Germinating Rhapidophyllum hystix(Needle Palm) seeds

[PlanesandPalmsGuy]

Getting Rhapidophyllum hystrix seeds to germinate, can be a tricky process. Some R. hystrix seeds have been known to take a whopping entire year to germinate, but most will germinate within 2 months. The other problem is germination percentages, their usually not too good, with percentages which average below 50%. The fastest way to make Needle Palm seeds germinate, is to soak the seeds in room temperature water for a week. Then, sand or remove the outter shell of the seeds. Plant in a 2:1 ratio of peat/spaghnun moss and provide just enough moisture to dampen the soil. It is best to put the soil and seeds in a ziploc bag and remove all of the air from the bag to prevent fungal growth. Label the bag and keep soil temperature's at a steady 85deg.F, or between 25-30deg.C. Be sure to check the seeds 2-3 times per week for any signs of germination. Once the seeds germinate and sprout, place the seedlings in 1 gallon containers providing ample water. Don't stick the seedlings in direct sunlight at first. Keep the seedlings outside in the summer heat for a few weeks but in full shade, then ease them into morning sun, then to full sun. Provide fertilizer if it is early in the year, particularly a fertilizer high in nitrogen to promote growth. If you are germinating seeds during the winter and seedlings must be indoors, just stick them next to a window, away from doors to prevent cold drafts. Water when needed... If you germinate your seeds during the summer, when fall comes around, the best way to harden(make your palms more cold hardy) is to leave them out at night, when low temperatures drop below 50F. When temperatures begin to drop below 45F, take the seedlings in the house. Doing that for as long as you can(weather permitting), will make your cold hardy palms even cold hardier!

[Wes North Van]

Dr. Franko of the University of Miami in Ohio has done a study on some of the most cold hardy palms. His experiments definetly proved that r. hystrix was indeed more cold hardy than s. minor.
S. Minor died when exposed to -15F. They suffered 4% frond damage at +10F. Above that temperature they suffered no damage at all. At -5F s. minor had 85% frond damage.
R. Hystrix had 78% frond damage at -25F but managed to survive. They suffered 4% frond damage at 0F but also suffered the same fate at +10F. It wasn't until it hit -5F that it suffered more damage but even then it was still only 13%.
During these experiments, the palms had zero protection against the cold. With protection both these species of palms would of made out considerably better.
Both these palms are extremely cold hardy but the r. hystrix is in my opinion the most cold hardy palm in the world. Only nannorrhops ritchiana can rival it in cold hardiness but it is suseptible to too many molds, fungus and diseases.
Both r. hystrix and s. minor are good candidates for the Vancouver area but both need extreme summer heat to grow quickly and we do not get those 100F days here, therefore they grow at a snails pace in our city.

[Wes North Van]

I forgot to mention that as far as germination is concerned s. minor is the winner hands down. I have germinated sabal seeds and they are one of the easiest to do. R. hystrix I hear is a long process.

I am also looking for some s. minor seeds. I would be willing to trade t. fortunei seeds for s. minor or even but some s. minor seeds from someone.

[PlanesandPalmsGuy]

I have tons of Sabal minor seeds!...They are already in a plastic ziploc bag germinating though...A few of them have germinated, but several of them are yet to activate. If you are interested, I would be willing to trade my Sabal minor's with some of your Trachy's. Yes, I agree, Sabal minor seeds germinate very quickly and easily. Mine started germinating within about 10 days, with high germination percentages...I have 30 or more seeds germinating if you are interested though. I also have a small S. minor seedling, about 8 months old, but I think I'm going to keep it .

[Wes North Van]

Sure I would be willing to trade. E-mail me with your address and I will send you some. How many?

Cheers

[Wes North Van]

I haven't forgot about sending you some t. fortunei seeds. I am waiting till Feb for them to ripen. I would really like to get s. minor seeds from you though.
e -mail me at woliver09@yahoo.ca so we can make arrangements.

Cheers

[green99]

I've read some reports from easterners claiming that their S.minors were more hardy than their R.hystrix. That wouldn't surprise me because there are R.hystrix in warmer parts of florida, and there is also S.minor from northern texas and Oklahoma.
But the majority of each type is just as hardy as was said.

[ryan]

Rhapidophyllum hystrix seeds are easy to germinate. Soak seeds in warm water for two weeks. Remove hard shell (I use a nutcracker) then soak in warm water for an additional week. Be sure to change the water daily. Sandwich the seeds in barely damp sphagnum moss and place in ziplock type bag. Remove the air from the bag when sealing and place above refrigerator (25°C - 30° C). roots should poke through one week later!