BAOBAB (Adansonia Digitata) seeds and caring

[AndreLMS]

Hey people (1st topic!),
I've recently adquired a few (only 6) babobab (wich can also be called "Dead Rat Tree" ou "Upside down tree") seeds.

The species is "Adansonia Digitata", native from Africa.


Does anybody know how to germinate them?

Currently is Winter in Portugal (where I live). Whats a good season to plant the seeds?


Does ayone have tips about the growing/caring of this species?



Cumps,
AndreLMS

[bonscythe]

Just googled this, seems to have some info for you - http://www.baobabs.com/Baobabs_cultivation.htm
Hope that is of some help mate

[AndreLMS]

Thanks


But I've also read that the germination is very dificult because os the thougness os the seed shelf.

Is was necessary to do something to hel the seed germinate.


As anybody tried the hot water method?

Is it good? How "hot" mst be the water, and for how long should the seed remain in the water?


Cumps,
AndreLMS

[bonscythe]

Yes some scarification might improve your overall germination rate.
This is common in Acacia species, I have used boiling water to break the seed coat dormancy of Acacia decurrans with more success than with tepid water.
Not sure if the Adansonia spp. need boiling water to break this dormancy, all the scholarly articles by the Seed Science Research places require a 'login payment' which I will gladly decline
Try searching 'Adansonia seed dormancy' and see if you can find someone who has tried this with your species..

[BoNZai]

Andre, just found this on the interweb; http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/adansondigit.htm

Hope it helps

BoNZai


Growing Adansonia digitata

Baobabs are quite easily grown from seed although they are seldom available in nurseries. Seed can be collected from dry fruits by cracking the fruit open and washing away the dry, powdery coating. The dark brown to black, kidney-shaped seeds should be soaked in a container of hot water and allowed to cool, they may then be sown after soaking for 24 hrs. Seeds are best sown in spring and summer in a well-drained seedling mixture containing one-third sand.
Cover the seed with sand to a depth of 4-6 mm, place the trays in a warm semi-shaded position and water regularly until the seeds have all germinated. Germination may take from two to six weeks. Seedlings should be carefully monitored for damping off fungus, which can be treated with a fungicidal drench.

Transplant the seedlings once they are 50 mm high into individual containers, preferably in a sandy soil with some well-rotted compost and bone meal. Baobabs grow reasonably quickly when they are young.

They will make a handsome addition to a large garden, estate, or large parkland providing the soil is not waterlogged. Baobabs cannot tolerate even mild frost.

When they are young, baobabs do not resemble their adult counterparts, the stems are thin and inconspicuous, and their leaves are simple and not divided into the five to seven lobes of the adult trees.
Saplings can be effectively grown in containers or tubs for many years before becoming too large and requiring to be planted into the ground. In this manner one can move them out of the cold into a warm position in a glasshouse or indoors behind a sunny window to prevent frost damage.

[Bretts]

I can get these guys to germinate easy it is keeping them alive through the colder months that I have trouble with. Scarification is important. Filing a nick in them or using sand paper was troublesome to me so I started nicking them with branch cutters.
I pick a point at the end on the outer curve of the seed and with the very point of branch cutters I nip the edge of the seed breaking through the outer shell. I then soak the seed in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. I have got pretty well 100% success with this when planted in the heat of the summer in a hot humid spot.
The advice I was given about keeping them alive in the winter months is to store them in a dark dry place, even bare rooted in a box under the bed or hung upside down bare rooted in the garage where a couple of recommendations.
The first winter I had them I tried to wait until the cold made them drop their leaves. This is not the way to do it as they suffered frost burn on the leaves.
I lost the detailed information but the idea is that when the temp drops down below 5 or 10 degree then they should be moved into a protected spot out of the cold and kept dry. Completely dry and that is why many bare root them for winter. I have not been bare rooting but storing in the laundry or outdoor cupboard. I always lose a few over winter and what are left are slow to recover come spring. I may have only got one into the third year.
I was just thinking that maybe it is still too cold where I have been storing them. I might try again and go for bare rooted under the bed.
I have been successful with a relative of the baobab with them going well into their second year but they seem able to take much colder conditions.

[AndreLMS]

Thanks for all the replys

I live in a relactively hot climate.

A normall year temperature in Spring/Summer is 26/33ºC, and in Winter (in my zone) the temperature rarely drops bellow 6ºC.


Cumps,
AndreLMS

[OwnLeeOne]

I will be getting some baobob seeds soon (adansonia gregorii - aus type i think). Do they require the same germination techniques? Winters dont get to cold up here, but would an aircon/heater be alright to keep moisture down in winter if it is even necessary?

[gunjanpandey]

I have 100% success by putting each seed of Oz or African Baobab in peat pellets without any special treatment. Peat pellets are available from Bunnings in the seed raising (garden) section. after placing seed in pellet I used to keep them in a $2 plastic box with holes on the wall (for keeping shoes from 2$ Chinese shops) and further in a green house in the mid spring. I always kept them moist by flooding the base of the shoe box.

After doing this keep watching everyday for roots coming out of the botton. When you see root,s place the whole pallet in a bigger pot.. Do not worry about moss germinating at the pellet because of the humidity.

I lost quite a lot of plants in the first winter as I did not know when to keep them in. But now I keep them near a glass door as soon as temperature goes below 5..

[paulofoz]

I nick all my seeds just until you can see the white colour underneath the brown outer surface and pour freshly boiled water over them and let them soak. I have left some soaking for two days after doing this and hasnt bothered them. I plant them in some coarse aquatic potting mix and general purpose potting mix together in a toilet roll core and put them on a warm window sill in a warm room. The toilet roll core makes for easy transplanting with an old pair of bbq tongs and the roll is good for deep germination

[plantmanky]

I have been growing one here in the US in the middle of the country in Kentucky for the past 5 years. I have found that they should be given a fast draining soil and watered only occasionally. During the winter months when they are dormant they should receive no water at all as it will induce root rot. I've been quite supprised on how little wather these buggers need. I don't give mine water from the October to mid-April and it performs quite well.