Many people are interested in how to grow a palm tree from seeds. This matter does have its tricks.
The shell of palm seeds is very hard, so it is often filed down, and the “seeds” themselves are soaked in growth stimulants, providing bottom heating of the soil for better germination.
© Eric in SF
The substrate for these purposes is usually a mixture of peat, sand and sphagnum in equal parts. A thick layer of drainage made of pebbles or coarse sand is poured into a pot with holes, the prepared substrate is placed on it, and on top – a mixture of clean sand and finely chopped sphagnum in a layer of about 5 cm.
The treated palm seeds are immersed in the upper layer (to a depth of 2-3 cm), watered, the pot with the crops is covered with glass and placed in a warm place (22-24 degrees). The time of germination of palm seeds depends on pre-sowing treatment, freshness of seeds (stale ones germinate more slowly than freshly collected ones), and germination conditions. The glass with the resulting condensate is regularly wiped and turned over, airing the crops, and the drying substrate is periodically moistened.
It is possible that you will have to wait for shoots for several months or even 1-2 years. The emerged palm seedlings are pricked out into individual pots with a substrate (light turf, humus or leaf soil and sand in a ratio of 2:1:0,5).
Palm seedlings do not look like adult plants, which often causes confusion among gardeners: only 6-7 leaves acquire the shape characteristic of this type of palm. In addition, they grow very slowly. And only after 5 years of age do young plants acquire a decorative appearance. So you will have to be patient.
© Forest & Kim Starr
Materials used:
- Garden, vegetable garden – breadwinner and healer №2-2009. Antonina Pfaifer
