How to Sprout a Magnolia Seed

The magnolia plant group has 80 species native to various areas of the world, including the United States. The genus is diverse, offering deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. On some species, the showy flowers bloom early in the season ahead of the foliage. Others blossom in the summer against a leafy background. Magnolia seeds need to undergo a period of chilling, known as stratification, to break dormancy. Without it, the embryo does not develop.

Sand
Plastic bag
Pot
Soilless potting mix
Plastic film
Propagation mat, as needed

Instructions

- 1
  Moisten some sand. Squeeze it. If water drips from it, the sand is too wet. Add more sand until the medium is no longer soggy. Place the sand in a plastic bag.
- 2
  Bury the magnolia seed in the moist sand inside the bag. Store it in the refrigerator for eight weeks. Check the moisture level weekly and sprinkle the sand with water if it begins to dry.
- 3
  Fill a pot with a soilless potting mix such as a sand- or peat-based blend. Irrigate it until excess water drips out of the drainage holes.
- 4
  Take the magnolia seed out of the bag. Push it 1/2-inch deep into the soil in the pot. Cover the hole.
- 5
  Cover the pot with a piece of plastic film to retain moisture and heat. Magnolia seeds germinate when the temperature is 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the planter on an electric propagation mat with the thermostat set to 70 F, if necessary. Water the soil whenever it begins to dry. Magnolia seed germination takes a few weeks to several months.

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