My guess would be that some of the plants you bought at the nursery were in good shape, while others were root bound or otherwise defective. Nurseries are motivated to sell what they have, even if it is of terrible quality. You have to remove some of the plants from their medium (pots, trays, etc.) to check their roots. If there is any sign or bolting or being root-bound, do not buy the plant. Once a plant starts bolting, there is no stopping it. Cutting it back will do no good. The best solution is to start your own seeds, if possible. A good introduction to seed propagation can be found at the website below. Alan Chadwick Click on "Techniques" and then choose your subject. These methods are based on those of Alan Chadwick, who brought organic gardening to the USA in the 1960's and 1970's. Here is a link that might be useful: Alan Chadwick

Tom, I sent a pic about 5 years ago to Terra Nova Nursery in OR. I was told they specialize in variegated plants, but I never received a response. Probably just as well. I read about a lady in NE PA who has one in a pot. She sent it away to Plants Delight in NC and they were not successful in multiplying it so they sent it back to her. I have been waiting for bloom from this one, but so far, nada. I mow a path to it so wife and I can ogle it when we walk down to the bottom field in the evening. Another naturally growing plant variant here, is a completely spineless Multiflora rose. This one makes seeds and judging from the number of spineless Multiflora seedlings I pull, it comes true from seed.

Definitely wait for them to be as ripe as possible. Falling off of the tree ripe is the best. Clean them. Clean them well. Any fruit left on the seed will cause rotting. Soak your seed in warm water for two days. Change the water after 24 hours. They will germinate in a pot. However most palm seeds like temperatures in the low 90s for germination. Since the heat isn't on in your house, a garage or even attic would be good. On top of a computer monitor, cable box, refridgerator (unless the compressor is at the bottom), anything else in your house that puts off heat would be ideal. Keep your growing medium moist, but not too moist. If they are in a pot, put plastic wrap over the pot. Check on them every few days. If your seeds are fresh and you prepared them properly you should have GREAT SUCCESS!!!! Also try the search function on this forum. many questions for first time palm growers have been asked before. Good luck!!!

I didn't know anything about propagation of Cabbage but in the nice Spring we have been having, I have been planting and rooting most anything so when my wife was preparing Cabbage and I saw little roots trying to grow from the stem she cut away, I took the stem and planted it in my pot garden on the front porch. It came up with 5 little cabbage plants so I dug it up and cut them apart and so far, they all seem to be surviving in other flower pots. I may not get any cabbage to eat but it is fun watching them grow. I have already bought her a Red Cabbage so that I can try this on a red cabbage as well as the green.