Ok, so I am going to try to germinate some Sabal palmetto seeds using the plastic baggy and paper towel method on a heat mat. Normally I completely drench the paper towel, not this time! I don't want to grow mold and no palms, so I only did two squirts of a water / hydrogen peroxide mixture on the entire paper towel. Here is some pictures, and yes, I am only trying this with two seeds, so if Incase they do grow mold, I don't waste a bunch. 

 

Please tell me if I am frying these seeds, the hear mat gets to about 91 degrees.

33 minutes ago, PalmTreeDude said:

Please tell me if I am frying these seeds, the hear mat gets to about 91 degrees.

You can't fry Sabals with that thing. They germinate in blazing sun in the mid- to high-90s.

You could also try the baggie method with sphagnum moss. Most of my palms were started from seed and that's the method I've had most success with. 

31 minutes ago, PalmatierMeg said:

You can't fry Sabals with that thing. They germinate in blazing sun in the mid- to high-90s.

Alright, thank you for telling me! Do you keep your heat mat on at all times or are you supposed to turn it on, like, in the morning and then turn it off at night? Like I said, I am really new to heat mats! Please forgive me for my ignorance!

6 minutes ago, Zeeth said:

You could also try the baggie method with sphagnum moss. Most of my palms were started from seed and that's the method I've had most success with. 

If the paper towel baggy method does not work this time, that is what I will do, thank you for the tips!

Edited September 11, 20169 yr by PalmTreeDude

I don't own a heat mat. I pot up Sabal & Cocothrinax seeds and put them out under the sun. Nature does the rest. Other seeds I germinate using baggies & damp orchid moss. During summer I leave them in a basket in the garage or garden shed. In winter I bring them indoors and set them on top of the refrigerator.

Most heat mats heat to 10-20 degrees above ambient temperature....for that reason i have always used a thermostat designed for the mats that have temperature probes.....without a stat the temps will never be stable.

Best of luck with your project!

 

32 minutes ago, Rusty on Pine Is. said:

Most heat mats heat to 10-20 degrees above ambient temperature....for that reason i have always used a thermostat designed for the mats that have temperature probes.....without a stat the temps will never be stable.

Best of luck with your project!

 

I hope mine doesn't go all whack! I am going to unplug it at night and have it plugged in during the day to simulate day time and night time. Thank you! 

If they pop like popcorn, then too hot. 

Tim