How to Plant Tree Seeds
Growing trees from seeds can be a roller coaster ride. Depending upon the type of tree you're growing and where you got the seed, the plant that results may not be exactly as you expected. In addition, depending upon the type of tree you are growing, certain dormancy stages for the seed may be required. Requirements for growing a tree from seed vary greatly depending upon the type of tree you are attempting to cultivate. However, there are some general steps that will apply to growing most any type of tree from seed. While you may have to try several times before succeeding, growing a tree from seed can be a rewarding experience and a fun experiment to do with children. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Peat
- Tree seed
- Small sealable container
- Plastic bag
- Pot
- Potting soil
- Water
- Houseplant fertilizer
Instructions
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1
Place the seed in peat.
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2
Refrigerate the container that holds the peat and seed. For most tree seeds, the container should remain in the refrigerator at 35- to 40-degree Fahrenheit temperatures for three to four months.
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3
Sow the seed in a pot. Keep the seed well-watered to encourage germination.
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4
Place a plastic bag over the pot, but do not seal it. This will increase the moisture for the seed, but will allow circulation of air.
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5
Move seedlings to a sunny area when germination occurs. Depending upon the type of seed, germination may occur within a few days or several months.
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6
Provide the seedling with as much light as possible and give it frequent houseplant fertilizer, following the directions on the label for the particular brand you are using. Keep the seedling indoors until it is strong and ready to transplant outdoors. This may be several months.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You can try a much simpler method and just plant your tree seed outdoors in the fall and see what happens in the spring.
Depending upon the type of tree you are attempting to start from seed, scarification or warm stratification treatments may be helpful or even required. Be sure to research the particular type of tree seed you are planting to take any additional steps necessary to help your experiment be more successful.
