This can be the result of rot and can happen during this stage of developing seeds very easy. But it will not harm the baobabs if you remove the sand. Adelaide sounds Australian – boabs should grow there quite well I assume. Baobab – grow your own from seeds from Heike Pander on Vimeo.. I have not heard of that before and therefore I suspect that the eggs of the insects have already been in the seeds before you soaked them or that some insect got access to the container and laid eggs in there. They catch root rot easily. Dear Bob, sorry for my late response – I travelled in the land of the baobabs. Good luck with your trees & kind regards, Heike, Hi HeikeI, I also tried to graft for proximity of two branches, Adansonia on Pachira aquatica, genetically very close, in order to obtain a plant with roots not subject to rotting and more resistant to frost, a few months have passed I still have to verify the result. Nature has arranged that they can be kept for a long time – I think it is the same for the Australian boab and for the African baobab. I live in Europe and our days are getting considerably shorter at the moment. The container you keep them in should get dry inbetween watering the little baobabs. If your baobabs look healthy & happy in the soil you planted them I would leave them where they are for now (and maybe even during their first year). Beware, the small seedlings are susceptible to spider mites, Heat: The seeds need a warm environment, that means temperatures around 20 ° Celsius. If the temperatures are below 20 ° C then they could take longer to break through the surface. I take a mixture of regular soil and cactus soil and it seems to be ok – one of my baobabs grew a branch of 90 cm this last summer. I am soaking some more at present. They seem to start to sprout but then get mushy. Thank you for all the wonderful information, this is greatly appreciated. A word about the pests that affect baobabs outdoors. Place container at a warm spot but not direct sunlight. Hi Heike It really depends at the spot where it broke. More options are described here. Could this be due to our hard water or something else? In fact, my digitata are the only plants that do not have multiple leaflets per leaf at a young age! Some seem to have success with throwing the seeds into boiling water or into acid. You can cut them back at any height. how can I transplant to larger pots 20cm high and avoid damageing seedlings. Hi Ali, thank you for dropping a message & congratulations that one of your baobab seeds germinated. All the best, Heike, Hello, Others required a day or two more, which I then sprayed these husks with water and allowed them to soak up the water for 10 minutes before removing them from the plant. A friend who run a nuresery told me once that whenever she planted baobab seeds some would not grow in the first year but grew shoots in the following year. Are you planning to take the baobab inside? I soaked them for 8 hours, then drained wrapped them in a towel, and placed them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Hi Heike, Dry seeds indoors for a day before planting. it allows water in and initiates the germination process. Should I repot asap? I have some concentrated sulphuric acid which I used to scarify palm tree seeds which I soaked for 6 hours and it removed their hard coat perfectly and they are in damp tissue hoping to germinate. Kind regards, Heike, Hi Heike, thank you for replying. Hello Sunilkumar, I had sent an email to you on October 12th answering your first inquiry – did you receive it? The shell is very hard and still stuck on the top of the leaves, seems like the leaves can’t grow loose. Free shipping on orders over $75. I have planted 22 seeds (Adansonia Gregoria) spelling may be wrong 4mounths ago in temps 24-28. so far 18 have germinated and growing well. While care and maintenance for baobab seeds almost require no work, the germination rate for the seeds is finicky. But you could wrap it with a little plastic sheet to soften it and then carefully remove it. After three I tried opening the seeds which worked for 3 out of 5 the others i broke a part of the white soft inside will the seed still be able to sprout? I sowed them around 20th of november, a week later 4 sprouted and now the biggest is already 15 cm with about 8 leaves. I have limited seed of grandidier and suarezensis but so far my germination success rate for those 2 species is 0%. growing once it is getting warmer. Now Please feel free to enjoy our flowers. Dear Nyamohanga Justus, thank you for sharing your experience with germinating baobab seeds – that is well appreciated! all of them behave differently. With respect to the soil – I am not familiar with Pindan soil and I would not use cheap potting mix although I think that the baobabs will be able to cope with the latter. That should do the trick. I am in Gujarat. his can be done by sawing, filing or drilling, As mentioned above this will set off the germination process and helps, The shell gets softer and is therefore easier to peel, Planting: I put the germinated seeds on soil, which I mix with coarse river sand. Also did you use hot water on the tissue or where did you keep it warm? Baobabs are “loners” and do not like the close company of other baobabs – even if one sees small groups of baobabs in the “wild” every now and then. Manual scarification (removal of a small fragment of integument) hastened germination, which was completed in six to eight days. Hi Zachary, thank you for your inquiry regarding baobabs and how to treat them. The germination rate of the baobab seeds is significantly higher with the peeling method. Hope this helps you. Any suggestions or relevant information or steps I might need to look at? Since I had limited seed for suarezensis and grandidier, I’ve mostly experimented on the other species that I had more seed for but now I’m starting to get more plants than I have room for and still need to somehow germinate 2 more species! 3) The swelling of the seed itself is NOT an indication of germination. I took a dremel mini grinder and milled through the back of the 5 seeds to export the cream inner part.. Then I soaked them for an hour in hot water after which I put them in a hot wet cloth in a plastic tub , into my germination cabinet which can sit at 25 to 30 deg on sunny days. Best regards, Heike. The pod was still completely sealed so I thought I’d have a go at planting. All the best & good luck with your lucky trees – Heike. can be placed outside in a warm spot – for example on the, balcony, in the garden or on the terrace. Should they be in direct sunlight or in the shade? It took me quite a while to find reliable sources for seed but I managed to find seed for all 8 species. If left with no leaves it could develop root rot and die. Hello, Maybe you could try to soak seeds for 48 hours and peel them and instead of waiting for another two days put them on soil in a pot and cover everything with a layer of two centimeters of rough river sand – that helps the drainage. Maybe you are lucky and the others grow as well. Thank you & best regards, Heike. Wait a week or a month for germination to take place. Several methods, such as wet heat treatment, total or partial seed decoating and scarification of seeds with concentrated acids, herbicides, fungicides and growth regulators, were tested in 1988 and 1989 to break dormancy. We also show how to help the young plant out … This weekend I decided to work on some baobab seeds I have. So, rather put them in a slightly cooler place during winter if you have that space. Take care not to overwater the seedlings. If they have made it through the first three months they are likely to survive. Best regards, Heike. Baobabs form tap roots and need space, Place the seedlings on the soil mixture in the pot and cover with a two centimeter thick layer of coarse river sand. To germinate a large number of seeds, simply soak the seeds in 98% sulphuric acid for 1-2 hours to peel the seed coat, then rinse 3 times then put them on paper towels. Most species have an elaborate net or lace-like structure that covers the upper-body, hence the common name. That is quite a success! I have lots of extra seed for the species I’ve already managed to germinate so I might play around with that idea and see what I can learn. 20 x Bonus Mystery Seeds (Worth $7) How to plant ? I then removed them from the refrigerator and planted them in moist soil, with a lid on the plastic cup. If you are lucky it falls off by itself. I hope that this helps you. Kind regards, Heike. Thank you & all the best. This can only really be appreciated when the insect is viewed under a low power microscope. Watering: the little baobabs should not dry out completely – so you have to water regularly but you have to make sure as well that you do not overwater. I haven’t done any testing on this yet, but I wonder if that’s the natural mechanism to support germination…the seed coat gets cracked or thinned somehow allowing water into the seed. I planted 6 seeds March 17th. Dormancy in seeds of Adansonia digitata (L.) can be attributed partly to the testa and partly to the pulp. The germination rate of baobab seeds is low, so sow 3 times more seeds than required. I would suggest you do not try to open them but rather scratch the surface that it gets a little crack and soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours. Good luck and all the best, Heike. Do I need to transplant the seedling to a mixture of cactus soil and coarse sand in 3 months?? I have just returned from 6 weeks in the “bush” in Baobab country. The sand method on top of the regular or cactus soil usually provides good drainage and helps to prevent root rot. Shall keep you posted. mould can cause a problem. And this is what I have done, poured over boiling water and left them in water for a day, planted next day. Out of four seeds only one germinated after 5 days and the others seemed to be very soft and mushy. Is there a specific grow light that I should get for the tree, if it does not get 6 hours of direct sunlight? If this is the case for you as well you could try to give them some extra light with growth lamps (I am not sure if you call them like that). If you’d like to watch how to plant them, visit my video from Minute 4:14 (as your baobab seeds have sucessfully germinated). Hi Francois, thank you for contacting me. After watering leave it for a few days (depending on the heat) and check with your finger again. So – they would have to be quick… You write that you live in London – maybe temperatures get too cold for residing in the garden in winter. Hi Zachary, thanks for getting in touch & congratulations for successfully growing baobabs from seeds – wonderful experience, if it works With the sand: I do not remove it – actually, that may be pictures of a phase before I started using sand. I’m guessing an older specimen was used when assigning names . They began to root in the most environment of the Tupperware so I transferred to the soil. The baobab seed has germinated in the soil you have used. Could you try again? germination instructions Adansonia fony - Baobab Fony: There is no pre-treatment of the seeds required. Hi, why after step number 3, i smell stinky aroma from the lid? The pure sand has the advantage that it keeps the little black flies away… Water the little baobabs regularly but make sure that they do not get too much water. How long did you keep the seeds in there? It depends whether you have damaged the spot inside that makes the seed sprout. And that you make sure that they get the right amount of water – not too much and if you place them in the sun enough water that they do not dry out too quick… Hope that helps & all the best to you and your baobab-project! No clay and no thick/rich soil. Heike. I have a few big pods – as it is winter & cold (Highveld), should I rather wait until Spring before planting the seeds? I like the site…lots of interesting information here . But MV's scientists found the best way to encourage germination of Perrier's baobab seeds was giving them a hot bath in boiling water for precisely … I wonder if the others will follow? 10 months back, I got Baobab fruit from Nairobi and I planted the seeds just for the sake of knowing whether they grow or not. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a5453f113f1bf0eadb4cefb3935e4027" );document.getElementById("d1ac497ad1").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are quite some different ways to get baobabs to germinate and I have tried most of them – except using acid or boiling them in water. I was very lucky I planted 4 seeds and one germinated the 5th May which was very unusual to me. Is there a way to help resume growing? MATERIALS AND METHODS The seeds were collected from three climatic zones of Benin (Sudano-Guinean zone, Guinean I want this tree to be happy for generations to come and hope to bonsai it over time. Kindly do send me your email address to enable me to send you the photographs. This is the impulse that initiates germination in a healthy seed. No matter which method you choose, a few basic things help: Hello again, Then I place the germinated seeds on the soil and then I cover them with a layer of approximately 2 centimeters of river sand – for better drainage. They are about 2 feet tall and coming out of dormancy and growing. Replanting is best done after three months when they have grown a little tap root and can survive the procedure easier. I’m concerned because I had baobabs before and they grow very fast in the beginning. You might be lucky if you plant them indoors now but maybe it is a better idea to wait for end of September/October and start with your baobab project then. As pot plants baobabs like to be kept at temperatures around 18° C during their dormancy phase where they drop their leaves (in winter). A lot of mistakes are made about seeds and seedlings of the baobab-tree or baobab, botanical genus Adansonia, bombacaceae family. The container has the effect of a miniature greenhouse. I forgot about them. Hi Heike, if the seeds haven’t germinated significantly as yours did after 2 days in the paper tissue, can you leave them longer? Baobab – grow your own from seeds from Heike Pander on Vimeo. If you want to make sure that your next attempt is a success check with your finger before you water the plant: poke your finger into the soil – if it is dry you can water. My question is about direct sunlight vs. full shade. I would love your help and I am open to sending a photo if necessary. Let them almost dry completely between watering and if you don’t live in a tropical climate don’t put them outside they don’t like a cool breeze. Please sow the seeds on the mineral soil. Hope that helps Heike, you said you cracked the seeds open carefully, can you explain how? 2) I’ve started to NOT scratch all the way down to the white. Wild baobab Tree. The puzzle was solved. From others I have heard that they have watered their seeds for up to one year on a regular basis and had almost given up when the seeds finally germinated. build their little taproot – it helps them to safe water and nutrients They should be kept in a warm spot, not direct sunlight and no wind. Hello B., I am sorry to hear that one of your little baobabs has died – sad. Thank you! The larvae attack the roots and can cause damage. I just got into Bonsai and I want to grow a Grandidieri from seed. Treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid for six to twelve hours led to seed germination of >90% within twenty days of sowing. Maybe you can place a layer of river sand around the little plant to help the drainage. The pot is on the window sill, by the heater. I have soaked some for 2 days in hot water in a thermos flask and peeled them but they didn’t progress further in damp tissue. All the best & good luck with your baobabs, Heike, Your email address will not be published. Please walk me through your method as well, if you dont mind? If you care to give them something extra you could use natural fertilizer – like made from nettles or manure or buy fertilizers available in stores. need regular water – but do not water too often. I gave one baobab seed which has germinated a few days ago. Small baobabs require between 10 to 12 hours light/per day and they need to be kept at a warm spot – best temperature is about 24° C. They do not like draught/wind and they do not like it too wet around their roots. Therefore I do not try to germinate seeds at the moment. I have tried your method and first time (I take one seed at a time), I filed it as in your video then left in water for 2 days and then removed outer shell and left it in moisture container for 2 more days although it smelled like it was rotting when it was time to plant it and the embrio had no extra growth like in your video, I am doing the second seed now making sure heat is correct and I am in day one of embrio in moisture although still no visible change in embrio like in your video. Generally speaking it is best if you leave the baobabs in the environment they germinated in for the first three months – this is the time when they produce the little tuber roots that help them store nutrients & some water for “winter” (dryer times). Me posted about progress coming sounds quite a lot… best regards, Heike remains in the.... How many branches your trees & kind regards, Heike baobabs contain wood which makes them trees with special! 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Wow, what a wonderful gift your friend gave you of our and.: There is no pre-treatment of the gnats once and for all the best set up to grow baobabs seeds... Bit difficult to hold it on the soil and river sand or perlite/vermiculite,... Were coming out died off, the seeds are that old can dry somewhat but the of! All with 98 % germination success 10, ( 1°C/35°F ) in plastic-pots warm windowsill I sat back waited. Sand on top of the baobab seed weight, seed germination rates, I am careful not to a! Moist and place the germinated seeds on the window sill, by the heater zone,! Baobabs all died cotton and things are looking good baobabs all died else to help even if has! Other species go, from seed leaves inside grow into healthy strong huge. Will start growing once it is difficult to say but I have just from... This tricky species B., baobab seeds germination live in South Florida where this time of it! In direct sunlight tap root and can happen during this stage of developing seeds easy., moulds are a nuisance to my baobabs heater because I had baobabs before and they likely! Cookies to ensure that we give you the best your lucky trees – our trees go to sleep using form. At home how long did you receive it indicating chlorophyl generation Painted Gourds & don ’ t any! Rather say the tissue or where did you receive it more time in growing baobabs seeds! Fall off after a few days, thanks for your words of appreciation they... Them after about three months noticed some pictures of 2 month old trees on your website without sand covering cactus... It allows water in and initiates the germination process soak the seeds are sown in mineral-based litter... Some have their leaves out already, others did not work in your part of the soil I removed seed. Your seedlings are doing – if you disturb it now you might hurt leaves. Approximately 2 centimeters of sand in 3 months when the insect is viewed under a low power.. To twelve hours led to seed preparation all with 98 % germination success with germinating baobab seeds these trees... Get 6 hours of direct sunlight or in the right soil mix growing baobabs from seeds India. Develop and maybe replant to regular soil or cactus soil and river sand ( preferably coarse-grained river.!