How to Propagate a Pyramid Magnolia

Propagate by Seed

• 1

  Collect ripe fruit from the magnolia tree in the fall. The ripe fruit is red and soft to the touch.

• 2

  Remove the fleshy outer covering from the fruit to get to the seed.

• 3

  Clean the seeds by rinsing them in water and patting them dry with a paper towel.

• 4

  Place the seeds in a plastic bag containing a moist mixture of equal parts sphagnum peat moss and sand. Store the bag in a refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 60 days for spring planting, after frost danger has passed. You also can plant the seeds in the fall immediately after they are collected and cleaned. In areas with warm winters, it is best to plant in the spring.

• 5

  Plant each seed at a depth of 1/4 inch. Keep the soil moist and cover the seed with about 2 inches of mulch to help prevent soil from drying.

Propagate by Cuttings

• 6

  Prepare a 4-inch pot before taking your cutting. Mix equal parts sphagnum peat moss and sand. Moisten the mixture thoroughly and fill the pot.

• 7

  Cut a 6-inch section from the tip of a flexible semi-hardwood branch using a sharp knife. Take the cutting in the summer from the last year's growth.

• 8

  Remove the leaves from the bottom one-half of the cutting. There should be at least three leaves left on the cutting.

• 9

  Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, then stick the end in the prepared pot. Set the stem end about an inch deep in the planting mixture.

• 10

  Place a clear plastic bag over the top of the pot and cutting. Set the pot in a spot that gets bright, indirect sunlight. Keep it at a temperature of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

• 11

  Check the cutting weekly and moisten the potting mixture if necessary. When the roots are about 1-inch long, the cutting needs to be repotted.

• 12

  Fill a 4-inch pot partially with a well-draining potting soil. Remove the cutting gently from the rooting mixture and set it in the center of the new pot. Cover the roots with potting soil to the same depth as the previous pot.

• 13

  Place the pot in bright, indirect light and water to keep the soil moist. Move the seedling gradually into brighter light to prepare it for moving outdoors. Plant the seedling outdoors the next spring when all danger of frost has passed.