How do you grow a Nikau palm tree from seed?

Propagation: Store the capsules in a paper bag in a warm dry place until the minute seed is released (may only take a day or two). Sow the seed onto a firm bed of seed raising mix and cover lightly with mix and /or fine pumice. Water well and keep in the shade until seedlings start to germinate in about three months.

How do you transplant a Nikau palm?

One expert I consulted recommended the best time to move them is between December and March, as soil temperatures then would give the best chance of healthy new root growth. Dig up as much of the root system as possible, trying to keep the soil intact around the root ball when you move it.

How does the Nikau palm reproduce?

We propagate all our palms by seeds and are careful to select the correct varieties. Nikau’s give any NZ garden a distinctive tropical flavor they can also be grown in large containers for a number of years.

Are Nikau palms native to NZ?

Although a number of palms have been introduced to New Zealand and are planted around our towns and gardens, the nīkau palm is our only native palm species. A nīkau palm usually grows about 10-15 m tall.

How long does it take a palm tree to grow from a seed?

Some palm trees will sprout in 70 days, others, such as coconut palms, can easily take six months to sprout. Don’t worry if the seed starts looking a little ragged while you’re waiting. It’s not uncommon for palm seeds to shrivel and otherwise look dead before they sprout.

How quickly do Nikau palms grow?

Nikau are very slow growers. It takes a good 15 years for them to form the beginnings of a trunk, so a two-metre specimen may be 20 or 30 years old. It can take them the best part of a century to reach 10 m.

Do nikau palms have deep roots?

Nīkau do not have a true tap root. Once the main root has been established to a fairly shallow depth of about 400 mm, roots take on form consistent with other palms. Successful transplanting is possible, but nīkau are very fickle if any trunk is present.

What do you feed nikau palms?

Fertilising Palms

Use a fertiliser with an NPK ratio of 3:1:3.
Slow release fertiliser is preferable as it works better and is safer for the palm.

How are Nikau seeds dispersed?

Their dispersal occurs courtesy of birds, especially the New Zealand pigeon. Each drupe contains a single seed. In favourable conditions, dozens of seeds per square metre can germinate.