PalmsNorth.com

I agree with Cameron that seeds popping lifts the mood when it is cold, dark, snowy and windy outside.

I am not doing much this year--growing up the many Sabal I germinated last winter. My only new seeds are those beautiful palms whose name no one agrees on: Veitchia merrilini--or Adondia merrillini? Christmas or Manilla or (dwarf) royal palm?

Anyway, they are finally starting to pop. Just two (you can see one in the upper left of this photo) but it was enough to cheer me up today. --Erik

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K ... site"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_r-Mv ... AG0542.jpg" height="383" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm ... ">February 2011</a></td></tr></table>

good job!

I'm thrilled they're coming up for you, Erik.
Especially after you carried them around in your pocket for a week in Belize
See? I told you humidity was important.

It'll be great to see these develop.

And the names...all accepted in the trade, even in the Encycl.ofCultivated palms.
But I love the name Christmas palm.

Barb

And they really grow faster than you think.
I have a couple about 3 yrs now and closing in about 5ft tall.
I tried a experiment,by giving them as much miracle grow as I could dare,and more sunshine than normally would as a young seedling,as afraid they might fry!
They came thru great,so don't be afraid to push there limits!

I spent the time around sunset potting up the best half-dozen "Christmas palms" from the pocketful I picked up off the grounds of my hotel on Caye Caulker, Belize, around Christmas time. The other seeds either did not germinate or looked to be getting that "damping off" disease vs. growing.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/m ... site"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_r-Mv ... AG0639.jpg" height="383" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm ... ite">April 2011</a></td></tr></table>

tried a experiment,by giving them as much miracle grow as I could dare,

Don, wondering how much you used, and how often.
Any pics of the experiment results?

Erik,
How nice to see your Christmas palm seedlings!
They look good.
Good job.

Barb

It hit 105 F in Bixby today after a low of 86 F. The seedlings would probably love it, but as part of the packing up process they went back to my lab. at work. Here they are today. "Birmingham" from NC on the left, Sabal minor from north Texas on the right (red cups), Christmas palms in the middle. I am down to five in four pots. Some I tossed as they weren't doing well, and I gave one to a nice young palm nut who visited after tracking me down on another forum.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/e ... site"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_Mir ... AG0766.jpg" height="478" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm ... site">June 2011</a></td></tr></table>

Nice work! How old are those Birminghams?

Mike (from the Hardy palm forum) got the seeds in December 2009 and sent them to me early in 2010, so they are about a year and a half now. You also know Ben OK from that forum-- he took home one plant of each.
I have more palm seeds to start once I have a little time and think this chamber will work for them. Still hoping for that greenhouse on campus....

Nice germinating job, Erik.

I'm especially interested in how the Christmas Palms will grow.
You probably only wanted 4 anyway

Barb

I suspect may interest in the hobby will have to go to seed germination for the next few years, so might as well embrace it.

Seed germination is the most important part of our hobby.
We get fabulous palms for a mere fraction of the price of one...if we can find that species in a nursery.

Saw your temp today on an earlier post at 41C.
Man, that's hot...making up for your crappy winter big time, huh?

Barb

I'll say--that is a 70 C temp. swing in the first half of the year!

Anyway, starting plants from seed is satisfying.
So is finding palms in the wild...and maybe gathering fresh seed?
--Erik

I was weeding at the base of my Ensete (Abyssinian "banana") today and saw a peculiar looking weed (photo).
Took me we a minute, then I figured out what it was: a Christmas palm! The Ensete is planted in the hole left by the "bigger than a horse" Butia. I tossed stuff in the hole in Spring--including the little peat pots of Christmas palms that either did not germinate or did but got damping-off disease. Well, I guess at least one was tough enough to grow despite my neglect.
Unless you think I made a bad ID. Is this just a handsome weed?

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YiN- ... C_0022.JPG" height="531" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm ... site">July Nikon test</a></td></tr></table>

I love those palms. No real reason why, I just love them.

Thats definetly a palm in the last pic , no clue as to what, but im pretty sure thats a palm

Who would've thought to find a seedling palm in OK?

Your description basically proves its a Christmas palm.

I'd be inclined to leave him there until the last minute to pot up and take with you.

He just might turn out to be the toughest of the lot.

Barb