Have any of you tried the technique where you put them in a Styrofoam cooler with a lid or a plastic container with a seal top.The one I read about had the seeds planted in half perlite and half vermiculite?It said to keep the mix moist but not soaking wet.The lids help keep in moister.But it said you have to watch for defecation of the seedlings using this technique.

I think these hybrids look better than regular Fortuneis.I have one 5 gal.and it's a very fast growing palm.I cant get anymore of them,I got lucky getting the one I have.It was the last one he had and he said he would only have seeds for sale for the next couple years.It's hard to find these palms at any size for sale.

Thanks guys for your advise.Hopefully One of these techniques will work.Has anybody tried any other techniques that worked?
Randy

You can look for seed germinating packages in your garden center. They come with a tray, peat pods (easy to find refills) and a heating mat. This worked ok for me, but the peat pots didn't allow the germinated palm seed's root sprout to penetrate into the peat. Instead they sat on top and looked like a bean sprout. I would just put them in a different pot with soil.

Cleaning seeds of fruit and soaking seeds in warm water for 24 hrs helps. The most important thing seems to keep them damp (not wet) medium and in a warm spot. I've seen someone use a light bulb in an empty kitchen cabinet.

For Trachy seeds temps in the 70s have worked fine....
if they are fresh seeds you could see them sprout overnight.

I start by soaking for a few days,then cleaning the seeds...
some like to soak in a light bleach solution or similar to sterilize.

Your medium need only be as moist as the water left after draining slightly.

I like using bigger baggies because the seedling can get to a healthy
size inside..big enough to plant right into a pot by the time
the first leaf is over an inch long.

I like to wait until they get a leaf to pot up otherwise...
just planted with a little root only,they are sometimes never seen again!

If you do try laying the seeds on a warmer surface like a gas
stove top you may want to at least check the temp...sometimes
10 degrees can be the difference between "cooking" them and getting rapid germination.

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Jim,
Thanks for your input.Your the person that sparked my interest in Trachycarpus palms.For a cold hardy palm that has a trunk you just cant beat them for growth speed and cold hardiness :)

I know there are more cold hardy palms that does not have a trunk.Like S.minor,S.louisiana,S.brazoria.Which according to what I've read lately they now include all of them as different forms of S.minors.Even S.Louisiana which can have a 6ft trunk.

I've got all of them and more,I like all of them.Please dont anybody take this the wrong way.When I think of a palm tree the first thing that comes to mind is a single trunk tree with the fronds around the top of the trunk.

I still like Butia and Sabal palms.But they just take so long to grow into a good size tree.Sabals being the slower one of the too.That doesn't mean that I will quit growing them.I just except them for what they are.

Thanks again everyone.Here's hoping for a early spring :)
Randy

Even though Needle palms really jump out at you for the cold they have endured...I never cared to have one
since I can already grow bushes here in Iowa(-; but since I was trying everything else anyway-

I planted a few 7g Needles and a 3 gallon the year before..unfortunately the 7g Needs
pulled before I planted them so,not looking good going into winter.

However-

One of them survived the coldest temps(-18F) in 30 years with
only a leaf cage!

This greatly increased my respect for them!

.

Anywho-

Trachys are my favorite cold hardy palms-very fun to watch grow and develop from a seedling and you don't have to be
to young a person to see it get big someday...unlike some Sabals,Thrithy's etc-and they are pretty tough too!

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Jim,
That's what I meant.I've never tried Needle palms.Like you said I've got plenty of bushes.I do have two C. humilis Ceriferas that are multi trunks,the other ones I keep trimmed to a single trunk.Or what we use to call a standard.
Thanks again,
Randy

That's funny what you said about the seeds.I live in the Southeast and bought Trachy seeds from the Northwest.You live in the Northwest and bought Trachy seeds from the Southeast.LOL :)

I'll be glad to report in and take pictures of the palm seedlings.I hope they all germinate well.The hybrids and Waggies work best for my yard,I don't have any windbreaks.I'm sure you know what high winds do to Fortuneis.

PS.I'm getting another 100 hybrid Trachy.seeds this week. :)

Randy