Trachycarpus takil seeds sprouting

[John Case]

A couple of weeks ago, one of our generous and helpful members, Edith Bergstrom, offered some T. takil seeds from her tree to members for donations. I was able to obtain some for my own.

I put them in a baggy (freezer bag, really, as it seem to hold up better) with some damp peat moss and put them on the top of the water heater.

I looked today for the first time and, voila!

Many of them have sprouted a tap root, although it is only about 1/16th of an inch in length.

I know they can stay there for a bit longer, but what's next? Pot them? How deep? In what media? How much, if any, sun?

Thanks for the input.

[Patrick]

In the little bit of growing I've done, I'd say, yes, give them a bit more time to establish a root system. I usually start from the beginning in pots- no baggies but in a grow box, so my advice is somewhat limited. Anyways, Mix up a 2-1 ratio peat/ pearlite mixture- or whatever ratio you like and put your baby in that. I'm gonna say just cover the top of the seedling. I think the thing to really stress is keeping things sterile. It's so frustrating to lose seedlings due to fungus. I know that others will have different advice, but there you go. If you need a little bit of either peat or pearllite, give me a buzz. I have the schtuff.

I'll have to show you my setup upstairs next time you come over. I'm gonna talk to my buddy down the street, too. He's a fan of the baggie method & he grows everything in his laundry room.

[gyuseppe]

is very difficult to find the seeds of <true> Trachycarpus takil.

[John Case]

is very difficult to find the seeds of <true> Trachycarpus takil.

According to Edith, her tree has been verified by Don Hodel, I believe...

[JasonD]

Edith emasculated all other Trachycarpus in the area while her T. takil were blooming. Her plants are the true species, not the mistaken T. fortunei. So, assuming all the seeds were pollinated by the male T. takil, they should produce true T. takil plants. I saw another specimen this weekend at a garden in Berkeley, California, which was quite pretty, and superior to T. fortunei to my tastes, because the trunk fiber is more of a weave than fur, and the leaves are larger and more elegant. Its appearance is like a cross between a T. fortunei and a T. martianus, but 50% more robust.

[Ken Johnson]

Wow, whats going on here? The question is what to do next. Then yalls start with the other questions and now for my 2cents.

John,

Palms do not have tap roots. The first root is called something like a primary root but not a "tap".

Now your question. Plant them just below the surface in a small pot.

Now about this other stuff.

Keeping you palms sterile is impossible. You cant put them in an autoclave so forget about it. keeping them in a clean enviroment is always good but they need to be outdoors or in a "house" of some kind so if you want to keep microbes off them you will need to spray with some heavy duty stuff BEFORE you get an infection. I DO NOT RECOMEND THIS. just keep them in a place with lots of air flow and good sun, not too wet.

As for what kind they are? Unless you are buying, selling or trading who cares? Sounds like they will be special to you because of thier origin and that you sprouted them yourself. In a genus where there are several species that look similar plus they hybridise easily and they came from a garden where more than one type exists, even within several thousand feet, you will need a DNA test to be sure and that does not exist yet. As far as trying to keep out the hybrids by cutting off all male flowers (emasculating, i doubt this was done but she may have cut off all flowers both male and female) thats a good start and your palms will probably look like thier mother.

Can we see a pic of the mother?

[M@ximus]

Wow, whats going on here? The question is what to do next. Then yalls start with the other questions and now for my 2cents.

Can we see a pic of the mother?

Please, post a pic of the mother palm , as Ken did ask!!

Here some pics of Takils from Rome University la sapienza , and in the last pic , a comparison between Takil ( left) and fortunei (right) in Florence at Villa beccari

Best M@x

[Zayin]

Interesting Thread! that doesn't look like the "bogus Takil's " that I have been growing, could it be a true Takil?

[plamfrong]

First of all, congrats on the seed germination. Everything sounds good except I'd get them off the water heater; Trachycarpus seed germinates/develops well at temperatures around 60-70 degrees F.

As for the name... perhaps Nigel can jump in and correct me if I'm wrong.... 100+ year old trees in Italy introduced by Beccari T. takil are indeed true T. takils. About everything that has been distributed in the US as T. takil have been T. wagnerianus or various other small, mysterious forms of T. fortunei (prior to mid-90s) (sold by 'Endangered Species' and others) or T. fortunei 'Nanai Tal' (mid 90s until a couple years ago) ('bogus takil' of RPS.com fame). So knowing where Edith originally got her tree would certainly be helpful in achieving a positive ID.

[Explorer]

Well for people in North America, Canada and the US, have a look here.

www.mypalmshop.com/Outdoor palms

I do not know if Herbert Riphagen, the owner, sells Trachycarpus takil to people in North America but its worth trying to ask him.

And I know Herbert well. He has been also to Kalamuni in Northern India where I have been twice. And he gets his T. takil seeds from that area.

He has now also a couple of thousends young T. takil at his nursery in The Netherlands. And they are 100 % T. takil. In the Kalamuni area only Trachycarpus takil is found. And I have been there twice and have spended many hours in the forest during 2 weeks to get them to know very well.

I have also seedlings here but to ship some to America is a hassle with all the officiel paperwork.

It seems in the USA there are only 2 Trachycarpus takil specimems east of the Mississippi. And I have seen both, one in Atlanta and one at Plant Delight Nursery near Raleigh, NC. And some in California.

Alexander

Edited January 11, 2014 by Explorer