The Best Way to Germinate and Grow

[Alicehunter2000]

I understand that I should use deep containers. Would a 10 inch planting tube (Deepots brand) be deep enough? If I mix perlite and peat for my planting mix, how will it hold together when I transplant the seedling from the tube to a larger container? Won't the perlite and peat fall apart damaging the roots? What size pot (deep and volume) should I go to after the Deepots if space is at a premium.

[bgl]

David,

10 inches should be plenty. I have used 1G water containers (that we buy bottled water in, and I just cut off the top) with no more than 6 inches of soil. When I pot them up into separate (deep) 5G containers the medium that I'm germinating them in, falls off completely, exposing the roots. This is not a problem. Out of 100 seedlings being potted up, I don't think I lose more than 2 or 3 for whatever reason.

Bo-Göran

[iwan]

Very interesting observation Bo.  I have six that I germinated directly in individual tall pots in peat/pearlite.  I have been concerned about the very lose mixture falling away when it comes time to pot them up or plant out.

I have read almost nothing but warnings about root sensitivity.  I have one that rooted in my shade hous last summer, so this spring I will move the shade house instead of trying to dig it up.

David,

How many are you planning on germinating?  If only a small quantity, I would probably use 12" sections of 4" drain pipe with caps on the bottom (drilled for drainage of course).  This will make potting up easy, just remove the cap, backfill with new mix and gently pull the pipe out.

[Alicehunter2000]

Mabe a hundred seed batch from Ortinique or RPS. It will be probably over into May or June before I will be able to purchase. This palm may have some promise here along the coast. Thought I would give it a shot as there is no one really offering them except in very small quantity fromt the local box chains (if it is offered at all)

[Kris]

Hey David  

tomarrow i will be back with pictures,since i have 2 bismarkia

silver form growing in barrels & one has just sprouted in

the baggiee bag in a warm dark room.

Believe me they are touffie...

Love,

Kris.

[Kris]

Dear Robert  

I must say that its as easy to germinate as CIDP to our hot

indian climate.

these guys like clayee soil with lots of humas or bark chips ets.

i had 5 seeds of which 2 germinated in the big barrel with

clayee soil.and it will remain there as long its roots come out

of the drain holes.after which i will cut or pull of this bizie lady

out of the barrel & will be placed in the ground.what is the

most peculier observation i had is they love heat.and do not

need any shade or shelter for the saplings.

here is a still of the first one that germinated a year ago !

its about 10 months old in this still _

[Kris]

This Bizie Lady is just 3 months old.but the leaves are not

similar to the previous stills.since that one did not grow so

long sprouts and this one has thorns in the leaf eadges ?

here is the still of that palm_

[Kris]

this baby grows in any germination medium_coco peat,clayee

soil,spanghyum moss.

and now i have one germination happening in just one and half weeks itself !

i will post its stills today evening(Indian Standaed timings)..

once the roots fill in i will shift to a big barrel.so i will not need

constant change in containers.

Sun,shade or dark room let any thing be the location the only

requsite is heat,heat & heat alone can wake this baby from its

sleep...

deep germination pots,baggiee methos or closed container

method all works absolutely fine for this touffie...

Love,

Kris

[Kris]

Dear David  

here are the stages of germination occuring at around 82 to 87 degrees farenheat in s.india.no special treatment or

medium.

the medium used is mearly coco coir dust,its not even coco peat.baggiee bag avaliable from ordinary store or stationary

shop.the coir dust is put in boiling hot water for say 30 to 45

minutes,than when the temperature has fallen down.touch the container to confirm that its only mild warm.now collect

the dust which is floating in the water and squeeze it till all

the excess water gushes out of you palm(Hand).

now start filling the baggiee bag.but keep some air space on top as i have shown.

buy seeds only from reputed dealers or our member who

trade fresh seeds.these seeds are to be socked for 3 days

and on the finial day just sock these seeds with mild

bleach solution,but this is not a must for this touffie.

then gently air dry.so it does not appear wet_i mean the seeds alone !

then place these seeds into the baggie and fill a inch of

top area with coco dust.this can be even be a dried or

non wet coir powder.if you have fungus related problems in

your climatic condition.

and just place it in a warm dark room,its a must.

and just in 2 to 3 weeks the bizie babies will sprout.and

when their roots stick to the baggies end.its time to go for

bigger pots rightaway !

Here are some still of my method,it works fine for me_

Stage one_

[Kris]

Stage two_ removing the germinated seeds gently or if

you lack patience best is to sicssor cut the plastic bag and

have easy accesses to the seeds.its safe this way !

here is a still for you david_

[Kris]

A close up of the 3 germinated seeds,the baggie bag contained only 3 seeds all the 3 seeds did germinate

at the same time_

[Kris]

Now right away i took these seeds and planted in medium sized terracota pots and usually i use only clayee soil for

bizie lady,but this time around i am trying with loose river

sand_just experimenting with it !

and after planting the 3 seeds in 3 pots.lots of water were poured in to level the seeds internally.and next day morning

these pots were shifted to our terrace area for full blast of

sunlight & heat.here the temperature is around 87 to 92 degrees farenheat at the moment.but will reach a height of

97 to 106 normally but can go even to 94 to 110F.but it will

last only for 3 to 4 days.then it will start to rain gently for

2 days and will be gloomy.then the temperature will rise

to 94 to 106 average this will remain up to comming

september.after that mansoon rains will begin for S.India.

Now lets look at the old terracota pots.i use old & damaged

since once the roots are full i will have to tap gently to

crack it open.so the root ball feels very little stress &

damage...since they are in a intermidiate stage of their

life cycle_

[Kris]

Hey have you guys noticed that the pot in the upper still

the soil is not filled to the brim_did you notice it.

yes it is intentionally left so.since when the bizie lady

begins to sprout at times the inner stem or the soft trunk

region will appear exposed.so in that case will have to

fill in some top soil or better still some well dried manure or

the red bark chips you guys put below your palm trunk.its not avaliable here though  

Now lets see a bizie that is just 3 months old but its in plastic barrel & Clayee soil,since iam retaining 2 specimen plants for my house.while the extras will go to goverment instutions as my gift to them.so i have used terracota's pots & plastic mineral water bottles.which is easier for them to break open for the new home_ground !

Here are those still of young saplings_Long shot !

[Kris]

Now a close up of the same palm_

[Kris]

Now lets see our grown up bizie after one year...

[Kris]

Now a close up of the same one year old bizie lady_

i have fed it with slow release fert every 20 to 30 days.

when it crossed past its 3 month slow grouth period !