How to Germinate a Magnolia Grandiflora

The Magnolia grandiflora gets its name from the giant, fragrant blossoms that adorn the tree. These evergreen trees grow well in warm climates such as the southern United States, Asia and Australia. The tree produces abundant seeds. Very few germinate naturally just falling from the tree. Instead, they grow better after passing through the digestive tract of small wild creatures. The seeds are surrounded by a fatty fruit that attracts migrating and wintering birds. In order to germinate the seeds at home, it is important to loosen the outer seed coat, mimicking the action of an animal’s digestion.

Rubber gloves
Table knife
Small plastic tub
2-inch peat pots, one for each seedling
Potting media
Jellyroll pan
Old window screen
Plastic wrap
Gallon pots

Instructions

- 1
  Put on the rubber gloves. Some people experience contact dermatitis from the magnolia sap.
- 2
  Remove several of the large seed cones from a magnolia tree. Choose cones where the fruit has darkened and dried.
- 3
  Reach into the holes in the cone with the table knife and pry the seeds from all the cones.
- 4
  Fill the small plastic tub with water and soak the seeds overnight.
- 5
  Fill each peat pot with potting media. This is a mixture of potting soil and peat moss. Place the pots on the jellyroll pan. Pour water into each pot until the water drips out of the bottom and into the pan. Let the water thoroughly soak the pots overnight. Add more water if they look dry in the morning.
- 6
  Remove the seeds from the water. Rub each seed on the window screen to roughen the seed coat. Turn each seed often to ensure that the coat is well scored.
- 7
  Place a seed in each pot of moistened soil. Cover the entire tray of pots with plastic wrap and place the tray in a sunny place.
- 8
  Check the pots daily. If there is no water on the underside of the plastic wrap, water the pot. Remove the plastic wrap when the seedlings are tall enough to touch the plastic.
- 9
  Transplant each seedling to a gallon sized pot when the seedling is 4 to 6 inches tall.

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