

I just ordered some seeds from Rare Palms seeds and was hoping someone could offer suggestions on germinating both varieties of Howea. Thank You for any suggestions!

[Bennz]

First suggestion; be patient. They can take a while... These are actually pretty easy seeds, but in my experience the germination rate is not as high as in species like Archontophoenix etc.

Bag method works well, can take a couple years for germination. This is the mthod I used for several thousand, but I don't like it much. I kept on getting bugs and rats into the bags, and if I neglected them too long, the roots got tangled.

Just sowing them in to trays and waiting is good. Bottom heat at about 25C certainly hurries them up, but is not essential.

[Trópico]

Patrick, welcome to the board!

First thing that comes to mind is location and weather. I've been to Minneapolis and is a lovely place! What are your daily highs and lows this time of the year?

Heat, humidity and patience are the three basic ingredients to germinate palm seeds.

If you can take advantage of midday and afternoon heat, I suggest you use tupperware containers with a few drainage holes, place the seeds half buried in a mix of moist (not wet) peat and perlite, cover, and place in a location where it can benefit from some heat but not in direct sun. Always be on guard for any fungus.

I've never germinated howeas before, so a little research into their habitat characteristics will help a lot.

Good luck and happy palming!

Oh, and by no means get discouraged if it doesn't work out for you. I've had mixed results with Rare palm seeds and some orders did not germinate at all while others worked out pretty good.

[Darold Petty]

Patrick,

 Howea seeds do not all germinate concurently.  The slower ones in the group may take up to a year after the first ones, so don't throw out the un-germinated seeds prematurely.  You can leave them all together in the germination pot until the first ones have 2 or 3 leaves.  With the bag method, It's easier to remove the early ones, but I'm lazy and use the pot method!

[DoomsDave]

Patrick!

Nice to meet you!

Are you the same guy from MN who used to post a few years ago, with the house with the big windows?   If so, your indoor garden rocked.  If not, your indoor garden will rock, and we here live to help you do it!

dave

[Patrick In MN]

Thank you all for your feedback.  Yea I'm the guy that used to post a few years ago.  I moved and gave away most of my palm collection.  The few I kept are all doing well  

All the people I gave them to love them so I figure I'll try starting some more.  Have a great weekend all.  Here in Mpls we are going to have highs in the upper 90's and lows in the 70's.  I and my palms are loving it.

[Kris]

(Patrick In MN @ Jul. 14 2006,21:53)

QUOTE

'All the people I gave them to love them so I figure I'll try starting some more'.

Way to go.. i know what the feeling is when you have to part from you loved ones,in your case its the palms.

but i appreciate that you have induced palm crazyness to those to whom you have given our old collection of plants.so not to worry at all !

Iam sure u will have a better collection of plants which would include your previous verities too.

Never Lose Heart Buddy,things we lose do come by,since the world is round...

One man one tree..

Love,

Kris (from S.India)

[Patrick In MN]

Kris,

Thank you for the kind reply.  It's really cool knowing someone from the other side of the world shares in the love of palms.

Have a great day!

Patrick