Propagating Utah Juniper Seeds

Preparation

• Utah juniper seeds need a bit of help from the gardener to break dormancy. The best way to do this is to soak the seed in a bowl of room-temperature water for 24 hours. During this period, the seed should swell. If it doesn’t, pour the water out, add fresh water and soak the Utah juniper seed for another 24 hours. Plant it immediately after removing it from the soak.

Planting

• The type of germinating medium isn’t as important as the depth you plant the seed. As long as the mixture drains quickly and doesn’t contain any soil, the seed should germinate. Commercial peat moss-based seed starting or germinating mixes work well. Set the seed on top of moist medium and cover it with a very thin layer of peat moss – enough to barely cover the seed, yet still allow light to reach it. Utah juniper seeds require light to germinate, so don’t plant them deep.

Germination

• Set the Utah juniper seed in an area with indirect sunlight, where the temperature doesn’t exceed 50 degrees F. The ideal temperature for germination is between 40 and 50 degrees; warmer temperatures hinder germination. Keep the germination mix consistently moist throughout this time, either by squirting it with water from a spray bottle or by bottom watering. Set the pot in a bowl or shallow pan of water that reaches halfway up the side. The pot will soak up the water from the bottom. Remove it from the water when the top of the mix is moist. Utah juniper seeds germinate within one to six months.

After Care

• Transplant the Utah juniper into a tall planting container when it reaches 6 inches in height. This allows it to form a long taproot. Grow it indoors over its first winter. The stronger the root system, the better chance it has of surviving when planted in the landscape. Transplant in the spring in an area that gives it lots of room to grow. The tree’s lateral roots may spread 100 feet from the base of the tree, so don’t crowd it.