happypalms Sowing a few seeds

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, gyuseppe said:

Richard where did you buy the seeds? no from rarepalmseed because it doesn't have chamaedorea nationsiana

Pm me I will take ten out for you!

[happypalms]

Another batch of RPS goodies. We all know the go on these seeds. Time will tell. But some healthy looking seeds to start with so that’s a good place to begin with. The usual treatment soaked for 24 hours coco coir perlite just slightly wet bottom heating set at 30 degrees Celsius, lids on styrofoam box’s for etoliation. 

[Tassie_Troy1971]

That's is extremely rare Wow  ! 

[Hillizard]

I finally got (what may well be my last?) RPS order... it was held up with months of phytosanitary 'folderol' and delay. The folks in Germany communicated the issues with me, but what was interesting is the package came from a domestic (Vermont) address? Regardless, in my location the Mauritia flexuosa seedlings will spend their lives as nice looking potted plants (or perhaps sent where they can grow outdoors?).  And with the Alloxylon flammeum, once they've got some woody growth I'll test them outside in my interior NorCal Zone 9 location. Now it's time to soak the seeds and reactivate the germination heating pad!😃

[Fusca]

1 hour ago, Hillizard said:

I finally got (what may well be my last?) RPS order... it was held up with months of phytosanitary 'folderol' and delay. The folks in Germany communicated the issues with me, but what was interesting is the package came from a domestic (Vermont) address? Regardless, in my location the Mauritia flexuosa seedlings will spend their lives as nice looking potted plants (or perhaps sent where they can grow outdoors?).  And with the Alloxylon flammeum, once they've got some woody growth I'll test them outside in my interior NorCal Zone 9 location. Now it's time to soak the seeds and reactivate the germination heating pad!😃

Hopefully you will have better luck than I.  The Mauritia flexuosa seeds that I got from RPS were too old by the time I got them and zero germinated.  I had excellent germination with seeds that I collected myself in Brasil several years ago so freshness seems to matter with these.

[Jonathan]

4 hours ago, Hillizard said:

I finally got (what may well be my last?) RPS order... it was held up with months of phytosanitary 'folderol' and delay. The folks in Germany communicated the issues with me, but what was interesting is the package came from a domestic (Vermont) address? Regardless, in my location the Mauritia flexuosa seedlings will spend their lives as nice looking potted plants (or perhaps sent where they can grow outdoors?).  And with the Alloxylon flammeum, once they've got some woody growth I'll test them outside in my interior NorCal Zone 9 location. Now it's time to soak the seeds and reactivate the germination heating pad!😃

That's odd that it came from Vermont! Is it possible that there's a quarantine station there, where it was checked then forwarded on to you?

If you have no luck with A flammeum, try A pinnatum, Dorrigo Waratah from a bit further south and higher elevation. Theoretically should be hardier. I've got several species of trees from the Dorrigo plateau, they all seem hardy to a few degrees of frost. A pinnatum has been on the radar for a while!

[happypalms]

33 minutes ago, Jonathan said:

That's odd that it came from Vermont! Is it possible that there's a quarantine station there, where it was checked then forwarded on to you?

If you have no luck with A flammeum, try A pinnatum, Dorrigo Waratah from a bit further south and higher elevation. Theoretically should be hardier. I've got several species of trees from the Dorrigo plateau, they all seem hardy to a few degrees of frost. A pinnatum has been on the radar for a while!

I did manage to get some Dorrigo Waratah seeds. From the local landcare group in Dorrigo so iam hope full they germinate. They have had over 2200mm of rain in the last 3 months so the Waratahs will take the wet that’s for sure. 

[happypalms]

4 hours ago, Hillizard said:

I finally got (what may well be my last?) RPS order... it was held up with months of phytosanitary 'folderol' and delay. The folks in Germany communicated the issues with me, but what was interesting is the package came from a domestic (Vermont) address? Regardless, in my location the Mauritia flexuosa seedlings will spend their lives as nice looking potted plants (or perhaps sent where they can grow outdoors?).  And with the Alloxylon flammeum, once they've got some woody growth I'll test them outside in my interior NorCal Zone 9 location. Now it's time to soak the seeds and reactivate the germination heating pad!😃

The be old saying strange things happen in country towns. But good on you for getting an order of seeds in. RPS you take the good with the bad our problem in Australia with there orders is customs in Australia dilly dallying around taking way to long with there orders up to 6 weeks they can take for clearance then at least over a week in the domestic mail system. If they take a month before placing your order which is not their fault they are just busy. Then mail delivery from Germany can take 3 weeks. So nearly 3 months in the system is not good for a living cell. When you think it has already been harvested shipped to Germany, considering some seeds only last a short time being viable. It’s not rps fault it’s the system there in that’s at fault. I continue to make orders that’s the way it is with a living thing in the mail system nobody’s fault as the old saying goes not even the Romans can be blamed for it. 

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, Fusca said:

Hopefully you will have better luck than I.  The Mauritia flexuosa seeds that I got from RPS were too old by the time I got them and zero germinated.  I had excellent germination with seeds that I collected myself in Brasil several years ago so freshness seems to matter with these.

Freshness for any seed matters that’s for sure. Most people can germinate seeds if there fresh, but given seeds that are not fresh it’s a different story! Time for another trip to Brazil! 

[peachy]

Over the course of many years only one batch of RPS seeds actually did anything for me. People would post me seeds back in the days when we could still do that sort of thing and my success rate was always quite high.  It had been years since I even thought about playing with seeds but last year someone gave me a big handful of Lipstick seeds. I offered them around but had no interest and was about to chuck them but thought why not give it a shot. 6 months later I was looking for something in the shed and found the container full of shoots, about 99% germination. Just my luck, all those bought seeds over the years then I get seeds from a species I don't like or want and get perfect results.

Peachy

[Hillizard]

2 hours ago, Jonathan said:

That's odd that it came from Vermont! Is it possible that there's a quarantine station there, where it was checked then forwarded on to you?

If you have no luck with A flammeum, try A pinnatum, Dorrigo Waratah from a bit further south and higher elevation. Theoretically should be hardier. I've got several species of trees from the Dorrigo plateau, they all seem hardy to a few degrees of frost. A pinnatum has been on the radar for a while!

I checked the sender's address in Vermont and it wasn't a govt facility, but a single family home...? Strange.                                     Thanks for the suggestions on that alternative Alloxylon species I could test! 

[happypalms]

24 minutes ago, peachy said:

Over the course of many years only one batch of RPS seeds actually did anything for me. People would post me seeds back in the days when we could still do that sort of thing and my success rate was always quite high.  It had been years since I even thought about playing with seeds but last year someone gave me a big handful of Lipstick seeds. I offered them around but had no interest and was about to chuck them but thought why not give it a shot. 6 months later I was looking for something in the shed and found the container full of shoots, about 99% germination. Just my luck, all those bought seeds over the years then I get seeds from a species I don't like or want and get perfect results.

Peachy

Usually the way it is the freebies are the best ones. The old saying buyer beware, rps offer seeds that nowhere else is available, and phytosanitry certificates, it’s customs who took the fun away with imported seeds. I respect our bio security for various reasons, but now days common sense has gone to political correctness and money. Whatever happened to a friend sending seeds from overseas to you the governments want there sluce of the pie now. 
Richard 

[Hillizard]

34 minutes ago, peachy said:

Over the course of many years only one batch of RPS seeds actually did anything for me. People would post me seeds back in the days when we could still do that sort of thing and my success rate was always quite high.  It had been years since I even thought about playing with seeds but last year someone gave me a big handful of Lipstick seeds. I offered them around but had no interest and was about to chuck them but thought why not give it a shot. 6 months later I was looking for something in the shed and found the container full of shoots, about 99% germination. Just my luck, all those bought seeds over the years then I get seeds from a species I don't like or want and get perfect results.

Peachy

 A couple of times I've had surprise germinations myself... usu. for seeds I'd given up on. Now I don't throw anything away unless all the seeds have rotted! 😉

[happypalms]

7 hours ago, Hillizard said:

 A couple of times I've had surprise germinations myself... usu. for seeds I'd given up on. Now I don't throw anything away unless all the seeds have rotted! 😉

I get the odd seed popping up long after you think there dead, I  tip all my propagation mix onto my potting bench. Then the fun begins when they pop up in some potted up palm down the track trying to figure out what it is sometimes the seed is still attached and you can make a guess. 

[happypalms]

This little genoformis has been a great performer in producing seeds, it never fails to get seeds. Usually a dozen or so each time. It is in an extremely dry part of the yet it still performs well in the seed department, I forgot all about this lot of seeds until I spotted them today so it was time to pick and plant some seeds. 

[Harry’s Palms]

This is another one I don’t have . Would make a perfect compliment to the C. Ernesti Augusti . I really like the bifid leaf Chamaedorea as shady “fill” palms . This genus seems to give us these options. Harry

[happypalms]

20 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

This is another one I don’t have . Would make a perfect compliment to the C. Ernesti Augusti . I really like the bifid leaf Chamaedorea as shady “fill” palms . This genus seems to give us these options. Harry

It is a brilliant little chameadorea, when I first started to collect chameadoreas Ernest Augustii and Genoformis along with Metallica I couldn’t get enough of them.

Richard

[happypalms]

A few more seeds one lot a RPS order and the other lot a local source. I will say it’s great to see a local seed supply of fresh quality seeds. And the usual RPS seeds coming through customs without any delays which is a good thing. And there was also a couple of dypsis minuta seeds from the garden that were ready to pick. They may not look much at the moment, but it all begins with a seed! That’s the hardest part getting them propagating them is easy, finding them another story. 

[tim_brissy_13]

I hope the B tomentosa go well for you Richard. Bit of a holy grail species for me, but probably much better off in your hands up North. I’d say they should like your climate. 

[happypalms]

12 minutes ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

I hope the B tomentosa go well for you Richard. Bit of a holy grail species for me, but probably much better off in your hands up North. I’d say they should like your climate. 

They actually looked pretty good the seeds. I might be in luck! 

[Harry’s Palms]

Am I seeing that correctly , Tillandsia seeds? My Tillandsia all come from division or plants I have bought . I have a wall of them and now , every time at the nursery , I pick up small interesting ones that are different types. We’ve been collecting them for over 30 years. Harry

[Rubberboots]

What is RPS?

[Jonathan]

2 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Am I seeing that correctly , Tillandsia seeds? My Tillandsia all come from division or plants I have bought . I have a wall of them and now , every time at the nursery , I pick up small interesting ones that are different types. We’ve been collecting them for over 30 years. Harry

Yep, you're seeing it right! This is a big green Tillandsia, more like a Vriesea, from high elevation. The Till seeds are in transit to Tasmania, via Mr @happypalms. Thanks again for organising Richard.

[Jonathan]

1 hour ago, Rubberboots said:

What is RPS?

Rare Palm Seeds in Germany...a good selection of stuff, but generally best to buy off their "New" list to ensure fresh, viable seeds.

[Harry’s Palms]

@Jonathan thank you ! I have one in bloom right now that is very large with light blue flowers that are very fragrant. Harry

[happypalms]

18 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Am I seeing that correctly , Tillandsia seeds? My Tillandsia all come from division or plants I have bought . I have a wall of them and now , every time at the nursery , I pick up small interesting ones that are different types. We’ve been collecting them for over 30 years. Harry

Yes tilandsia seeds, I imported them for a palm talk member. And I wish them the best of luck in germinating them. Tiny seeds just sprinkle on top of medium and keep moist I would think. No baggie method in those ones I think! They are like fishing lures tilandsias catching more collectors than there is lures available. A true obsession those ones my father had the tilandsia bug. I like them so real beautiful little plants among them. 
Richard 

[happypalms]

15 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Yep, you're seeing it right! This is a big green Tillandsia, more like a Vriesea, from high elevation. The Till seeds are in transit to Tasmania, via Mr @happypalms. Thanks again for organising Richard.

You haven’t got the bill yet🤣

[Jonathan]

8 hours ago, happypalms said:

You haven’t got the bill yet🤣

A pack of candied salmon wasn't it?

[happypalms]

4 hours ago, Jonathan said:

A pack of candied salmon wasn't it?

Knowing my luck with customs they would seize it! So you would tell as you would be eating the last little piece. I will say to you know buy yourself a few packages of it, simply because it is divine and will make Tassel salmon look like frozen mullet. You will be hooked on it like a tuna at a sardine festival. 

[happypalms]

What a process to sow these seeds was. Sent to me as freshly harvested seeds with propagation notes as follows place seeds outside in a dry area, wait six weeks, remove the husk, hammer the seeds and soak, and half bury in medium, then just place in the greenhouse and wait. Well that’s what I have done so time will tell if I have done it correctly. Not sure how they will go in my summer heat I can only find out I guess!

[Harry’s Palms]

This will be interesting. Hammer them? 🤔 Hmmm. Harry

[Tyrone]

I’ve never germinated Parajubaea by hammering the outer part off before. Protect them from rats now. They’re an easy target for them and a tasty meal. 

[happypalms]

9 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

This will be interesting. Hammer them? 🤔 Hmmm. Harry

Like a macadamia nut crack the hard shell off them, they where harder than a Macca nut as well!

Richard 

[happypalms]

45 minutes ago, Tyrone said:

I’ve never germinated Parajubaea by hammering the outer part off before. Protect them from rats now. They’re an easy target for them and a tasty meal. 

That was the notes I was given from the gifter. Whom is a good grower from what I have seen but I was sworn to secrecy as to the source I even had do the mason hand shake to seal the deal first! 🤣

[Jonathan Haycock]

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/66039-cracking-parajubaea-in-a-vice/

The above thread might be of use Richard. I’ve found it to be a very effective way of cracking Parajubaea without damaging the endocarp.

[Tassie_Troy1971]

On 7/13/2025 at 3:20 PM, happypalms said:

What a process to sow these seeds was. Sent to me as freshly harvested seeds with propagation notes as follows place seeds outside in a dry area, wait six weeks, remove the husk, hammer the seeds and soak, and half bury in medium, then just place in the greenhouse and wait. Well that’s what I have done so time will tell if I have done it correctly. Not sure how they will go in my summer heat I can only find out I guess!

Wow you even removed the outside shell I usually just removed the fruit but this might speed them up 

[Tassie_Troy1971]

10 hours ago, Tyrone said:

I’ve never germinated Parajubaea by hammering the outer part off before. Protect them from rats now. They’re an easy target for them and a tasty meal. 

I use a hammer to remove the outside coating fruit not usually the shell 

[happypalms]

27 minutes ago, Tassie_Troy1971 said:

Wow you even removed the outside shell I usually just removed the fruit but this might speed them up 

I must have misunderstood the instructions the gifter had written, was never good at following instructions, except for model aeroplanes! 

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, Jonathan Haycock said:

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/66039-cracking-parajubaea-in-a-vice/

The above thread might be of use Richard. I’ve found it to be a very effective way of cracking Parajubaea without damaging the endocarp.

Ok so iam glad i havent completely botched up the process. Thanks for the link Jonathan I never thought of a vice. Where I work we have a macadamia processing facility I should have run em through that🤣

[Tyrone]

Well it doesn’t look like you’ve damaged them. They will probably germinate quickly now.
 

I've germinated Jubaea like that but in pure perlite in a pot inside a plastic bag and away from vermin. I kept them in a vermin proof cage until the second leaf fully developed. By then the seed was hollow and used up.