The monkey tree (botanical Araucaria) has become a popular conifer in our latitudes. This is ensured by the striking shape and the triangular needles, which are much longer than those of native conifers. You can grow offshoots yourself from seeds.
The Araucaria can be propagated by seeds
Use seeds from trees grown in Germany
You can get seeds for the monkey tree in specialist shops. Harvesting seeds from your own monkey tree is difficult because the tree only flowers after 30 years and then develops germinable seeds in the cones.
Most varieties of Araucaria hardly tolerate frost. Therefore, only buy seeds from trees grown in Germany. These are more hardy. The Chilean Araucaria in particular is considered to be frost-resistant when it is a little older.
Varieties that are not hardy should be sowed straight away in the bucket so that you can overwinter the offshoots frost-free later.
Grow offshoots from seeds
In order for the seed of the monkey tree to germinate, it must be as fresh as possible. If you can't sow it immediately, it can be stored in a freezer bag in the fridge for a few weeks if necessary.
You can sow directly at the desired outdoor location. However, it is even better to grow the offshoots in small pots first. The best time for sowing is early autumn.
How to sow a monkey tree
- Prepare site well
- resp. Fill the growing pots (€16.68) with substrate
- lay out seeds
- cover lightly with soil
- keep moist but not wet
- cover in winter
If the offshoot is pulled straight to the desired outdoor location, make sure that the soil is well permeable to water. The Araucaria does not tolerate waterlogging at all. If necessary, mix sand and gravel into the soil.
Put offshoots grown in pots in a bright, frost-free place at around 15 degrees in winter.
It takes about four months for the seed to germinate. As soon as the monkey trees are big enough, you can transplant offshoots grown in the pot or place them in larger containers.
tips
Young monkey trees are only partially hardy. Protect the young trees from frost with a thick layer of mulch and cover them with fleece or jute in very cold areas.