Germination of a few species

[meridannight]

This summer I'm going to try germinating Cycads for the first time. I absolutely love these plants and wanna grow a number of different species. It's always more exciting for me to grow plants from seed than buy them.

I have read the basics about germinating Cycads, so I have a general idea how to go about it. Below are the species I'm gonna try. If anyone has experience with them and/or some tips, I'd love to hear about it.

Cycas clivicola ssp clivicola
Cycas clivicola ssp lutea
Cycas debaoensis
Dioon holmgrenii
Zamia furfuracea

[gave_agave]

I've sprouted some Cycas and Dioon species in a tub with moist vermiculite, placed on a heatmap. Germination varied from 1-2 months to over a year.
I love how new leaves develop and unfurl, just a bit sad they're slow and don't make many new flushes a year. Some skip years, some species I manage to get 2-3 flushes a year (C. petraea, C. taitungensis).
I've noticed they respond well to fertilizer in the growing season.

[meridannight]

I've sprouted some Cycas and Dioon species in a tub with moist vermiculite, placed on a heatmap. Germination varied from 1-2 months to over a year.
I love how new leaves develop and unfurl, just a bit sad they're slow and don't make many new flushes a year. Some skip years, some species I manage to get 2-3 flushes a year (C. petraea, C. taitungensis).
I've noticed they respond well to fertilizer in the growing season.

What would you say your germination rate for the seeds was? Less than 50%? More than 50%?

[gave_agave]

It varied, from one Dioon species (D. merolae I believe) I had two seeds which never germinated in 2 years, but for all others (C. revoluta, C. taitungensis, C. petraea, D. edule, D. califanoi, D. holmgrenii) germination rates were high, 80%+.
As I understand it, at least for some species, the seeds need to go through a dormant period, which might have been the cause the seeds from one species didn't germinate.

[Meangreen94z]

I’ve had good success with Cycas and Dioon, but the few Zamia/Ceratozamia I attempted rotted. You want it moist/humid/warm but not too wet or they will rot. The age of the seed makes a big difference in viability.

[meridannight]

Thanks for all the info/tips. I've ordered my Cycas seeds and hopefully this will be the start to a long and exciting journey. I'm particularly excited about C. debaoensis -- if I get that one to come up, I'll be very satisfied.

House is at 30º C (90º F) with 70% humidity. Now all I need is my seeds to arrive.

[meridannight]

Germinated my first Cycad today! This is an undescribed species listed on RPS site as Cycas sp. Silver (or Thai Silver Sago).

Took 10 days from when I planted the seeds for the first one to germinate. I'll probably be doing this for the rest of my life, love these plants.

[Tom in Tucson]

Germinated my first Cycad today! This is an undescribed species listed on RPS site as Cycas sp. Silver (or Thai Silver Sago).

Took 10 days from when I planted the seeds for the first one to germinate. I'll probably be doing this for the rest of my life, love these plants.

Aren't you the lucky one. As I'm sure your aware, it can often take months for cycads to sprout. I would also like to "try my hand" at some, but I haven't "stumbled" on any yet that I really want to grow.

In the meantime, I'm content to just buying seedlings. A couple I bought the other day (Dioon vovidesii and Macrozamia macdonellii x (M. macdonellii x M. johnsonii), will keep me occupied until I "stumble" on some seeds I can't resist.

[Meangreen94z]

I was big into them for a while, but unfortunately RPS is just about the only source for rarer species. I could stomach their “new” shipping rates in certain situations but it seems their selection has dried up. A lot of the Australian species I like to grow have been recently restricted in commercial use by the Australian government .

[Tom in Tucson]

I was big into them for a while, but unfortunately RPS is just about the only source for rarer species. I could stomach their “new” shipping rates in certain situations but it seems their selection has dried up. A lot of the Australian species I like to grow have been recently restricted in commercial use by the Australian government .

I understand why any country might impose export restrictions on vulnerable species that are native to that country to try to discourage poaching, but what I can't figure out is why Australia won't allow the exportation of any plants or seeds regardless of their origin. Who decided that was the best policy?

[meridannight]

Aren't you the lucky one. As I'm sure your aware, it can often take months for cycads to sprout. I would also like to "try my hand" at some, but I haven't "stumbled" on any yet that I really want to grow.

In the meantime, I'm content to just buying seedlings. A couple I bought the other day (Dioon vovidesii and Macrozamia macdonellii x (M. macdonellii x M. johnsonii), will keep me occupied until I "stumble" on some seeds I can't resist.

I was surprised myself that it happened so soon. Not gonna take this to be the rule, I know it usually takes longer. But I was really glad to see that first green nub pointing out of the seed. As I get the hang of it, I will try more and rarer species.

[Meangreen94z]

I was big into them for a while, but unfortunately RPS is just about the only source for rarer species. I could stomach their “new” shipping rates in certain situations but it seems their selection has dried up. A lot of the Australian species I like to grow have been recently restricted in commercial use by the Australian government .

I understand why any country might impose export restrictions on vulnerable species that are native to that country to try to discourage poaching, but what I can't figure out is why Australia won't allow the exportation of any plants or seeds regardless of their origin. Who decided that was the best policy?

I figure it makes it easier to regulate. They probably ran into all kinds of tricks used to export poached seed, as something more common and cultivated. Not something we want to hear as enthusiasts .

[Tom in Tucson]

I was big into them for a while, but unfortunately RPS is just about the only source for rarer species. I could stomach their “new” shipping rates in certain situations but it seems their selection has dried up. A lot of the Australian species I like to grow have been recently restricted in commercial use by the Australian government .

I understand why any country might impose export restrictions on vulnerable species that are native to that country to try to discourage poaching, but what I can't figure out is why Australia won't allow the exportation of any plants or seeds regardless of their origin. Who decided that was the best policy?

I figure it makes it easier to regulate. They probably ran into all kinds of tricks used to export poached seed, as something more common and cultivated. Not something we want to hear as enthusiasts .

Your theory is the best I've seen. How could we best find the truth (even though it's likely to be purely academic)?

[meridannight]

Anybody ever try planting some Cycads in community pots (to save space)? I've heard of a couple of guys doing it, but I'm not so sure whether it's a good idea.

So far, I have 8/10 Cycas sp Silver come up, 5/10 Cycas clivicola, and 2/10 Cycas debaoensis. All planted August 5, so the germination has been fast. I'm thinking of trying community pots for a few of them, if that's a viable option to grow them for a year or so?

[meridannight]

I also planted Zamia furfuracea seeds this summer, at the end of August and beginning of September. And these are rapid little things. It didn't take them 2 weeks till germination started. And the first ones that came up are already flushing. I'm gonna end up with a whole army this way. Whether they had a surplus of stock, or nobody was buying them, or they just winged the amount -- I don't know -- but RPS sent me 270 seeds when I ordered 100. I already have about 50 seedlings growing, and the seeds are still coming up. I know this is a boring species, being one of the most commonly grown Cycads, and those of you in Florida must cringe when they see these being grown from seed. But it's good to practice on these, them being cheap and plentiful. And they're still exotic for those of us living in the EU.

[Meangreen94z]

Nice. I’ll have to see what survived the summer. A lot of my Zamia and Ceratozamia burned even in afternoon shade. On relatively young plants and seedlings that can sometimes be fatal.

[meridannight]

Nice. I’ll have to see what survived the summer. A lot of my Zamia and Ceratozamia burned even in afternoon shade. On relatively young plants and seedlings that can sometimes be fatal.

You had an extraordinary amount of heat this summer though.

[meridannight]

Cycas sp Silver root system 76 days after planting the seed. Germination took 10 days.

[Meangreen94z]

Cycas sp Silver root system 76 days after planting the seed. Germination took 10 days.

Nice, I had one of those several years ago as a seedling that up and rotted. I’ve seen seeds again recently, maybe I should try again

[meridannight]

Nice, I had one of those several years ago as a seedling that up and rotted. I’ve seen seeds again recently, maybe I should try again

RPS had them in stock twice over the summer (which they ran out of within a week both times!) and their germination rate was 80% planted right out of the package.

[meridannight]

I finally have a first flush from Cycas debaoensis. What a beauty! Even at this young age. Next time I have a chance to buy these seeds, I'm gonna get 100, not just 10.

So, C. debaoensis was planted on Aug 5 and the first germination occurred on Aug 26.This flush has been developing for over a month.

[Meangreen94z]

Very nice. Hopefully I’ll have pictures to post in a few weeks.