Palm seeds arrived

[dimitriskedikogloy]

My palm seeds along with a fertiliser and other equipment have all arrive any tips on how I should go on about this ?

[Frond-friend42]

1. Throw them in water and discard the ones that don't sink. Freshness is a factor so after less than a day of soaking you want to set them up in their soil-beds.

2.You need a good sterile medium that holds water but not too tightly. Moist but not damp. Airy but not dry.

[dimitriskedikogloy]

Just now, Frond-friend42 said:

1. Throw them in water and discard the ones that don't sink. Freshness is a factor so after less than a day of soaking you want to set them up in their soil-beds.

2.You need a good sterile medium that holds water but not too tightly. Moist but not damp. Airy but not dry.

Alright thanks I know the king palm seeds are fresh I have a soil with coco fibers and I have a lot of perlite 

[Frond-friend42]

I like to set them on top of the soil, on half submerged. You can treat them briefly with an antifungal or h2o2 or diluted bleach (very briefly) before tucking them in. Then just monitor for pests and fungus and the moisture content (don't want the soil drying out).  Light can also inhibit many species so you want to be careful about too much light. Better dark than light for this stage. Then it's a waiting game.

[Harry’s Palms]

See some of @happypalms posts about germinating , he will hopefully come along and help out . I soak for about a day and then , if you bury them , do it just below the surface. Some , like Richard , leave them on the surface . I use a mix of good potting soil , a little vermiculite , and orchid mix . Heating mats help but I don’t use them . Harry

 

edit: patience is required! Some seeds have taken months , for me🙂

[dimitriskedikogloy]

2 hours ago, Frond-friend42 said:

I like to set them on top of the soil, on half submerged. You can treat them briefly with an antifungal or h2o2 or diluted bleach (very briefly) before tucking them in. Then just monitor for pests and fungus and the moisture content (don't want the soil drying out).  Light can also inhibit many species so you want to be careful about too much light. Better dark than light for this stage. Then it's a waiting game.

should i worry about too much mousture too on the soil? i watered my mix until it held up and didnt drip any liquid and then placed in into the treys. After i sprayed them a bit and i feel like the surface soil is a bit too wet is it a good idea to let it air dry for some hours and then placing the lid back on?

[Than]

24 minutes ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

should i worry about too much mousture too on the soil? i watered my mix until it held up and didnt drip any liquid and then placed in into the treys. After i sprayed them a bit and i feel like the surface soil is a bit too wet is it a good idea to let it air dry for some hours and then placing the lid back on?

It wouldn't be a bad idea. You need 1-2 days to soak the seeds first anyway. 

[dimitriskedikogloy]

15 minutes ago, Than said:

It wouldn't be a bad idea. You need 1-2 days to soak the seeds first anyway. 

True also the lid isn’t airtight so it shouldn’t be a problem but it gives me drying concerns 

[Than]

1 hour ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

True also the lid isn’t airtight so it shouldn’t be a problem but it gives me drying concerns 

Are you aware of the jifs or jiffies btw? Greek sellers call them τζιφάκια. They are convenient. You add water to the tablets and they become mini pots, great for seeds.

[dimitriskedikogloy]

3 minutes ago, Than said:

Are you aware of the jifs or jiffies btw? Greek sellers call them τζιφάκια. They are convenient. You add water to the tablets and they become mini pots, great for seeds.

Yea I bought some of them too I’m trying a whole lot of methods I mean it’s 4000 seeds 🤣 but yes I’m just not so sure how to handle them without mats since I feel like they won’t germinate if I don’t use constant heat (‘my last batch failed miserably) so I would like some advice if you have to offer 

[Than]

8 minutes ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

Yea I bought some of them too I’m trying a whole lot of methods I mean it’s 4000 seeds 🤣 but yes I’m just not so sure how to handle them without mats since I feel like they won’t germinate if I don’t use constant heat (‘my last batch failed miserably) so I would like some advice if you have to offer 

As I have told you I suck at germinating seeds. If the seeds happen to be really fresh and you keep them in moist medium and warm temperatures they will germinate. But more often than not they are not very fresh and they just won't germinate no matter what you do. Many palm seeds only stay reliably viable for 1-2 months so the best you can do is find fresh seeds.

I have no idea what I'd do with 4000 seeds! I only germinate a maximum of 50 because I only have one small bedside table for that job. I don't wanna start a business like you, I just wanna get my hands on some rare species for my own garden. I only buy seeds if the palms are impossible to buy or too expensive. I detest germinating palm seeds, they take for ever.

Once again, @happypalms is the best source of info! Follow his advice and you'll do fine.

Remember what someone else here said: if you use bottom heat, the medium will dry out at the bottom of the pot fast and this can kill the roots. I killed some Lanonia seedlings like that in January and almost killed a Colocasia seedling too! 

[dimitriskedikogloy]

2 minutes ago, Than said:

As I have told you I suck at germinating seeds. If the seeds happen to be really fresh and you keep them in moist medium and warm temperatures they will germinate. But more often than not they are not very fresh and they just won't germinate no matter what you do. Many palm seeds only stay reliably viable for 1-2 months so the best you can do is find fresh seeds.

I have no idea what I'd do with 4000 seeds! I only germinate a maximum of 50 because I only have one small bedside table for that job. I don't wanna start a business like you, I just wanna get my hands on some rare species for my own garden. I only buy seeds if the palms are impossible to buy or too expensive. I detest germinating palm seeds, they take for ever.

Once again, @happypalms is the best source of info! Follow his advice and you'll do fine.

At least I’m sure 1000 cunningamiania seeds are fresh and it’s my favourite specie of all so let’s see how it goes thanks 

[Than]

1 minute ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

At least I’m sure 1000 cunningamiania seeds are fresh and it’s my favourite specie of all so let’s see how it goes thanks 

One day, in a few years from now, you will collect seeds from your own trees; then you'll know they are very fresh and they will germinate like popcorn on a frying pan! 

[happypalms]

Well you’re gunna need a bigger boat! That’s a lot of seeds and a lot of time and space involved in such a project, you’re little science project has taken on a new level from a small laboratory to full on Dr Frankenstein set up (insert  Mel brooks movie here) Time to hit up the old happypalms vault and do a bit of research on a few back issue posts. Dont get overwhelmed by so many seeds it’s easy, community pots or box’s, baggie method your decision. That many seeds myself styrofoam box’s with lids (etoliation method) if no bottom heating plastic bags will help you out for a bit of extra heat. Good luck keep us all posted! 

[happypalms]

8 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

See some of @happypalms posts about germinating , he will hopefully come along and help out . I soak for about a day and then , if you bury them , do it just below the surface. Some , like Richard , leave them on the surface . I use a mix of good potting soil , a little vermiculite , and orchid mix . Heating mats help but I don’t use them . Harry

 

edit: patience is required! Some seeds have taken months , for me🙂

I plant my seeds at the same depth of the seeds ie a 1cm seed is down to a depth of 1cm, 5mm seed is down 5mm. What you see in my photos is just to show the seeds and spacing, I then cover them. Cycas seeds I only half bury horizontally, you can half bury palm seeds, Mother Nature would do the same half bury to completely buried, even some just on the soil surface. I also press firmly on the medium to ensure a good contact with the medium. 
Richard 

[Harry’s Palms]

This potted bamboo was under a large Syagrus R. The seed dropped and sprouted this . It’s been there quite a while , very slow at first. Harry

[Than]

I guess the baggie method is a good way to save space. 

[happypalms]

51 minutes ago, Than said:

I guess the baggie method is a good way to save space. 

It most certainly would save space, but he’s going to need a lot more space if 4000 seeds germinate, I don’t grow archontophoenix, to fast growing, to much water, constantly repotting them and the maintenance of 1000 archontophoenix I would rather grow more rarer exotic plants. That being said my market is limited and growing Archie’s you would sell more than I would a lot faster. Market demands are for the landscaping plants exotic are more gardeners thing. The once you find your market fill that demand by supply. And iam sure the European market is a lot more in demand of more tougher hardy varieties not some Calyptrocalyx that would die as soon as you open the fridge door! 

[Than]

1 minute ago, happypalms said:

would die as soon as you open the fridge door! 

🤣

[Phoenikakias]

8 hours ago, happypalms said:

It most certainly would save space, but he’s going to need a lot more space if 4000 seeds germinate, I don’t grow archontophoenix, to fast growing, to much water, constantly repotting them and the maintenance of 1000 archontophoenix I would rather grow more rarer exotic plants. That being said my market is limited and growing Archie’s you would sell more than I would a lot faster. Market demands are for the landscaping plants exotic are more gardeners thing. The once you find your market fill that demand by supply. And iam sure the European market is a lot more in demand of more tougher hardy varieties not some Calyptrocalyx that would die as soon as you open the fridge door! 

I would compare the climate to cellar, not fridge lol

[Phoenikakias]

Unfortunately most purchased seeds rot readily despite the provided bottom heat, either because they are very old or because the seed coat is wounded and pathogens have already found an entrance, just waiting for the right moment (moisture and warmth).