How to Germinate Leptospermum

Fill a nursery tray with neutral seedling compost. Shake the nursery tray to settle the seedling compost but do not press it firm since the rough surface will help hold the leptospermum seeds in place.

Mix the seeds with an equal measure of fine sand to make distributing them easier since the individual seeds are extremely tiny and difficult to handle.

Sprinkle the fine sand and seed mixture across the surface of the seedling compost in a thin, even layer. Gently press the seed onto the surface of the seedling compost with the flat of your hand.

Mist the leptospermum seeds liberally with a spray bottle filled with filtered or distilled water. Mist the seeds until the top inch of soil feels moderately moist. Maintain moderate moisture in the top inch of soil until the leptospermum seeds germinate.

Place the nursery tray in a cold frame or indoors near a large window with good, filtered light, depending on what is available. Choose a spot where the leptospermum seeds will receive at least seven hours of light each day.

Watch for germination in two to four weeks. Thin the seedlings to one every 2 inches as soon as they produce a pair of leaves.

Decrease water once the leptospermum seedlings emerge. Allow the soil to dry out in the top 1/4 inch between waterings to keep the environment somewhat dry, which will lessen the likelihood of damping-off.

Transplant the leptospermum seedlings into 6-inch plastic pots filled with potting soil as soon as they are large enough to handle without damaging them, which is typically four weeks after emergence.

Keep the individually potted leptospermum seedlings under warm, bright conditions until mid-spring. Transplant the seedlings into a sunny, draining bed outdoors once soil temperatures reach 70 F.