Tips for growing a magnolia tree from seeds
October 25, 2015 1:02 PM Subscribe
I dearly love the magnolia tree in our backyard. This year, it produced a handful of seeds, which look kinda like red-orange colored peanut M&M's. I really want to do everything I can to raise happy, healthy magnolia trees from these seeds if I can.
I've found some advice online on growing magnolias from seeds, but was wondering if anyone here had done it and what your advice would be. I live in Illinois and am of moderate to somewhat advanced skills where gardening is concerned. We may be moving in a few years and it would mean the world to me to be able to take little saplings from my beloved magnolia with us when we go.
I've found some advice online on growing magnolias from seeds, but was wondering if anyone here had done it and what your advice would be. I live in Illinois and am of moderate to somewhat advanced skills where gardening is concerned. We may be moving in a few years and it would mean the world to me to be able to take little saplings from my beloved magnolia with us when we go.
My Dad grows trees from seed, though not magnolias yet. Rather than putting the seed in the fridge, you can just plant it in a pot and leave the pot out over winter. The "rub the outer coating off" step is to simulate the seed's passing through the digestive tract of a bird or animal.
I would definitely plant more seeds than you think you'll need, because some will refuse to germinate. If you end up with extra saplings, you can always give them away to friends.
When your saplings sprout, find a way to protect them from deer, rabbits and squirrels. When you transfer your saplings from small pots to bigger pots, take great care to disturb the soil and rootball as little as possible. When you plant them in the ground, dig a much bigger hole than you think you'll need, fill it with extra potting soil and loosen the earth around it-- young tree roots may not be strong enough to pierce through compacted earth yet.
I am not a grower of trees, but this is pretty much what my Dad does, and many of his saplings are healthy young trees by now. Definitely try cuttings too and see what works best. Best of luck to you!
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:05 AM on October 26, 2015
I would definitely plant more seeds than you think you'll need, because some will refuse to germinate. If you end up with extra saplings, you can always give them away to friends.
When your saplings sprout, find a way to protect them from deer, rabbits and squirrels. When you transfer your saplings from small pots to bigger pots, take great care to disturb the soil and rootball as little as possible. When you plant them in the ground, dig a much bigger hole than you think you'll need, fill it with extra potting soil and loosen the earth around it-- young tree roots may not be strong enough to pierce through compacted earth yet.
I am not a grower of trees, but this is pretty much what my Dad does, and many of his saplings are healthy young trees by now. Definitely try cuttings too and see what works best. Best of luck to you!
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:05 AM on October 26, 2015
Is this a deciduous magnolia? Is it a native or a cultivar? Many are sterile hybrids, though most southern magnolias are just cultivars. If you can grow from seed the advice from Pallas Athena above is good, but if the seed isn't viable you need to do layering or cuttings. Cuttings are done at specific times of the year, depending on what kind you do; you can find plenty of advice on this online.
You may want to just find the same tree in a garden center, if possible, or some place like Forestfarm.
posted by Red Loop at 6:08 AM on November 22, 2015
You may want to just find the same tree in a garden center, if possible, or some place like Forestfarm.
posted by Red Loop at 6:08 AM on November 22, 2015
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posted by sciencegeek at 1:18 PM on October 25, 2015 [3 favorites]