happypalms Sowing a few seeds

[Phoenikakias]

4 hours ago, gyuseppe said:

licuala are not good for my climate, I tried to grow some species, but they died in winter

L ramsayi and spinosa may have some chances in proper medium. I have two  from former sp. A plants grow older they gain considerably in cold hardiness.

[gyuseppe]

konstantinos produce the seesd?

[happypalms]

19 minutes ago, Phoenikakias said:

L ramsayi and spinosa may have some chances in proper medium. I have two  from former sp. A plants grow older they gain considerably in cold hardiness.

Coco coir perlite mix with about 20 percent good quality potting mix. 

[Phoenikakias]

50 minutes ago, gyuseppe said:

konstantinos produce the seesd?

No, they are still potted juveniles, I have grown them from seed.

[Phoenikakias]

43 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Coco coir perlite mix with about 20 percent good quality potting mix. 

Actually in our climate we need an even lighter medium consisting of pine bark, leca and a pinch of coir.

[Davidlon]

So far they seem to grow good in south central Florida. I’m not sure about their cold hardiness, but they seem to like humidity. 

[Frond-friend42]

Sooo jealous. This one is to DIE for...

[happypalms]

22 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

Actually in our climate we need an even lighter medium consisting of pine bark, leca and a pinch of coir.

The heat in my climate you need a medium weight mix or they dry out to much. 

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, Frond-friend42 said:

Sooo jealous. This one is to DIE for...

I only wish I could grow orbicualis now that’s a palm to die for!

[Phoenikakias]

18 minutes ago, happypalms said:

The heat in my climate you need a medium weight mix or they dry out to much. 

Yet in an amazing way not, but I water plants daily during summer up to mid of autumn. That said, they spend all the time in my wind protected and shady cold frame, where air moisture never or barely falls below 50%. And it gets hot, very hot, inside during afternoon, like a steam bath.

[Jonathan Haycock]

10 hours ago, happypalms said:

I only wish I could grow orbicualis now that’s a palm to die for!

Interestingly, my 2 L. orbicularis seedlings (purchased from Mark Lomas) seem to be doing much better than the L. cordata seedlings I grew from seed. The latter appear quite anaemic and are slowly carking it one by one. Both growing side by side, same potting mix, watering regime etc.

[happypalms]

11 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

Yet in an amazing way not, but I water plants daily during summer up to mid of autumn. That said, they spend all the time in my wind protected and shady cold frame, where air moisture never or barely falls below 50%. And it gets hot, very hot, inside during afternoon, like a steam bath.

Monitoring water daily is the key to success in growing palms. Even if they don’t need a drink you still have to monitor especially in summer, yet in winter in my climate it’s touch and go for watering the tropical plants not to much watering in winter basically weekly check ins if you get it wrong it’s to cold for them and they suffer. 

[happypalms]

58 minutes ago, Jonathan Haycock said:

Interestingly, my 2 L. orbicularis seedlings (purchased from Mark Lomas) seem to be doing much better than the L. cordata seedlings I grew from seed. The latter appear quite anaemic and are slowly carking it one by one. Both growing side by side, same potting mix, watering regime etc.

I find that with some stuff I purchase as well. Sometimes it goes both ways, home germinated is better than brought plants and vice versa. This is why when I buy I like to purchase two or more of the same varieties you can judge how well they are growing in comparison to each other and find out what’s is working and what is not working. 

[John hovancsek]

I have probably killed 10 or more seedlings of this palm but finally had success finding a 1 gallon from a friend . Good luck on this amazing palm

[mnorell]

On 2/12/2025 at 8:56 PM, gyuseppe said:

licuala are not good for my climate, I tried to grow some species, but they died in winter

Gyuseppe, in particular you should try Licuala fordiana. It's from southern China where winters are surprisingly cool, so it would have a good chance of surviving the chill of a southern Italian winter. I grew it when I lived in Mississippi and it put up with a lot of cold. And other than that, I would agree that the various Lanonia species from southern China and Vietnam would be good choices for trials there.

[gyuseppe]

ok I'll see when RPS has these seeds,thanks

[Phoenikakias]

On 2/15/2025 at 5:33 AM, gyuseppe said:

ok I'll see when RPS has these seeds,thanks

Both below plants have been grown from seeds

Lanonia dasyantha

Licuala ramsayi

Lanonia on the left and Licuala on the right side

[happypalms]

On 2/17/2025 at 4:08 AM, Phoenikakias said:

Both below plants have been grown from seeds

Lanonia dasyantha

Licuala ramsayi

Lanonia on the left and Licuala on the right side

Both very similar, there are dozens of licuala species and quite a few that look similar to each other. Some varieties I have I won’t plant near rhapis they would get lost in the rhapis foliage.

[happypalms]

On 2/15/2025 at 9:41 AM, John hovancsek said:

I have probably killed 10 or more seedlings of this palm but finally had success finding a 1 gallon from a friend . Good luck on this amazing palm

The jury is still out on this one in my garden and the greenhouse, time will tell. I thought a large specimen would have a better chance of surviving the cold weather.

[happypalms]

A lovely gift of 100 or so alfredii seeds aka mill stream palm. A rare palm from north Western Australia. Where it is threatened by habitat loss. So these seeds have come along way to reach my little cultivation fingers. Bottom heating coco coir perlite mix in styrofoam box with lid 30 degrees Celsius is the order for the day. Looking forward to growing this palm that’s for sure. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Good luck with the sprouting . Looking forward to updates on them . Harry

[Phoenikakias]

2 hours ago, happypalms said:

A lovely gift of 100 or so alfredii seeds aka mill stream palm. A rare palm from north Western Australia. Where it is threatened by habitat loss. So these seeds have come along way to reach my little cultivation fingers. Bottom heating coco coir perlite mix in styrofoam box with lid 30 degrees Celsius is the order for the day. Looking forward to growing this palm that’s for sure. 

And about 30 to 40 cm deep liners for safe sprouting after germination!

[happypalms]

18 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Good luck with the sprouting . Looking forward to updates on them . Harry

Definitely! If I get fresh seeds i will germinate them! 
Richard 

[happypalms]

17 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

And about 30 to 40 cm deep liners for safe sprouting after germination!

I did purchase a couple some years ago and they where in long deep tubes, I think these ones will be no different. 

[KrisKupsch]

They always germinate fine when fresh, getting them to plantable stage is the trick. Something I’ve never achieved yet. Despite a lot seed over the years. 

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, KrisKupsch said:

They always germinate fine when fresh, getting them to plantable stage is the trick. Something I’ve never achieved yet. Despite a lot seed over the years. 

You have given me a challenge then kris. I shall see how I go growing them. 

[Phoenikakias]

4 hours ago, KrisKupsch said:

They always germinate fine when fresh, getting them to plantable stage is the trick. Something I’ve never achieved yet. Despite a lot seed over the years. 

Lift them up by first potting up in individual pots, growing point does not have to remain buried deeply below surface, in case seedlings are cultivated in pots.

[Phoenikakias]

3 hours ago, happypalms said:

You have given me a challenge then kris. I shall see how I go growing them. 

Since I could do it, then you are surely also able to do it!

[happypalms]

33 minutes ago, Phoenikakias said:

Since I could do it, then you are surely also able to do it!

So there a bit like Bismarck when repotting as seedlings?

[Phoenikakias]

3 hours ago, happypalms said:

So there a bit like Bismarck when repotting as seedlings?

You bet!

[happypalms]

19 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

You bet!

Nice palms, how much water do you give them?

[Phoenikakias]

In cold season(s) once weekly and in warm ones twice weekly.

[happypalms]

19 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

In cold season(s) once weekly and in warm ones twice weekly.

Thanks for the grow tip!

[richnorm]

I'd be tempted to plant a sprout or two directly into the ground. 

[Tyrone]

On 2/21/2025 at 10:42 PM, Phoenikakias said:

You bet!

I see you have them almost in pure gritty sand. I think that’s the trick as well as keeping them on the dry side during winter. Too much moisture in winter is an issue I’ve found. Yours look great. Do you keep them out of the winter rains?

I’ve failed in my few attempts. Have had them last in the ground for a year or so but they graduallly faded away even in sand. However I think they were too small to plant out as they were at the strap leaf stage. I did have a couple go palmate.

I’m trying again but will keep them in a pot for much longer then plant in pure sand with full winter sun. I may even use rocks around the base like I did with my Perth coconut. 

Though a much warmer area than my place, there are a few small plants growing in Kings Park in Perth. However I killed my Perth one. The ones from the Kimberley’s in WA grew better for me. 

[tim_brissy_13]

4 hours ago, richnorm said:

I'd be tempted to plant a sprout or two directly into the ground. 

I tried this for L alfredii. It’s no bigger than it was nearly 3 years ago, but I suspect this method would work better in the subtropical for this species as long as drainage in winter is good. My potted specimen has done much better but I bring it under cover out of the rain over winter. 

[richnorm]

OK, sounds like a dead loss in my climate and soil.  I will just chuck it in a "dry" sunny spot and leave it in the hands of the palm gods!

[happypalms]

4 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

I tried this for L alfredii. It’s no bigger than it was nearly 3 years ago, but I suspect this method would work better in the subtropical for this species as long as drainage in winter is good. My potted specimen has done much better but I bring it under cover out of the rain over winter. 

I didn’t think they were that difficult to grow. But from what iam reading it might be a different matter. I have the good drainage for the palm and the subtropical heat. It will be very interesting if I can grow this palm past the seedling stage in the ground. So I think some good draining mix with not to much over watering might be the trick, stay posted if i can be successful or not. After all we get failures it not all instagram shots all the way, we do live in the real world after all.  

[Phoenikakias]

8 hours ago, Tyrone said:

I see you have them almost in pure gritty sand. I think that’s the trick as well as keeping them on the dry side during winter. Too much moisture in winter is an issue I’ve found. Yours look great. Do you keep them out of the winter rains?

I’ve failed in my few attempts. Have had them last in the ground for a year or so but they graduallly faded away even in sand. However I think they were too small to plant out as they were at the strap leaf stage. I did have a couple go palmate.

I’m trying again but will keep them in a pot for much longer then plant in pure sand with full winter sun. I may even use rocks around the base like I did with my Perth coconut. 

Though a much warmer area than my place, there are a few small plants growing in Kings Park in Perth. However I killed my Perth one. The ones from the Kimberley’s in WA grew better for me. 

Substrate is not grit but actually thoroughly  washed perlite! Yeah, those three juveniles have been spending all time in my cold frame, although I would like to leave them outdoors during summer. However this is only a weekend home and I do not trust leaving potted specimens outdoors without daily control.  Local climate is extremely dry, albeit not equally warm, and an once weekly rainfall would make me the happiest person! If I may throw in a bold idea, how about using as fill in, in a raised bed always, a mix of completely dried out peat and pumice?

[Fusca]

Mine in well draining soil has done well.  It's fully palmate but not speedy by any means.  Easy to germinate but they do seem to be a challenge getting them to planting size in a pot.  Doesn't seem to be bothered by 100°F (41°C) and no damage at 27°F (-3°C) unprotected.