The winged maple fruits fly around cheerfully in autumn. However, the vitality is gone when the seeds are to germinate under the care of the gardener. We will familiarize you with a horticultural trick that significantly increases the germination of maple seeds.
Maple seeds have a sprout inhibition that needs to be overcome
Overcome germ inhibition - This is how it works with cold
The seeds of many maple species are prevented from germinating in the midst of ice and snow by a natural barrier. Only when the seed has been exposed to a cold stimulus for several weeks, which is followed by milder temperatures, does germination begin. If you are striving to reproduce a maple by sowing, you can deposit the seed in the garden and wait, or you can follow these instructions to specifically overcome the germination inhibition:
- Soak the seeds in lukewarm chamomile tea for 24 to 36 hours beforehand
- Fill a plastic bag with damp sand, lava granules (€13.99) or potting soil
- Pour in the soaked seeds and seal the bag tightly
- Store for 6 to 8 weeks in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator at -1 to +4 degrees Celsius
After the cold phase, sow the seeds in individual compartments of a multi-pot plate. As a substrate, we recommend commercial potting soil or potting soil thinned with sand. Plant a seed no more than 1 cm deep in the soil. Then spray the seed with room-warm water. In the partially shaded, warm location, the first seedlings will not be long in coming.
Always disinfect substrate
Seeds and seedlings are vulnerable to diseases and pests. The pathogens often lurk in the substrate. By disinfecting the potting soil beforehand, you eliminate the risk of infestation from this source. You can easily do this by placing the moistened soil in a suitable container in the oven for 30 minutes at 150 to 180 degrees top and bottom heat.
Gibberellic acid accelerates germination
Thick-skinned maple seeds find it difficult to germinate despite the cold stimulus. Get these unwilling candidates on their toes with gibberellic acid. Gibberellic acid is a purely natural growth hormone found in the seeds and sprouts themselves. The product is available in specialist shops and online shops. How to apply maple seed germination booster:
- Stir 0.1 ml gibberellic acid into 5 ml pure alcohol (e.g. spirit or isopropanol from the pharmacy)
- Add 95 ml of room temperature water and stir well
- Leave for 60 minutes
Fill the seeds in a coffee or tea filter and hang it in the solution for 12 hours. Then sow the seeds. As a rule, stratification in the refrigerator is not additionally required for the seeds to germinate.
tips
The sowing of seeds is limited to the propagation of pure species such as field maple (Acer campestre) or sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus). For the propagation of beautiful cultivated forms, such as the varieties of the Asian slotted maple (Acer palmatum), only vegetative methods such as cuttings or sinkers can be considered.