Growing Japanese Maple Trees from seed (Stratification)

Step 1 in growing Japanese maples from seed is gathering the seed then treating them with cold stratification. Cold stratification may sound like a complicated thing but it is simply mimicking the seeds preferred growing conditions to trigger germination. Japanese maples require a period of cold stratification in order to begin germinating.
In this video I show one simple way to cold stratify your Japanese maple seeds. In about 4 to 6 weeks I'll remove these seeds from the refrigerator and proceed to the next step which is actual sowing of the seeds in a flat.

Part 2 of Growing Japanese Maple Trees from Seed will be on sowing the seeds and will be in 4 to 6 weeks after this one and after the seeds have had some stratification time. Thanks for watching and don't forget to like this video and subscribe so you don't miss the next video!

[johnifly]

Hi Dave! FYI, the wings do NOT have to be removed in order to CMS (cold moist stratification) and to germinate! I leave the "wings" on and it's easier to locate them as they start germinating! It's not a requirement to remover the "wings." ;-)

[jlnriddick]

Hi Dave, Just a quick update on the Japanese Maple seeds I had in my fridge (late Oct. - Mar.9th) in a moist baggie. By the time I sowed them into a large translucent tote outside, at least 40% had germinated on their own. First day out in the tote was 3/9. There are about 160 seeds, and today, 3/20, I see at about 7 just pushing through the thin layer of peat on top. Our weather is warming up with a few days of sun and 60's coming up, so hoping to see more. I do put the tote lid (with holes) on at night. I had no idea how long it might be before they started poking through, so I'm relieved to see growth!

[lazybeatz]

Now THAT'S how u make a "how to video"!!!! Keep up the good work and cutting right to the good stuff!

[jlnriddick]

Love your video's Dave! I think I started with your catmint vid and have learned a lot, so Thank You! This will be a very interesting couple of video's, and I look forward to seeing the results! I'm about to start the "milk jug winter sowing" process this week with about 14 perennials starting from seed (Buffalo, NY, haha) so I'm excited about that. I did collect somewhere around 200 Japanese Maple seeds from 2 trees in my yard last fall. I planted half of them in a small hoop house outside, so hopefully they'll germinate as nature sees fit. The other half has been in my fridge in a baggie with a couple of droplets of water since October. My plan was to plant them out in a large seedling tray when the weather is warm enough, but I may just follow along with whatever you're planning to do. Looking forward to the next step!

[jameswilmot]

I took some Japanese Maple cuttings on 30th March and have just made a new video on their progress. I would love to try growing them from seed one day. I always like to get a surprise variety of JM and enjoy seeing them return every year after the winter. All the best.

[daninthelionsden]

I harvested all the seeds I saw on my small shrubby acer palmatum and scattered them along a walking trail through pine plantation that's all non-native conifers, I read they are an understory plant in Japan so figure since the area is already full of exotics it might be nice to see some Japanese maple along the path.

[tsr-animations]

I'm currently growing I believe 2 Norwegian maple seeds (I'm from Norway, so it's an endemic species) and 1 baby hazelnut (found the sprouting nut last year in my compost)
The maple seeds, I found them just in my walkway last week and they had already started to sprout while the seed pods were attached, so assuming they had already gone through stratification over the winter. The little maples are maybe a few days or maybe about a week away from breaching the soil surface of the pots I planted them in and they're outside in an uncontrolled environment, so they'll be growing slowly until May/June when the growth spurt is due to happen.
My hazel's leaf buds started to sprout in the past week or two, so growth spurt is coming in the next few weeks or months.

[dekronasnecromancer]

Great video. Question though, I live in Florida would I be able to grow Japanese maple trees?

[Admodeus]

Is there any way to cheat the cold stratification part, like you can do with other seeds? By putting them in a cup of water for a day, then peeling the outer casing of the seed?

[Bunny_BoxEXE]

So I'm very new to Bonsai growing, and I just got a kit to grow a red maple bonsai. It told me to put a thin layer of pebbles on the bottom of the tiny pot, then the soil it came with, then the 15-20 seeds, then a thin layer of soil and water it. It said to keep moist and to put plastic wrap over the pot to create a greenhouse effect. Should I put the pot in the refrigerator? I already planted them in the tiny pot and now I'm not sure what to do ^^" I'd appreciate any help from anyone! Thank you <3

[aaronle]

Great video, thanks what kind of soils do you used,

[treypitchford]

Can I put them in a pot right after I get them out of the refrigerator after the root has barely come out and will they make it like that or what would be your best option

[lostinmyspace]

Dave, I just collected Paperbark Maple seeds from one of my trees on the property. I was looking for the next two videos you said would be around in the future, but can't find them. I was looking for specific instruction on how to get the seeds into the ground after stratification 4-6 weeks in the soil. It is now Nove. 25 that I started putting the seeds in a bafggie with peat mix. How deep do the seeds go into ther soil after taking them out of frig? How tall should they be when I reansplant into ground soil? I was looking forward to detailed instructions. THUMBS UP!!!

[zactranten]

I have been following the proper steps and stratified hundreds of seeds that I bought off line. I kept them in the fridge for 6 weeks and not one has germinated. I am convinced I received old seeds.

Thoughts? If you think I’m on the right track, where do you get your seeds?

[ifonly.]

After the cold stratification process, do you just then simply plant outside or leave in the conservatory with a lid over the pot ? (Summertime here). Can’t find part two

[carolinacrudele]

I would really like some help, I've recently cold stratified some Cryptomeria Japonica (type of Bonsai) seeds, and it said to leave it in the fridge for 2-3 weeks, I took them out at the 2-week mark but I'm not sure if I was supposed to leave them in the fridge until a little plant started showing. the pot has been on my windowsill for a few weeks now but nothings come out yet. Someone pls help me :(

[massoudseydo]

Do you open some holes in the bag to let them breath ?

[steady-gaming]

Ty for video. Im new to this. Do i need to soak them in water before putting them into the plastic bag and into refrigerator? Or is it ok to just put them in without soaking? Thank you in advance.

[rjayt]

I just collected some Japanese Maple seeds in November. When should I start the stratification process in the refrigerator? I live in planting zone 7A in the US.

[pastpianist]

Did you only add water to the soil once and then never touch it in the 4-6 weeks in the fridge? Or did you periodically remove the bag and add more water?