never used them. my only concern with these jiffy type pots is the depth of the cell. Maybe OK for some types of plants on a short term seed starting basis, but seems that you would have to transplant to a larger container for anything that needs more depth for a deeper root.

I just finished reading a book called Palms and Cycads
by David Squire,in here is a section called the nature of roots,and states a seedling puts out primary or seminal root which is short lived just for a anchoring and to help gather nutrients,then puts out a second set of roots that a rise from the base of the trunk to form a adventitious or supplementary
root system,which can sometimes be very small,which would allow a lot of palms to be planted closer to walls or foundations of houses.
Yes I agree will have to transplant them into a larger container shortly after,but I wanted them to put under heat and I rather tight for space,and some of these seeds were
Licuala Orbicularis,which may take up to a year to germinate.
Should be interesting to see how it goes,I've planted many washy robusta seed in the meat tray packages that were actually smaller than the 2 1/2 inches which these trays have with
out a problem with seed germination,but within 6 weeks of germination had to pot up.

Hi
I might suggest the "baggie" method especially for slow germinator. Just some sphagnum in a zip lock.RO or rainwater is good for moistening you can add fungicide or not. Assuming you got good seed lol It allows it to remain just slightly moist. Rot is a common problem with them.. It is really tough keeping a small pot just moist especially for months. They are also very susceptible to "damp off"
during germination. This method allows you to keep it at optimum moisture and warm at the same time. Light is usually not necessary. Transplant to a pot as it starts seeking light not too quick as it will react to lower humidity,natually.
I'm growing a L. Obic from seed .Hope your patient ,make that very patient lol Summer of 01 and still under two feet tall,!! Hoping that it will speed up with time lol The latest spear is beginning to show that fantastic round shape
It has taken around 6 months for each spear to unfold!!
Good luck!!! gary

Hi Gary,
I'm using the bag method on a few other seeds,,since July no luck yet .
7 years and barely 2 ft tall,wow that does take quite a lot of patience!!!! I hope I'm up to it!!!
Don

Don
These are great for germinating seeds I germinated some
cfp's in them and most of them germinated in a week without any bottom heat ! I will use them again sure you have to transplant them but this kit realy works !

Well thats great!I hope I have the same success as you!
What I like about them there was no mess,like I usually make.
Outdoors don't mind if make a mess, indoors well thats a whole new ball game!!!

Hi
Fairchild told me around 25/30 yeras to maturity for the L. Obicularis. When they told me "slow" I was thinking like 10/15 years lol
Where are you located in Ks.? My daughter and her brood live in Hutchinson. gary

Hi Gary,

I live about 50 miles southeast of Hutchison,in Wichita,they really got the ice damage there pretty heavily.
I don't think I'll live long enough to see one make it to maturity,but maybe the 10/15 years to half maturity!LOL

I do not use this specific product but I germinate my seeds the exact same way. Little compartments the same size and i have heat mats underneath two sets of compartments. I planted my seeds back in early November. So far two seeds have sprouted. 1 is a bottle palm and the other some sort of Dypsis (sp?).

Andy,are you using water bed heaters or regular seed germinating heat mats?
I'm thinking about getting some myself,and was wondering which was the best way to go.

Last year I bought a book called Betrocks guide to landscape
Palms,by Alan W. Meerow,a very informative book,about palms and info on everything you need to know about certain palms, even there germinating times,of course depending on if the seeds are fresh.I highly recommend this book,for those of you like a good book to set down by th fire at night!!!
Don

Don-
Just regular heat mats. They've worked fine the last two winters. I hope to see some more seeds pop up soon.

Hi
Small world!!! I grew up in Haven lol but that was almost 30 years ago.How did you do through the ice storm?
Daughter is still without power. gary

Wichita was very lucky,no major ice this time,as of this morning 62,000 people still without power from hutch to lyons to Salina.
They said all power should be restored By Saturday.
I work At Case,make the skid loaders construction equipment,and they are also in Hesston now making the farm equipment.
So a lot of people I work with live in Halstead,Hutch,Newton
Haven,Benton,hesston,Moundridge and the surrounding areas.
Don