How to Grow an Oak Tree From an Acorn, Indoors

Growing an oak tree from an acorn is an easy and involved family project. This is a great way to have children experience the miracle of growing trees from seed. It can also help add beauty to your yard. Growing an oak tree indoors allows you to give the acorn all your attention, and give it the best chance to succeed. From start to finish, this process will take about one year. Then you can plant outside! Read on for the easy steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Acorn
• Peat moss
• Plastic bag
• Refrigerator
• Yogurt, plastic or foam cup
• 10-12” planting pot
• Potting soil
• Water

1. Find an acorn in the fall. Try to find one as soon as it hits the ground. Avoid any damaged, sickly-looking or rotting acorns.

2. Refrigerate the acorn. Place in a plastic bag with peat moss. Add a small amount of water, but do not drench. Your refrigerator should be around 35 degrees. This will stay here until April of the following year. Check the acorn periodically to ensure it is still damp. Add water as needed.

3. Plant the acorn in a small planter. You can use an old yogurt cup, which is a favorite of mine. You could also try a plastic or foam cup. Poke holes near the bottom of the planter to ensure draining. Using an equal mix of quality potting soil and peat moss, fill the planter near the top. Place the acorn in the dirt near the top, but totally covered. Place horizontally so the cap and the tip are pointing at the edges of the planter and not the bottom of the planter.

4. Wait for growth. The planter should be in a sunny location. Keep the dirt moist, but not drenched. Do not let the dirt get dry. The acorn should sprout within a week or so. Sometime in May, the seedling should be a half foot tall with leaves!

5. Introduce the seedling to the outdoors. You can bring the planter outside during the day once the seedling sprouts a second set of leaves. Remember to bring back in at night. Consider protecting the plant when outside… critters may find it delightful!

6. Transplant the seedling to a larger planter. This can be done in June. Consider a 10-12” pot. Use the same soil mixture as before, and ensure proper drainage. Now you can leave the planter outside at all times. Don’t forget to water!

7. Permanently plant the tree outdoors in the fall. Acorns will be falling again! Choose a location that can handle a large tree. The oak tree will grow slowly, but it will become a large tree someday. Use quality soil and provide adequate mulching. Consider staking around the tree to fend off lawnmowers.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant the tree with your child. Take pictures of them with the oak tree every year on their birthday and watch both of them grow!
• Plant many acorns at once. Choose the strongest seedlings to plant in your yard.
• Never let your planters dry out.

[lighthouse1958]

on 10/1/2009 This is neat, thanks for sharing. I remember growing up in Tenn. these acorns would fall everytime I would pass this certain tree and crack me on the head. This brought back very good memories of the good old days. 5*

[sonni57]

on 9/23/2009 Great info on how to grow an oak tree indoors.