Saw Palmetto Germination & Care Advice

[MrTropical]

I recently acquired Saw Palmetto seeds. Seeking advice for germination, as well as general care for Saw Palmetto seedlings. I’m located in coastal North Carolina. Thanks in advance. 

[JohnAndSancho]

Me too! My normal method is to soak for 2 or 3 days in water with a splash of hydrogen peroxide, then clean them and I usually throw a baggie full of coir on the heat mat. If these are anything like most Sabals (except my *#$&@ palmetto for some reason), they'll sprout regularly quickly - and these seeds are so fresh I can still smell the flower so I expect them to be quick. But this time I'm just gonna do a community pot on the heat mat. Maybe throw a loose fitting baggie over the pot for humidity. I have a new heat mat with a temperature control and I'm gonna leave it set at 85. My old heat mat had no controller so this is an experiment for me. 

Historically though, baggies full of coco coir on a heat mat have worked great for me for all Sabals. Just make sure to pluck them when they start to show roots, if you wait too long they'll go wonky and you'll end up with roots going sideways and it's a hot mess. Ask me how I know. (I know because I have 3 pots of Sabal Mexicana that I waited until I saw the growth point to pot them up. You didn't ask but I said it anyway and now they've all got sideways roots and are all misshapen) 

[happypalms]

If I had them I would just use a community pot fill it with coco coir perlite just slightly damp push the seeds in, cover it with a plastic bag and place in a warm spot, that’s as simple as it is to germinate most palm seeds. As for seedlings pot them up at there first leaf, using tubes, the media mix I would use coco coir perlite with a handful of good quality potting mix, and use osmocote slow release fertiliser. I would also keep an eye on watering them letting the top of the soil dry out just slightly damp push before watering again, place them in a greenhouse on bench’s. Thats about as simple as I can recommend. Dont fuss over them. And in 3 years time you should have a few nice seedlings that can be potted up! 

[tim_brissy_13]

I sowed a batch of the silver S repens last year. Put them in baggies with 50/50 coco coir / perlite. Bottom heat set to 30C/86F. About 30% germinated quickly. I’m still getting sporadic germination now and am up to around 50-60% germination rate overall. They are robust as seedlings and form a good root system very quickly. I’ve had them in morning sun and I water deeply every few days allowing them to dry out slightly. Haven’t lost any at all, they don’t seem to be fussy. 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Ive had some seeds in moss for like 3 weeks now. Waiting patiently for activity.

[Palmensammler]

I first saw them in 1992 on a trip through Florida and felt in love. But after a few trials to grow them from seed I gave up. I think the problem had been the freshness of the seeds each time. The last ones rotted away in less then a month. 

Good luck with yours 👍

Eckhard