Cleaning Areca and other fibrous seeds

[tjwalters]

When cleaning fibrous seeds such as those of Areca or Syagrus, do you leave the fibers intact or remove them?

[Sabal Steve]

I have experience with Chamaerops. I remove as many fibers as I can, they have a high germination rate. Never tried leaving the fibers on. Also, when germinating Rhopalostylis sp. I run into mold problems if fiber is left on the seeds. I would say that you would have better luck overall w completely clean seeds. Never tried Areca sp. or Syagrus sp.

Edited March 9, 2014 by Sabal Steve

[colin Peters]

Had good luck removing all or as much fiber as possible on Areca, and also Pritchardia.

[Grasswing]

Hello, I don't remove fibres on Areca. I have a bad experience with mold on absolutely cleaned seeds.

I would let it how it is, I germinated almost all Areca concinna with whole fibres: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/uploads/post-7533-0-44360800-1371745167.jpg

On the other hand I cleaned the Syagrus, the fibres are softer and I felt that they can rot easily.

Regards,

Andrew

[Kostas]

I find it doesn't matter at all. Just rinse the seeds and press them/scape a little to remove the flesh between the fibers. The fibers themselves don't cause rot and a little flesh rotting between them is no problem to the germinating seed or seedling

[doranakandawatta]

Andrew,

Could you show pics of your Areca concinna babies?

Thanks

Philippe

[Grasswing]

Andrew,

Could you show pics of your Areca concinna babies?

Thanks

Philippe

Hello Philippe,

here we go, this is my biggest Areca concinna, I am going to transplant it in future days because it looks like the spring is finally here.

Regards,

Andrew

[bgl]

Fresh Areca seeds will generally germinate no matter what. Among all the palms that I have grown these are probably some of the easiest to germinate and definitely one of the most prolific when it comes to self germination. This is what it typically looks like around an Areca palm - lots of volunteers that have germinated all on their own. Without any fibers being removed. (This is an Areca vestiaria).

[pilou]

Don't need to remove fiber...

[NorthFlpalmguy]

I like mine cleaned but it really depends on the species.

[Kim]

I picked up a few Actinorhytis calapparia seed off a mowed lawn yesterday; the seeds are large, perhaps 2 inches, and densely fibrous under the skin and fleshy part. Many had already been skinned and were sprouting where they lay, so I won't bother to remove any of the fibers. It doesn't seem like it will make any difference.

[doranakandawatta]

Bo and Kim,

it seems t me the you (and me in Doranakanda), having tropical gardens, are lucky since we have all the conditions (climate - soil…) for palm species to seed themselves without any help.

Even I discovered that fruits I throw away on the compost were germinating nicely.

It's different for "indoor" palm-addict like Grasswing who is starting a botanic garden in his bedroom in cold eastern Europe.

In Sri Lanka we may have monkeys helping to remove the flesh!

[bgl]

Philippe,

Very true - being in a tropical location certainly helps. However, I would think that with fairly fresh seeds and germinating them in a warm place should give good results, no matter what the location.

Bo-Göran