Growing Eucalyptus Trees from Seed

In the wild all Eucalyptus seeds are grown inside their own hard protective capsule. All of our seeds have been removed from these capsules to make your job easier. The following method is very reliable and easy to follow.

STEP 1
Hardy Eucalyptus seeds always benefit from a cold period at 3 - 5 deg C, usually 2 months in the refridgerator. We tend to store our seeds in the refridgerator so this is not always necessary when you receive them (we will indicate if you need to cold treat them).

STEP 2
Eucalyptus seedlings hate their roots being disturbed at any time during their growth. Therefore, we tend to choose a pot or tray that is deep enough to allow the tap root to grow unhindered until it is ready for potting on. A standard 2 - 3 inch deep seed tray is fine, otherwise try some deeper pots.

STEP 3
Fill your chosen tray or pot with a good general purpose compost , water it well and leave it to drain. Place the tray or pot in a propagator for 24hrs bringing it up to the required germination temperature (15 - 20 deg C). If you don't have a propagator simply cover the top of your pot with a clear plastic bag held in place with an elastic band. (If you cant achieve this temperature, dont worry your seeds will still germinate but may take a while longer).

STEP 4
Sprinkle the fine seeds thinly onto the surface of your prewarmed compost and place them back into your chosen propagator. Keep a weekly eye on your seeds. Never allow them to dry out as they will die. If you need to, simply mist the surface of the compost with a light spray.

STEP 5
Germination can be very quick taking anything from 1 - 2 weeks. Once your seeds germinate prize them out of the compost gently. Tip - always handle the seedlings by their leaves. Prepare some fresh compost in 2 - 3 inch pots and transfer each seedling into their own pot by planting them level with their own natural collar.

STEP 6
Water and label each pot and position them into bright shade. You should aim to plant the seedlings into their final garden position within 12 - 15 months by which time the seedlings should be at least 1 foot tall. If you need to in the interim period, continue to pot the seedlings up (always taking care not to disturb their roots).