Cyads/Cycads (forum)

amanda starts with ...
Quick non fruit tree question...? How do you propogate the seeds from these guys? (I'm never sure of the correct spelling for them - but they are those prehistoric looking palm/tree fern type plants - native?)

Time: 15th January 2010 3:06pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. WA
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Charles cant spell says...
I personally have no idea but this is off a cycad site.

Seed germination techniques of different growers are many and varied. All have in common however that they counter the two major risks to germination in some way. The first risk is that cycad seeds have no dormancy and the embryo is biologically required to keep growing and developing. This means that if seeds dry out the embryo can be killed. The second is that the emerging radicle and embryo can be susceptible to damping off in early stages in unhygienic or excessively wet conditions.

Many growers pre-germinate seeds, usually in plastic containers or bags with a moist sterile medium such as peat, perlite or vermiculite at slightly elevated temperatures. Seeds are then planted out into community pots when the radicles emerge. Such pre-germination is not wholly necessary, and others have success planting seeds directly into a pot of germinating mix, which can be just a regular potting soil. Attention to moisture balance is probably a little more critical under such conditions.

Propagation from offsets is best if the offset is cleanly removed from the parent plant with a sharp implement, leaving the minimum wound possible. The wound should then be treated with a fungicide such as sulphur and dried for about a week before planting into a sterile medium. Experiments have shown that a larger wound gives more area for callus and root production and consequently faster growth, but this also opens the way for more infection, and the technique is probably best left to the specialists.

Time: 15th January 2010 10:16pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth - Innaloo
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trikus says...
Many cycads sprout very well just pushed half way into coarse sand . I have grown many this way , like these rare Zamia splendens . These grow on limestone in the Yucatan , Mexico and need excellent drainage . Some Cycas hybrids I sprouted are now 30 cm high caudex at least 15 cm dia in approx 5 years from seed . The native Macrozamia from WA are fairly easy , but slightly slower growing. THis is a very complete web site based at RSBG Royal Sydney Botanic Garden .

http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/PlantNet/cycad/wlist.html
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Time: 15th January 2010 10:27pm

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About the Author Trikus
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amanda says...
Thanks guys! you have done pretty well, by the sounds of it trikus. Do you grow professionally or for your garden?

Time: 16th January 2010 1:06am

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About the Author amanda19
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trikus says...
Just a chronic collector , and seeds are a very cheaP way of getting new plants .
Also they can be imported easily . Surprisingly many Zamias are very fast growers and can flower in 5 years or so , I hope to be producing my own seeds on some spp. soon .

Time: 16th January 2010 10:30am

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About the Author Trikus
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amanda says...
Hi trikus - just to check - I leave the outer "shell" on don't I?
They have been rolling around in my handbag for a cupla' months now...will they be ok or should i nick some fresh ones? thanks!
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Time: 16th January 2010 11:37am

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About the Author amanda19
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trikus says...
Most growers will clean the fruit before sowing . This can be very difficult with some spp. I use a homebrew product 'pectinase' to help remove fruit from the seed [ this is for large lots ] Some cycads need and an after harvest waiting period for seed to mature , though I believe this is not really needed if you live in the tropics . Some American commercial growers have really great info online for media and cultivation rips .

Time: 17th January 2010 9:04am

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About the Author Trikus
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amanda says...
Thanks trikus - u have been very helpful! :-)

Time: 17th January 2010 10:45am

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About the Author amanda19
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