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.

[palmfriend]

Hi there,

a short update of my N. fruticans.

The bucket is permanently filled with water, from time to time up to the (pot's) brim.

It is constantly pushing new spears - so it seems to do well.

I"ll keep you posted -

 

Lars

 

 

 

[Harry’s Palms]

Wow , thanks for the update. It looks like it is on the way to success. Harry

[palmfriend]

Hi,

again a very short update - an important one (at least for me).

Since it pushes now spear after spear after our winter is over, I checked the plant and found some very 

healthy looking roots coming out of the pot"s bottom. Not knowing anything about its transplantation habbits -

I was afraid that the roots might get too big to be pulled back through the pot"s holes if I wait any longer -

so I went to action...

Here again the old pot in a bucket - it was interesting how often I had to refill it with water...

..and here in the new one and from now on completely submerged in another much bigger bucket/pot with no holes. (April)

I was afraid of the palm"s condition after the repotting so I marked the newest spear...

...but one day later it seemed to do fine. The spear went on growing.

To be on the safe side I checked today again...

...and it looks good - I guess it took the transplanting very well so far!

I am really looking forward to it's further growth!

Thank you for your time again -

Lars

 

[awkonradi]

Good job.  Thanks for the continuing updates.

[palmfriend]

Hi there,

it is time for a short update - so, here we go:

This year's June. 

After a while when being into palms, you just know when something is wrong with one of your "babies" by just glancing at them.

It's like they are talking to you. Despite the wind damage something didnt't fit, so I lifted it out of the pot...

Ups, this fella was already yelling at me - "Do something!"

Again I looked around and roamed the garden for something bigger...

Here it is now, sitting in its new "home" and looking happy.

Since this one looks to be on steroids, I am going to go the extra mile next time and will make a small pond - why not - and 

try to make it really happy. It is probably on the edge what you should be done for a palm but that's what we are here for, right?😉

 

Lars