For many, palm trees are the symbol of tropical landscapes, with which they associate terms such as: vacation, rest and relaxation. It's no wonder that the attractive crested plants are among the ornamental plants most commonly found in our homes and, for some years now, in the garden too. Raising the Mediterranean ambassadors yourself is a lot of fun and, with a little patience, it's entirely possible.
Date palms are easy to propagate from seeds
types of propagation
Palm trees are very easy to grow yourself from seeds that you can obtain yourself from fruit or buy in stores. Some species form lateral offshoots (shoots) that you can cut off and put in the ground. These offshoots usually develop well and quickly grow into small palm trees.
The sowing of palm seeds
Soak the seeds in water for two to three days. This softens the hard shell and facilitates germination.
Since the palm seed usually grows quite slowly, the seed soil should be free of germs and vermin. The following substrates are suitable:
- coconut fiber soil
- vermiculite
- perlite
Off to the bag
Sowing the seeds mixed with the substrate in a plastic bag or a plastic box with a tight-fitting lid has long since ceased to be an insider tip among palm fans.
Mix the seeds with a little moistened substrate, put them in the container and close it tightly. As a result, the water cannot evaporate and the palm seeds have the ideal climate for germination.
Alternatively, you can sow these in a flower pot and cover it with a plastic bag. Do not forget to air and water here, as there is a different microclimate than in an airtight container.
The right germination temperature
Depending on the species, this is between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius. Some palm fans advise imitating the natural temperature fluctuations between day and night, as this speeds up the often lengthy germination. To simulate this, you can place the culture vessel on the warm window sill during the day and in the cool stairwell at night.
Don't get impatient
The germination period is very different. There are species that germinate after just one to three months. If this is not the case and no mold or rot has formed, wait and see. Sometimes the exotic plants need up to a year to sprout.
tips
Are you going on holiday to a country where palm trees grow? Then take some palm seeds home with you as a holiday souvenir. Remove the pulp at your holiday destination and sow them when you get home. There is hardly a better memory of the holiday season.