Wow! I germinated palm seeds.

[Fouquieria]

I've germinated lots of other kinds of seeds before but this was my first try at palm seeds.

I got eight seeds each of two different kinds less than a month ago.  The Medemia argun looked very fresh...six of eight have germinated.  The Mayotte Bismarckia looked old, like black walnuts.  I wasn't too optimistic.  Two of eight have germinated.

I didn't have the foggiest idea what I was doing.  I scrapped and washed off the soft Medemia coatings.  The Bismarckia was so hard, that I just scrapped off the ends until I could see the embryo.  I soaked the Medemia overnight and soaked the Bismarckia for three days.

I soaked some fine perlite in water and hydrogen peroxide and then filled a big, clear baggy with it.  Then I just put all the seeds in the baggy and set it on top of my computer monitor but not covering the heat vent.

Hey, if the others don't germinate, I'm still proud of myself.

I put the germinated seeds in two big, deep community pots in palm potting mix in a protected spot on my topmost balcony.  The spot gets good midday heat and some midday sun.

We'll see what happens.

-Ron-

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Cool!!!! :cool:

[Kim]

Oh, Ron, you are doomed!  A few years ago you had no palms, now you are germinating seeds!  Hello, container ranch!  Seriously, isn't it exciting?  It's good you're proud of yourself, you should be, congratulations.

[MattyB]

Sweet!  Nice work Ron!  I've never seen a Medimia argun growing in person.

[Scott]

Congradulations Ron! That's exciting.

So far, all my attempts have failed

[Urban Rainforest]

Congratulations Ron! You may have opened pandoras box though. Germinating seed is very addicting   . After a while you just get a feel for which medium, how much heat and moisture to use on each sp. of seed. Good luck with the rest!

Steve

[RadPalms]

Good job Ron......My first attempts didn't work out well for me (bad seed I am thinking) $250 down the drain but this palm addiction thing is so hard to break I had to try it again and low and behold with the help of reading alot of threads and Christian's great seed I was able to get some to germinate.........And William is no help either looking at his set up and what he has done in such a short period of time....when they get alittle size to them post a few pic's

Curt

[Kris]

Congradulations Ron  

And welcome to the germinating club...as some have said its an addiction !

love,

Kris  

[paulgila]

i have to agree with all the above comments,ron.

germinating yer own seeds is just MORE special than buying palms!

(that doesn't mean i'm not gonna spend my next paycheck

at one of the local crack-houses,uh,i mean nurseries)