How to Plant Queen Palm Trees From Seeds
Queen palms (Cocos Plumosa) are in the family of Coceae. This palm is native to Argentina and Brazil. Queen Palms grow well planted outside in the subtropical and tropical regions of our country in zones 9 and 10. This graceful leafed palm gives an abundance of orange to yellow fruits, so the gardener will have plenty of seeds to choose from when it comes to planting. Providing you follow a few basic steps when dealing with palm seeds, your queen palm seeds should be relatively easy to germinate.
Collect the seeds from the queen palm while green, just as they are beginning to turn ripe. Queen palms are one palm that their seeds will germinate better if planted in the green stage, right before they ripen.
- Queen palms (Cocos Plumosa) are in the family of Coceae.
- This graceful leafed palm gives an abundance of orange to yellow fruits, so the gardener will have plenty of seeds to choose from when it comes to planting.
Soak the queen palm seeds in a bucket of water for a day, to help soften up the outer skin. Remove as much of the outer skin as possible, to reveal the inner seed that will be brown.
Soak the queen palm seeds once again in a bucket of water for several days, after cleaning. Change the water daily. Remove any seeds that float to the top, as these are less likely to germinate. The soaking will help soften them to germinate quicker.
Select a one-gallon container with drain holes, to plant the queen palm seeds. Do not use a container that does not drain well, as the seeds can rot and die before germinating.
- Soak the queen palm seeds in a bucket of water for a day, to help soften up the outer skin.
Fill the container will a potting mix that is high in organic matter, but drains well. Use a mix that contains peat moss and perlite. Plant the seeds one inch deep within the potting mix and cover with soil.
Water the container directly after planting the queen palm seed. Keep the container moist, but not soggy, throughout the entire germination process. Do not allow the seed to remain in soil that is dry or it will not germinate.
Place the container in an area that receives full to partial sunlight during the day. The queen palm requires at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day for best success in the germination process. The seed will germinate in anywhere from four weeks to six months.
- Fill the container will a potting mix that is high in organic matter, but drains well.
- Place the container in an area that receives full to partial sunlight during the day.
Tip
Transplant the queen palm into the garden or into a larger container once it has developed three to four leaves. Many times, it is best to wait a full year before transplanting into the garden, giving the palm time to establish itself. Place into the ground during the warmer months.
Fertilize the palm seedlings after they have emerged and grown for 2 months. Use a water-soluble fertilizer specific to palms, once ever few weeks while they are grown in containers.
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Tips
- Transplant the queen palm into the garden or into a larger container once it has developed three to four leaves. Many times, it is best to wait a full year before transplanting into the garden, giving the palm time to establish itself. Place into the ground during the warmer months.
- Fertilize the palm seedlings after they have emerged and grown for 2 months. Use a water-soluble fertilizer specific to palms, once ever few weeks while they are grown in containers.
Writer Bio
For over 25 years, Joyce Starr has owned businesses dealing with landscape & design, lawn maintenance, specialty herbs and a garden center. She holds certificates in landscape design and xeriscaping. Starr shares her passion for nature in her writing, publishing articles on horticulture, outdoor recreation, travel as well as business.
