Washed ashore germinated Nypa fruticans seed - update...

[palmfriend]

Hi,

 

as some of you may remember, an already germinated Nypa fruticans seed was washed ashore at one of our beaches this year's July.

Because I have never seen one of them before and wasn't sure about it at all, I asked the palm community for an ID...

..and got it ID-ed within hours. Thanks a lot again!

Since this is truly a very seldom find on our island,  I will to do my best to make it happy.

I have still no idea how to deal with it when gaining real size but there will be a solution one way or the other.

Until then, here are some shots taken during the last few weeks...

 

Day one - it was almost boiling at the shore - I immediately snapped a small bucket, filled it with cool water from my daughter's thermo

and put it in after the cold water had warmed up a bit.

Then the IDing happened and I looked at it with other eyes - I always wanted to grow a Mangrove palm but I had no idea where to buy these large seeds.

(I often order at rps but I am not really sure if a huge package containing a couple of these big seeds would go through customs without trouble even with the

proper documentation.)

The first two days I kepted it well watered...

...and a new spear showed up. I was very happy because when I touched the seed at the beach for the first time, I was almost sure that it was a goner. At that time it was hot

like a coal pellet from a BBQ grill. 

But fortuantely this was not the case, because a day later the new spear has grown significantly...

However - after some research on the internet during the next days I changed a few things...

I put it in a larger pot - I had no idea about it root's sensiblity and wanted to keep it untouched for the next months - and that one went into a

bucket filled with rain water.

Then I just let it alone...

Sept5th - probably the first leaf but still unfolded...

Sept12th - the first leaf has finally opened and it seems we get number two on its way (a bit hard to make out).

Today, Septh24th - leaf number two has gained size, too - I guess, the plant is happy so far.

I have grown several species during my still young "palmy career" but I got to admit that this one is kind of special and I am feeling challenged 

to do my best to keep this not only alive but really happy.

I am planing to do some updates from time to time, so please feel free to follow me on this one during the (hopefully) next years.

 

regards from Okinawa -

Lars

 

 

[PalmatierMeg]

Great photos, Lars. I hope it does well for you. I tried a few Napa fruiticans seeds some years back but none germinated. When I visited (I think) Design Source Nursery in Loxahatchee, FL once Nypas were growing at the edge of a retention pond. Very cool. I haven’t pursued growing this species again as I’ve read it is very cold sensitive and likely won’t survive winter in Cape Coral. And as my freshwater canal is now mostly developed/sea walled I would have no reliable watery place to grow one. I also have a feeling City of Cape Coral Code Enforcement would have issue with me growing palms within City canals. Can’t say I blame them.

Please keep us updated on your progress. Very exciting.