ps: what's the best method for starting seedlings? Do you start them between damp paper towels, just cover them with soil, do they need scarification like lotus seeds?....thanks in advance.

I'm not sure about all the other seeds but I have recently germinated a few Canary Islands. I can tell you that the seeds don't need light until above ground growth has occured. Also, seeds like bottom heat. That speeds up germination. For my soil I had a mix of vermiculite and top soil, seemed to work well. They can be put in a plastic bag or in a tupperware cup, both worked fine for me.

The best way to germinate most palm seeds is to soak them in water from 1-3 days w/ fungicide + insecticide.

For soil, use a well drained and airated blend. Pro-mix HP (high perlite & peat) is a good choice. Its sold by the bail. Make sure the soil is moist but not wet.

If you really want a palm that would survive outdoors in your area, try a R. Hystrix or a Sabal Minor. If you try R. Hystrix, crack the shell. Both of the two types I mentioned will need heat in the upper 80's to germinate well.

An easy species to try in Trachycarpus Fortunei. They will germinate best at room temperature.

I tried the baggie method mentioned a lot, with peat moss & vermiculate with bottom heat and got mostly a REALLY stand of Fungus and mold!!!! Man they were great strands too.
HOWEVER, I do chalk a BIG part of that up to the place that I bought seeds from (rarepalmseeds.com) because I tried some other seeds of the exact same species in the exact same medium and got popped seeds. So whatever you do, do not go to rarepalmseeds.com.
Anyways, about 2 months ago I started doing something different. A local fast food chain ("Spangle's") gives you pasta salad instead of fries if you want. The pasta salad comes in a little transparent bowl with a lid that fits tightly on, just like your butter dishes and cottage cheese etc. I then went to my grandfathers and got some 2-3 year old cow manure. I fill the bowl up half way with manure, spead the seeds, then spread a very thin layer over the seeds and water. Since the bowl is air tight with the lid on, the manure stays moist and never evaporates. I then put on bottom heat for 18 hours on 6 hours off. This also causes moisture build up on the lid that is perfect for recycling the moisture from the top to bottom when you shake it and it falls. Kinda like rain.
Using this method I got Phoenix Roeby seeds to pop in 3 weeks. Using the baggie method, I got Roeby seeds to pop in 4 MONTHS. Also, using baggie method I NEVER got a Sabal seed to pop. I used the manure method and in 2 weeks, I have white things starting to come out!!!!!!!.
So try to buy some clear plastic containers with lids and get some 2-3 year old manure.

I wouldn't blame rarepalmseeds for the fungus/mold -- most likely your medium was too wet.

Put the sabal seeds on top of your water heater and get back with me....you will be pleasantly surprised.

"I wouldn't blame rarepalmseeds for the fungus/mold -- most likely your medium was too wet."

As I stated in the post, I took those seeds I got from rarepalmseeds.com with mold on them out, and then put in seeds from the same species in the same medium, and they popped in a month and a half with no mold.
I would say, that is proof enough. Also, the seeds from them are the ONLY seeds I have had rot since I started this hobby a year ago. EVERY single other seeds I have gotten never molded or rotted.

One bad batch of seeds hardly seems to warrant condemning a supplier. I haven't bought seeds from rarepalmseeds.com, but I have read comments about them on the garden watchdog, as well as their responses, and they seem to at least try to address any complaints and criticisms levied against them there. Did you give them a chance to correct the problem?

One batch with 6 different species and all bad??????
No, if you read on "watchdog" you will see they have many "negative" responses. They come back on and CLAIM to try to be responsive. But in reality, I wrote them 4 e-mails asking about them and none of them were returned.
When the original order was sent out, I still had no seeds TWO MONTHS after payment was recieved. When I wrote to them telling them they had my confermation # and I was going to the public defenders office, they THEN wrote me back saying they knew they were late but they were waiting on a new batch. WHen I asked if they could e-mail me back when the seeds went out, they told me "no" they couldn't e-mail me.
Go back to watchdog and read about them again, and ask yourself, why do they need to keep coming back and defending themselves? Why do they need to if they are a reputable company? Then go read about "Ortanique".

Settle down beavis, you didn't say it was six different species in your original post.

I happen to have met the guy who runs Ortanique and I've ordered seeds from them in the past and have been very satisfied. I would be unlikely to order from rarepalmseeds merely for the fact that they are not in the US.

I am butt head. Easily mistaken thou!
Ortanique is the absolute BEST!!! They sent me seeds that had some popped already in the mail. And 4-5 months later, the trees from those seeds look great!!

Some of the first palms I ever grew came from seed purchased from RPS. I think the folks who run it mean well, but as flound mentioned, they're overseas. That makes it a bit of a crapshoot on the seed quality. The longer those seeds are in transit, the less viable they become. I have to agree with forida_wannabe, Ortanique seems a top-notch outfit. I've ordered twice each from rarepalmseeds and Ortanique, and the ones from Ortanique were definitely fresher and in better condition. Another good choice is Whatcom Seed Co. (www.seedrack.com) I've had good luck with their seeds.

A good trick I've learned using the baggie method....sterilize your growing medium first. While still dry, put your soil in the microwave for a minute or two. This helps to kill off any bacteria that may cause mold problems later on. Then just dampen the soil with water that has some fungicide in it. Using this method, I've hardly had any problems with mold or fungus.

Does Ortanique have a website? If so can somebody post a link?

GK

yeah, hard to guess but..

Here is a link that might be useful: ortanique