cycad seed

Has anyone on the Forum dabbled with cycad seed. I've just received a sample from Thompson & Morgan of three Silver Cycad? seeds. I believe they're erratic germinators. Looks like it's time to get out the heated mat again!

whats the outer cover like on the seeds hard or soft ? regards Paul

Prophet you are braver than me. Would love to know how you get on.

Prophet, I have grown a Dioon spinulosum from seed. I got one only from ebay, sometime I think in the winter. I put it in a snap-up bag with moist compost and placed in a dark cupboard next to the fire place where the central heatingpump is.

The seed coat is very hard, but don't let that worry you. Soak for a few days in water. Seed have a germinaton spot where the root will emerge from, not always at the end as you might imagine, but with Dioon it did come from the end. It took spot on 30 days. I placed the seed then half pushed into a very deep pot on it's side and put it a propogator.

The root takes a long time to develop so don't expect a leaf to start growing for at least 6 months. Mine is in it's 3rd year and still has only one leaf, the first one died back after a new leaf grew, another is just starting to grow now.

The first winter I left it in the garage near a south facing window, winter before last, only 4 frosts to -5C but I was surprised it lived. Last winter I brought it inside.

Did you get a free 'sample', I haven't looked at the catalogue yet but hey do offer any free pack with an order now.

Hi Paul,
I can confirm outer coating is hard.
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Hi Wallaby,
Thanks for the tips. I got three seeds from T&M and they're soaking now.
I got my seed 'free' by ordering over £10's worth of other seeds their £5 voucher offer covered the cycad seed. I think I'll try the sealed bag method, T&M suggest 3" pots, but, it's easier to keep the warmth going in a bag.
I also got some Lapargeria rosea seed. Have you tried this one. Seed needs to go into the fridge until it sprouts, (apparently).
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Hi Mike,
Yes, I guess I'm plum crazy when it comes to tropicals. I'll let you know how the cycads fare.

Prophet i grow a lot of palms here in florida from seed i found that when you soak the seed make sure you have at lest 12 inches of water if the seeds float and do not sink in a day they are no good. some of the bigger palm seeds have a soft coat that you must remove for theam to grow mother natures birth control all queen palms have a soft coat to Regards Paul

Hi Wallaby,
Think I've identified germination spot. One seed has failed to sink after one day, so, may be unviable ( thanks Paul). Rarepalms.com website has supplied useful info. Can't relate "Silver Cycad" pseudonym to any known species. Anyone aware of this particular cycad?

Normal Cycads go kind of silver if you leave them to get frosted. Don't suppose that helps though. Lol
Mike

ive heard the name before ill check around here for you regards Paul

Try this http://www.seedman.com/coldhard.htm hey what serch engines do you use?

prophet, I searched and found a Cycas 'Thai Silver Form' listed, shame on T&M for not being more specific!

http://www.cycadpalm.com/sppltobeof1.html

'When' your seeds germinate put them straight into a really deep pot, I used a deep clematis spot and it's still in it, the root has peeked out the bottom of that, but difficult to use a deeper one for the size of the plant. The stem takes a long time to develop and fatten up before they grow new leaves.

I looked at the pic in T&M, I would be very surprised if they were offering a rare form at that price it would very expensive.

Here it states that Dioon edule can have leaves that emerge, red, green, silver or purple. My guess is this is a D edule.

http://www.plantapalm.com/centralfl/NewsCycads.asp

I haven't tried Lapageria, always tempted but a tenderish climber is difficult to accommodate. I used to buy seed from Norfield's arboretum, sort of exhausted what I wanted from them, and their plants didn't live for long, many seeds didn't germinate either but I did get some good things from them. They were selling germinated seedlings, 5 for £5 which was a good price. I have read that seed HAS to be fresh or it won't germinae. Such as T&M won't tell you this.

There is a Cycas sp. Taiwan Silver Form

http://www2.junglemusic.net/New/cycad-products-all-cycads.asp

Cycas siamensis silver form

http://www.plantapalm.com/Vce/species/cycas_siamensis.htm

rarepalmseeds has C Thai Silver seeds, T&M may have got them wholesale from there

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/small.shtml

Looky here

http://davesgarden.com/ps/c/1982/

Hi wallaby,
First cycad seed has has germinated, exactly thirty days after sowing. I used 3" pots, with good seed compost, a heated mat, and a small bell jar over each pot. Should I pot the germinated one into a deep pot pronto?

Yes that's what I did, and I put it in a propogator. Use a deep clematis pot.

Mine has produced a new leaf, and the old one didn't die back this time (yet), but it was leaning and I found the whole bottom of the root had rotted off. Perhaps the long cold spell didn't suit it last winter, I had it inside but they probalby don't like the long spells of cold. It was making new fine roots at the top, so I potted it into a smaller pot!

It needs to develop a thick neck where it comes from the seed into the compost, the seed will stay on for a long time and feed the plant.

30 days eh, consistent aren't they!