Stained Glass Palm (Geonoma epetiolata)

Product description

The young leaves of this rare, small palm look spectacular. It is coloured red-orange with light and dark spots, resembling stained glass. Later, the leaf turns green, retaining the mottled pattern. It has bifid leaves that can grow up to about 60 cm long. The species comes from the rainforests of Costa Rica and Panama and is rare. In Costa Rica, there are some populations on the east coast up to an altitude of 800 metres. In Panama, the species is more common and there it grows at altitudes between 200 and 1,500 metres. Seeds are of limited availability and this is due to the difficult fruit setting. In the wild, the flowers are pollinated by flies, weevils and bees, but unfortunately this is not often successful. Hand pollination is one way to improve fruiting, but that is mainly applicable to specimens in cultivation.
 
When growing as a houseplant, it is important to provide high humidity and otherwise spray the plant with water regularly. In addition, ensure well-drained soil and a light location without direct sunlight. The palm can grow up to 2 metres high in the wild, but remains smaller as a houseplant. 

Sowing description: The already germinated seed can be transferred directly into well-drained soil with organic matter. For initial development, a temperature of 25-30grC is optimal, but later it can be slightly lower.  


Photo: Bill Cheliak