RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted June 30, 2008 As a member of bus 4 which collected it's fair share of seeds, I am happy to report that my Costa Rican seeds feel right at home in Trinidad and have all been making their valiant efforts to take their rightful places in my rainforest. Areca vestiara, Calyptrocalyx polyphyllus, Geonoma sp., Welfia and others. Cyrtostachys are plump and have been striking. I will be pleased to remember Costa Rica for many years by saying "Oh, I collected those seeds at the IPS biennial in Costa Rica". Pictures will obviously follow as the seedlings grow, and not only for identification assistance...... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff in St Pete 714 Report post Posted June 30, 2008 Robert, Glad to hear your seeds made it home and are doing well! I just took the plastic lid off one container today because the seeds had germinated last week and the seedlings are now hitting the lid. I believe they are the single stem Areca vestiarias. The seeds were much bigger than the ones I collected from the clumping form. Most of the other seeds I collected from Herrero's are now starting to germinate also. What a treat that was to be able to collect any seeds we wanted from their farms! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BS Man about Palms 2,176 Report post Posted July 1, 2008 Fire up that awesome camera Robert!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted August 6, 2008 Hyophorbe indicas have been strong growers. I think that I will pot them up to 1 gal soon. Areca vestiara. What are the chances of some of these having red leaves? Geonoma sp. Calyptrocalyx polyphyllus. I germinate my seeds in styrofoam trays. Fill them with a peat moss, sharp sand mixture and stick them in the shadehouse. I don't have to do much more in the rainy season. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 The first photo gives a clearer look at the seed set up. The tray in the foreground has Cyrtostachys renda seedlings. These are Trinidad collected seeds. The seeds from Costa Rica have germinated, and are just now clearing soil level. Not much to look at. The should look like these, my older seedlings in 4 to 6 weeks. All told, I think I may have about 10,000 C. renda seedlings. What am I going to do with them all!!!! I tell my wife that they will help me retire early in 5 years. Two months ago this Welfia regia seedling leaf was completely red. It has just now begun to fade. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Searle 956 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 Robert, It looks like your well on your way to becoming the #1 nurseryman in Trinidad. Jeff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 Jeff, definitely for C. renda! Robert 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bgl 2,631 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 Robert, That's very impressive! And 10,000 C. renda seedlings....wow!! About the A. vestiaria - the seedlings that open up with a maroon/reddish leaf (even if it's the first one) will ALWAYS do that, and the ones that open up with a green new frond will ALWAYS do that, so you can separate them into two groups as soon as you pot them up. Bo-Göran 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Exotic Life 101 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 (edited) Wow... nice germinating rates over there... 10.000 C. renda, you can start a whole forest with them later Edited August 7, 2008 by Exotic Life Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kim 2,721 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 I'm trying to imagine potting up 10,000 seedlings... Let's see, 10,000 pots, check! Soil for 10,000 pots, check! Presuming you are very efficient, one minute per pot, working 8 hours a day, you'll be done in 3 weeks. I think you need help, Robert! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KONADANTOM 1 Report post Posted August 20, 2008 Aloha Robert - amazing sprouts - you are the SEED KING! Dan on “the Big Island” of Hawai’i Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FRITO 32 Report post Posted September 2, 2008 very nice! jungle of C. renda sounds really cool. do those styrofoam containers have drainage holes in them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted September 2, 2008 The drainage holes are on the sides of the containers. The containers are used to transport grapes from the US to Trinidad and are available mainly from September to December. As a matter of fact I picked up about 6 yesterday. The seeds are just tossed into the germinating trays. If, as in the case of C. renda I have a ton of seeds and the germination rate is good I have to take the sprouts out and space them in another container. More work, but .............. Robert 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Zona 5 Report post Posted September 3, 2008 Robert, Nice seedlings! What's your soil mix. I think I see rice hulls. What else? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted September 3, 2008 Scott, I am using a combination of promix and rice hulls for the seedlings. It is a nice light mix and has good moisture and aeration. I use this on orchids also and they have responded really well. Robert 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted September 24, 2008 Here are some seedlings, the id of which I am unsure of. The seeds were collected at the Herrero farm and I have them listed as either Nenga pumila or a Pinanga sp. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walter John 204 Report post Posted September 24, 2008 great stuff Robert. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moose 1,235 Report post Posted November 16, 2008 You are doing excellent Robert. I popped about 25% of my Areca vestiaria, 10% of the Cyrtostachys Renda and the other 17 species dampened off. I am really pissed off since I ruined such nice fresh seed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kim 2,721 Report post Posted December 14, 2008 I had a handful of seeds from four or five different species, threw them into a single pot grouped by type, and forgot about them. Today I checked and I have at least 12 palms sprouted, but I don't know which is which. Some of the seeds are shaped like an olive pit, and the new sprout is reddish -- maybe Areca vestiaria? Some seeds are like a large black peppercorn -- any idea what that would be? Some are buried, but the leaves make me think of Pinanga coronata, which I know I collected. Now that night temperatures are sometimes dropping to 40, I wonder if I should bring the pot inside, or leave them under cover where they've been? It's funny, because I've never been very interested in germinating seeds, but I'm kind of excited! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Searle 956 Report post Posted December 16, 2008 Here are some seedlings, the id of which I am unsure of. The seeds were collected at the Herrero farm and I have them listed as either Nenga pumila or a Pinanga sp. Robert, You couldn't of pick two palms that would look closer as a seedling and even as they get much bigger. If your plants remain as a single trunk palm, their most likely not a Nenga, as I;m pretty sure these are clumping palms. And Pinangas can be solitary or clumping. Jeeeeeez, didn't you read the tag underneath the palm before you stole, excuse me, picked the seed with permission ? Jeff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted December 17, 2008 Jeff, the problem was there were no tags! Kim, for me nothing else in this hobby is as satisfying as saying "I grew it from seed!" Robert 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kim 2,721 Report post Posted December 17, 2008 Jeff, the problem was there were no tags! Kim, for me nothing else in this hobby is as satisfying as saying "I grew it from seed!" Robert Robert, your evident enthusiasm is contagious! Thanks to Ryan's thorough documentation of the trip, I was able to recognize and identify my seeds, yay! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walter John 204 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 I would love to see the latest (in photo form) on everyone's Costa Rican acquirements. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walter John 204 Report post Posted January 20, 2009 CAT ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted January 22, 2009 Wal, Most of the Costa Rica collected seed are doing well. Here are a couple of updated photos. Bactris honduranensis - before Now 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted January 22, 2009 Welfia - before Now 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted January 22, 2009 Hyophorbe indica - then Now 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted January 22, 2009 Areca vestiara - then Now 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted January 22, 2009 Calyptrocalyx polyphyllus - then Now 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted January 22, 2009 Cyrtostachys renda - then After Now 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted January 22, 2009 Did I say I have a lot of C. renda seedlings? Two of my Pholidostachys pulchra seeds germinated. I'm ecstatic! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walter John 204 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Thanks for showing those Robert, that's a wonderful display of growth. Anyone else ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
palmislandRandy 272 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Nice, hope ya got a few hundred pots laying around! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Texeltropics 15 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 it's beautifull....woooowwww.....I can only dream about that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Searle 956 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Robert, Wow! I'm glad you don't live in my area. You would pose a serious threat to my business, as a grower. Your seedlings really look nice. I'm proud of ya. (no reason not to be) My stuff came up pretty good as well, but I only brought back a fraction of what you did. Way to go...... Jeff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Exotic Life 101 Report post Posted February 9, 2009 Very great... i like that shot with all the C.renda! You really must show a pic when they al have there own little pot.. if you got enough space for that Robbin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lowey 19 Report post Posted February 5, 2010 Robert, how are all the seedlings going another year on ?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wanderanwills 9 Report post Posted March 31, 2010 Awesome shots of seedlings, they look really healthy. Yes it would be good to see them a year on. Regards Wanderanwills Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RainForestt Robert 53 Report post Posted April 1, 2010 My C. renda seedlings have been undergoing some stress from the water restrictions and our unusually dry season. I have lost about 10% or so. They are still in their community trays for the most part, but I will be undertaking a massive transplant program into one gallon containers next month, just in time for our rainy season. I will take a couple of photos over the weekend to post showing what they look like at the moment. Robert 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Missi 895 Report post Posted September 20, 2016 Is Robert still around? I'd like a 6 or 7 year update with photos, please All those seedlings and growth documentation photos...eye candy!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
