Rhapis excelsa Thumb., A. Henry

Collect seed and store in a paper bag and allow to dry thoroughly. Rub seed between a couple of sheets ofsand paper to remove dried, fleshy bits from the outer coating Clean. Store in a cool dark place.

Viability:-

Seeds/gram:-

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Pour just off the boil, hot water over the seed. Allow to soak for 24 hrs.. Strain off the water and pat dry the seed between paper towels. Sow fresh seed, cover with thin layer of soil and then fine gravel, water in with a mixture of Previcur fungicide and water. Place on 21° heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-34° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Viable seeds/gram:- 

Germination time:-   6 - 12 months

Pricking out:-              

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Seed can be hard to find as the palm doesn't always set seed.

For field collected stock, choose small to medium clumps. Dig up and remove dried foliage and half of the fronds from each stem on site. Gently plunge, wash soil from the roots. Carefully prize apart the root system for each section of the clump or carefully select each section and cut root mass with a sharp serrated bread knife, ensure each section has roots attached.  Drop all sections into a mild solution of Phosacid bath to kill any Phytopthera etc., from the field collection. Drain. Remove damaged roots. Keep moist during preparation.

For nursery stock, remove from the pot. Gently plunge, wash soil from the roots. Carefully divide and cut with a sharp serrated knife down through the root system for each clump, ensure each section has roots attached.  Remove remove dried foliage and half of the fronds from each stem along with any damaged roots.

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Keep hydrated during prep. Pot up. In cooler areas place in a hothouse, maintain environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-34° C. Once rooting has taken place they can be hardened off and placed in a shadehouse.  In warmer areas or if division is done in the warmer months the pots can be placed directly in a shadehouse.      

Strike Rate:-             Field Stock      80 – 90%

                                Nursery Stock 95 - 99%

Rooting time:-         Field Stock       10 - 16 weeks 

                                Nursery Stock  8 - 12 weeks 

Division Yield per 300mm Pot:-       3 - 8 plants

Pot Mix:-                  Premium Potting Soil

As most palms in cultivation of this species is usually one or the other of the sexes, seed is very uncommon, so division or tissue culture is the main form of propagation

Tissue culture                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The most productive method of propagation is by tissue culture in specialised facilities. Preparation of material for tissue culture is undertaken in specialised facilities that are not in the normal nursey situation, so is not covered in this section.