The evergreen strawberry tree, which comes from the Mediterranean region, is also becoming increasingly popular in our latitudes. The attractively colored bark, the bright green foliage, the delicate, white umbels of flowers and the fruits that ripen on the tree all year round make this exotic plant, which is mostly cultivated as a container plant, particularly appealing. Unfortunately, strawberry trees are quite expensive in the trade. Cultivation is not difficult, however, so that you can easily grow strawberry trees yourself from a strong specimen.
Strawberry trees are best propagated from cuttings
Vegetative propagation by cuttings
To do this, cut cuttings about ten centimeters long. The shoots should only be half woody so that they can form roots without any problems. Then do the following:
- Remove all foliage except for the top two leaves.
- Fill the pot with nutrient-poor potting soil.
- Insert and water offshoots.
- Put a clear plastic bag over the jar.
- Place the cuttings in a bright place with a temperature of about twenty degrees.
- Humidify regularly and air occasionally to prevent mold growth.
- If the growing pot is rooted, the small strawberry trees are planted in larger pots.
Generative propagation by seeds
Seeds can be obtained from the ripe fruit of the strawberry tree. You should get them into the ground as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can get seeds from specialist retailers.
Attention: Here, too, you usually have to stratify the seeds, because the small grains have to be exposed to the cold for a longer period of time for germination.
- Sow fresh seeds directly, soak purchased seeds in water for a week.
- Fill the seed trays with sand, scatter seeds (light germinators).
- Place in a warm place about twenty degrees and keep moist.
- After four weeks, put the sand and seeds in a bag and seal.
- Place in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for eight weeks.
- Stir occasionally and check if the sand is still slightly damp.
- After two months, place the seeds in pots filled with potting soil. The same applies here: Do not cover with substrate.
- Do not expose pots to higher temperatures too quickly. About five to ten degrees is ideal.
- Make it bright so that the seed germinates.
The right place is important, because only then will the seeds sprout. A cool basement room, for example, is ideal. But it can also take some time for the leaves to show up here. Only after about three to four months will the small strawberry trees have grown so large that you can transplant them into pots with potting soil that you can add sand to.
tips
Cultivation indoors is possible all year round. Plan the stratification so that the optimal germination temperature prevails in a bright garage or greenhouse, for example.