Best Method to Germinate Seeds

[insipidtoast]

I got a bunch of Licuri palm (Syagrus coronata) seeds, and would like to know the best way to germinate them. Please share with your experiences.

Thank you.

[Xerarch]

The bag method has always worked well for me. put some moist soil in a ziplock bag with your seeds. seal up the bag so that the moisture stays in. After the seeds germinate you can transplant them anywhere.

[Gbarce]

This has been discussed a lot and I think Kris had one really long thread about his methods. I'll see if I can find it and bump it to the front.

[damir]

some seeds germinate faster if you use de-lidding technique. for example from my experience, sabal minor, needle palm, germinate much faster. soak it in water for few days, then take a knife and cut seeds at the place where root should appear. you should find like small dot and there cut it. after that soak it in water for few days more and there u go.

[insipidtoast]

some seeds germinate faster if you use de-lidding technique. for example from my experience, sabal minor, needle palm, germinate much faster. soak it in water for few days, then take a knife and cut seeds at the place where root should appear. you should find like small dot and there cut it. after that soak it in water for few days more and there u go.

I've also heard of the de-lidding technique to cause seed rot. I think I'll try the bag method this time. How much soil do you put in one resealable plastic bag?

[mike in kurtistown]

I usually just use the seedpot method, but the baggie method (a little bit of sphagnum peat with a few drops of water to dampen it) is a productive approach as well. I use this method with cycad seeds. I know some individuals who put most of their seeds in a seedpot, but keep a small number in a baggie for the purpose of checking out whether and how fast they are germinating.

Seeds germinated in baggies must be potted when they start developing, and some losses can occur. Seeds germinated in pots can be left to begin development of root systems before potting up individually. Here the danger is leaving them for too long before potting, and some species with delicate roots can be set back.

I have never cut or nicked a seed. With most seeds, it is unnecessary. But with certain hard to germinate seeds (Acrocomia), I have cracked and removed the quarter-inch thick shells, resulting in early, quick germination of one or two seeds.

Just a few remarks. Hope you are successful. I have germinated licuris in seedpots. They take a while, but will do OK if they are viable, sometimes a problem with Syagrus seeds.

[insipidtoast]

I usually just use the seedpot method, but the baggie method (a little bit of sphagnum peat with a few drops of water to dampen it) is a productive approach as well. I use this method with cycad seeds. I know some individuals who put most of their seeds in a seedpot, but keep a small number in a baggie for the purpose of checking out whether and how fast they are germinating.

Seeds germinated in baggies must be potted when they start developing, and some losses can occur. Seeds germinated in pots can be left to begin development of root systems before potting up individually. Here the danger is leaving them for too long before potting, and some species with delicate roots can be set back.

I have never cut or nicked a seed. With most seeds, it is unnecessary. But with certain hard to germinate seeds (Acrocomia), I have cracked and removed the quarter-inch thick shells, resulting in early, quick germination of one or two seeds.

Just a few remarks. Hope you are successful. I have germinated licuris in seedpots. They take a while, but will do OK if they are viable, sometimes a problem with Syagrus seeds.

Is there any reason why you use organic matter with the baggie method, and not a mix of say perlite and vermiculite?

[mike in kurtistown]

Not really. The purpose is to create a moist microclimate inside the baggie. If sphagnum peat is taken from a commercial package, it is probably not contaminated with anything. I have never seen fungal or bacterial invasions in a small amount of spagnum peat in a baggie.

[rawonitem]

hi everyone..

i just got bismark seeds from the suppliers. my questions are:

1. if the seeds is young (green and hard) and they float, is it true that the seeds will not grow?

2. how did you guys plant the seeds, i mean in my case i have no clue to arrange the seeds, whether is up or down? cause sometimes i can not figure it out which one is the root and which one is the leaf..

thank

[insipidtoast]

hi everyone..

i just got bismark seeds from the suppliers. my questions are:

1. if the seeds is young (green and hard) and they float, is it true that the seeds will not grow?

2. how did you guys plant the seeds, i mean in my case i have no clue to arrange the seeds, whether is up or down? cause sometimes i can not figure it out which one is the root and which one is the leaf..

thank

This is actually another reason why I'm doing the baggie method. However, Syagrus seeds have an obvious "side" so I would just place them on their side. I they're nearly perfectly round e.g. Jubaea chilensis, then I'd have no idea.

[MARKGREYWA]

I LIKE THE BAG METHOD WITH A ZIPLOCK PLASTIC BAG AND COCOPEAT [THE HUSKS OFF COCONUTS YOU GET IT IN BLOCKS] WHAT EVER MEDIUM ,SOAK IN WATER THEN ONCE SATURATED SQUEEZE IN THE HAND TILL NO MORE DRIPS, PUT IN BAG WITH THE SEEDS. YOU CAN THEN SUBJECT THEM TO HEAT IE HOT WATER CUPBOARD A HOT PLACE OR COLD OR JUST PUT THEM IN A RODENT PROOF CONTAINER INSIDE OR OUT AND CHECK THEM ONCE A WEEK,THEY DON'T NEED LIGHT, WHEN YOU SEE ROOTS IN THE BAG YOU KNOW, BE GENTLE WITH THEM AND YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WAY IS UP OR DOWN WHEN YOU POT THEM UP. pALMS ARE TOUGH I HAVE HAD SPROUTED JUBAEAS POKE THROUGH A ZIP LOCK BAG WHEN I WAS A BIT LAZY AND DIDN'T CHECK THEM OFTEN ENOUGH.

[MARKGREYWA]

ANOTHER TIP ,USE RAIN WATER OR PURE WATER WITH OUT THE ADDITIVES IN TOWN SUPPLY WATER IE CHLORINE AND FLUORIDE, GREAT FOR YOUR TEETH AND YOU DON'T GET THE RUNS BUT SOME PALM SEEDS ARE FUSSY.

[Kathryn]

I like to use the community pot method during warm weather. I tend to forget to check the bags and end up with a tangled mess.