| The cluster of fruit on my Queen Palm has turned orange and the fruit is starting to fall off. What is the best procedure to save and start new palms from these? |
| Seeds of a Queen palm should be allowed to ripen on the tree. When the seeds begin to fall to the ground, they are ripe. You'll need to remove the fleshy outer covering with a knife before planting the seeds. If you cannot easily remove the outer covering, soak the seeds in water to soften it (might take a few days) and then scrape it off. Plant the seeds in moistened potting soil, covering them with potting soil equal to the width of the seed. (i.e. If the seed is one-quarter inch in diameter, plant it one-quarter of an inch deep.) Since palm seeds require high germination temperatures, it is best to sow seed during the warmer months of the year. If availability of fresh seed makes this difficult, soil temperatures can be increased by using bottom heat below the germination containers or by covering the containers with clear plastic. Placing the containers on a heat-retaining surface can also increase temperatures by several degrees. Palms are variable in their germination rates. Some can take only two weeks, others can take up to a year. Keep the soil evenly moist during the germination period. Hope this information helps you successfully sprout new palm trees! |
