Many years ago, I ordered a dozen Livistona inermis seed. They germinated fine, but in the damp cold Melbourne winter, they all rotted off and died.

Now living in Brisbane, and a sucker for Livistona, I ordered a few more and tried again. In the recent spring heat, many again germinated, but to my dismay they are again rotting off, not long after the seedling leaf appears. They are potted in coarse, loose, sandy mix, and are infrequently watered, and spend most of the day in full sun. Any thoughts on what I might be doing wrong?

Mark

when someone gives up this classified info please enlighten me as well. I had 16 germ. sdlgs out of 50 seeds a few yrs back, sold a few but gradually they all died save this one. It starting making full size palmate leaves in its 3rd yr, this was its 4th summer and still its maybe a ft tall overall. Was told by a genus expert I should plant it pot & all, will not tolerate any disturbance. I haven't the guts as yet, and detest pot planting anything but after this winter passes will attempt give it a permanent home. I grew all my previous sdlgs in a community pot, perhaps separating them was primary cause of their premature demise, not a gentle touch do I possess. I did grow them in light shade for a few yrs, then into more sun. This one gets full sun for mebbe 1/2 day. I also have same issues w/ Liv victoriae, now down to 2 from 10...

My experiences echo Tala. At one time, I had 30-35 one- to three-leaf seedlings sitting out in the 150 inches/yr east Hawaii rain. Two lived long enough to develop palmate leaves with the very slender leaflets like Tala shows. The problems seemed to start after I separated them from the community pot, but are probably more generic than that. If I were to try them again, I would sow separately in small pots to avoid disturbing when moving them up.

Interesting. I can't even get seeds to germinate. Why is this Livistona so persnickety when others are tough?

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=20925

A mature one is pictured in this post.

As I recall, my germination rate was a little over 50%.

Mark, both l.inermis and l.humilis need excellent drainage,low humidity and weekly applications of fungicide,plus excellent air circulation and planted in dappled light if you're going to have any success! Seedlings resent any kind of disturbance whatsoever and probably need to be planted individualy or sow the seed directly into their permanent position as a successful alternative! If you have a community pot , plant it and let the strongest seedlings survive and battle it out,at least you'll have one or two to show for it at the end of the day!! .I have both species ,both seedlings and sown seed in individual and community pots and they are doing fine though you must not over water them in the cooler months as they will surely damp off. ...hope this info helps.....cheers Mike Green (NEWCAL)

Mark, both l.inermis and l.humilis need excellent drainage,low humidity and weekly applications of fungicide,plus excellent air circulation and planted in dappled light if you're going to have any success! Seedlings resent any kind of disturbance whatsoever and probably need to be planted individualy or sow the seed directly into their permanent position as a successful alternative! If you have a community pot , plant it and let the strongest seedlings survive and battle it out,at least you'll have one or two to show for it at the end of the day!! .I have both species ,both seedlings and sown seed in individual and community pots and they are doing fine though you must not over water them in the cooler months as they will surely damp off. ...hope this info helps.....cheers Mike Green (NEWCAL)

Low humidity? Really? We do get high humidity this time of the year... But drainage is the key with anything from up here...

Maybe the seeds have to be fresh or something?? It is amazing to see some people grow them in their yard... when we can just go down the road and see them

Regards, Ari

Edited November 27, 200916 yr by ariscott

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=20925

A mature one is pictured in this post.

Woah Ken! I just had to wade through the entire Florida trip again! That's the topic link you posted. Here is the post link. See also the last photo on the post before this one: Post #191

It looks most unlike other Livistona's. You can almost see why it wants to behave exceptionally.

I think they need a dry season, coming from where they do. Maybe you are only supposed to water them in summer. They are not very attractive anyhow.

Peachy

Maybe... that is why.. you need wet hot summer and dry cool winter??? That is what we have...

Regards, Ari

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Hello!that,s my livistona inermis with 3years old..I think that palm is hardier to the cold like L.mariae..

Just to ask, what makes you think it will be as cold hardy as L. mariae? Everything I have seen indicates this is a pretty cold sensitive palm but I would love to be wrong.

Thanks!

-Krishna

Hi guys, hate to disagree with you Peachy but as Ray said "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", especially when you see a well grown specimen with pink/reddish petioles and weeping fine foliage.....Stunning! .Also even though they grow inland, they are not as hardy to cold and frost as L.marie. In the cooler months (April to August) the minimums are in the low teens and the maximum temps are still in the high twenties/low thirties,so this species would rarely experience any kind of cold like Livistona marie that grows naturally over 1000km to the south where temps regularly reach 0 degrees every winter!...cheers Mike Green(NEWCAL)

I agree that Livistona inermis is a stunning palm - it is one of my favorites. I have 20 seedlings hoping to end up with a few at least. How much cold can they take? Some frost?

Thanks for the info Mike. I had a careful look in the community pot and there's a couple more just popped, i'll remember the fungicide this time, and leave them right where they are. It's possible potting them on caused the death of the first few.

Thanks for posting the pics too. It certainly is an unusual looking palm from day 1.

I've tried small ones here quite a few times and none make it through the summer, they all get bud rot.

There is a nice specimen at Fairchild;