Encephalartos gratus Seeds

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 3:11 pm

Trying my luck with some of the African Cycads

Some more info here ---> http://www.pacsoa.org.au/cycads/Encepha ... ratus.html

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:27 pm

Steve the only thing missing from the pic in the link is a few dinosaurs marching past...

Gorgeous plant...hope your seeds are up soon.
Barb

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:09 pm

Very cool looking cycad.
How hardy is though?

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:47 pm

Haven't run across too much info yet, general opinion seems to be about 25F/-4C for a low.

Steve

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:46 pm

Just starting to see some results.....

The ends of these develop cracks allowing the radicle to emerge.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:48 am

Congrats, very cool.
Great pic.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:40 am

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:51 pm

AHHHHH SHOOT!!!!!!
I apologize!!!!!!!!! I got your package but had to deal with getting my son to & from football all week, along with school starting for both boys. I put one in High School as a Freshman and the other in Kindergarten so that meant I had to also comfort Mom

Thank you SOOOOO much for those trees you sent. They all are doing great and enjoy there new home.
Those Encelatoofoerazzilesqqtm

seeds you popped look GREAT!!!!!!
I will be bringing down those seeds I spoke of earlier, hopefully this week. Kinda would like to wait for Laaz's Butia seeds before that thou so I can make one trip.
Would it be possible if the next time I get some Cycad/Dioon seeds from somebody, that I let you crack them if I give you 1 or 2 of them???

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 4:36 pm

Steve, love that Aug.19 pic. Absolutely fab photography !!!!
That little beggar looks like it'll be sending a root into your basement soon.

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:12 pm

Barb, It can do anything it wants as long as it keeps growing

Kansas (Wes), Starting to clear out space for this Winter(....and a long ways to go ) No rush on stopping by, when ever it works out good for you. Feel free to send me Cycad seeds!

Biggest problem with them is the amount of time it can take till germination, you need just enough moisture to allow germination, but not enough to promote fungus/mold growth.
Let me know when you get another batch in and I'll fill you in on whatever details I can.

Steve

chumleycycads.com · Post by **chumleycycads.com** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:49 pm

Encephalartos Gratis is one of the fastest growing Encephalartos and also one of the cheapest when buying seeds.
They also seem to germinate well with no problems.I have about2-3 acres of Gratis here on the Chumley Estate and they have been through some
cool winters down to about 20 degrees F. and have never lost a leaf growing under ander oak trees. We don't plant Encephalartos in full sun. I have some large Gratis for sale if anyone wants one bigger than a grapefruit starting at $40 and up. They do get big though. I have one with a 17 feet spread with a trunk the size of a garbage can growing in my seed colony.
How about it Kansas Wes, you want one? Robert Chumley Plant City, Florida

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:13 pm

Absolutly! I'll PM you.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:20 am

These may be Encephalartos gratus X manikensis ( just waiting for confirmation)

Another just breaking the surface,

Little larger,

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:06 am

Very nice Steve
From seed to seedling, how long? (in your optimum GH conditions)

Strange how the first frond "heads south" like the radicle, and then figures out which way is up

Congrats.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:23 am

These are all from the same batch received in April, 2007
Still have a few more I'm waiting on, average is about 3 months to germinate, from then till the first frond is about 6-8 weeks.

Steve

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:39 pm

Absolutely ADORABLE!!!!
I am amazed at the growth of Cycad & Dioons in the greenhouses in Zone5.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:39 pm

You're THE master germinator, Steve.
Is there anything you CAN'T germinate?

I'm planning on being patient for six months.
Then I'll chuck my seeds.

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:22 pm

I have a growing list of the ones I've had no luck with

If I've learned anything, it is to never give up and keep trying

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:33 pm

growing list... doesn't count! with all the stuff you're able to do.

I even had trouble growing hyacinth beans this year, and blamed it on lack of bees for pollination.
But friends just dropped off an envelope full of Dolichos lablab seeds...how nice!
The friends' beans got pollinated?!?

Had better blame myself instead, then I might get somewhere

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:19 am

Was potting one of these up today, was able to get a photo of the root structure.

Here you can see the root nodules forming, these contain a nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria, in a symbiotic relationship with the host plant.

The range of organisms that can fix nitrogen (Article) http://academic.reed.edu/biology/Nitrogen/Nfix1.html

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:48 am

That is so cool.

I think the caudex and various below-ground structures are every bit as interesting as the rest of the plant!
Great pics.

Barb

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:29 pm

How are they doing now, Steve?

Dean

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:36 pm

Dean,

I had to find where I put them

Currently pushing new fronds,

Steve

PalmsNorth.com

Encephalartos gratus Seeds

Encephalartos gratus Seeds

Cycad

Hardiness

First Frond......

Encephalartos Gratis

Couple more "Family" photos