Return to the Palms & Cycads Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
germinated date seed question
| | |
Posted by gotme (My Page) on Fri, Nov 20, 09 at 16:37
| Hello,
I've been able to successfully germinate a date seed from a fresh Saudi date and am wondering how best to proceed.
I dropped the seed in a sand, vermiculite, soil mix with a top dressing of sand; a bit of water; stuck this entire pot into a smallish tupperware dish; and then put the tupperware container behind my tv in the entertainment center, as it stays reliably hot.
It took around 3 weeks to germinate, but I now have a seed that has actually flipped itself over due to the root coming out and then down into the soil. So my question is: should I repot this seed now into a regular pot, in doing so giving it more light and turning it right-side up? or keep it in its current container until the sprout shows (I've read that one should show, anyway)? My only concern is that the sprout is supposed to be coming out of the opposite side from the root, which is currently facing the soil.
Any thoughts?
Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: germinated date seed question
| | |
| I am not an expert at germinating. I would leaving it alone in its current soil and make sure its gets some sun - not just "light". Without sun it will die fast. Once its first sprout has some sun it will begin establishing and can be repotted a month later. |
RE: germinated date seed question
| | |
| Don't leave it near the t.v., since the radiation will not be good for it. That is why pet shops tell people not to put an aquarium or terrarium near a t.v. Also move it outside to get as much sunlight as possible, if it is not cold where you live. As a sprout don't let it be exposed to any temps below about 40F, and your days should be in the 60's or warmer. Don't repot it for a few months after the first green shoot has emerged from the soil, then very carefully repot it into a good organic potting soil that has some sand, since date palms are desert palms and don't like to be too wet. When you do repot it, repot it at the same depth it was growing in in the other container. Watering it about 3 times per week in warmer weather and only once a week in cooler weather should be plenty. When they are full grown, they are hardy down to about 18F, which means they can survive the warmer parts of a Zone 8B Climate. John |
RE: germinated date seed question
| | |
| I would not worry about the orientation, upside down or what ever. Seeds and seedlings have a wonderful way of working that out all by them selves. It will do just fine. |
|
|
|
|
