Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

Decided to start to try to Germinate my Red Bud seeds that I've collected from my trees
I planted 4 Red Bud seedlings that I bought in the Spring of 2009.....1 Died
I've planted 4 more Spring of 2014.....1 Died -which they will replace
Rather then buy more I've decided to try to grow them from seed

Process from Online:
Collect seeds from pods, store them in a sealed jar in fridge.
Around Valentine’s Day, remove seeds from fridge & rub them a bit between 2 pcs of sandpaper.
This process will begin to remove tough outer layer & will aid in germination.
Once you see some of outer layer has been sanded off seeds, they are ready for the next step.

Boil some water in a pan, remove from heat, place sanded seeds in water.
Allow them to soak in this water for 3-4 days.
This step will soften seed coat & prepare seeds for germination.

Once seeds have been treated, they can be planted a 1/4” deep in small containers of moist sand or potting soil.
For 5-8 wks, planted seeds should be kept cool in fridge or an unheated garage.
This chilling period acts as an imitation winter.
If you live in an area with cold winters, seeds in their pots can be planted in the garden, providing soil is not yet frozen.
If planting pots outdoors, cover them with wire mesh so critters cannot dig them up.

After 5-8 wk chilling period, seeds may be placed outdoors & seeds will begin to germinate in spring.
Once seedlings have produced their 1st set of leaves, trees may be planted in a permanent location in well draining soil.

I may also try from Cuttings as that will give them a head start:
In early June, after flowering and leaf production, select a healthy redbud tree with lateral branches at least 4 inches in diameter.
Cut an 18-inch segment well above any branch junctions to ensure limb regeneration.
Make as small an angled cut as possible.
Clean the wound with an antifungal preparation to prevent infection.
Divide the cutting into three sections, 6 inches long.
Remove 1/2 inch of the bark at one tip of each section.

Place these sections in a warm sandy soil, 72 degrees F (20 C), for 4 weeks.
Cuttings from redbud trees will root quickly.
Plant in potting medium when the roots appear.
They need 4 more weeks in potting soil to develop strong tap roots.
Plant shortly after full root development, to enable the long tap roots to stabilize before frost.

I've been trimming the trees in some cases & throwing the cut-offs out :(

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

I collected the Seed pods in the Fall, put them in the Fridge
Separated between what looked like "good" seeds from bad seeds
I tossed the seeds in the upper right, kept the rest = 103 seeds
I then put them between 180 grit sand paper & sanded them a bit
On 3-4 I tried sanding an edge to get thru the outer layer

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

Boiled some water & put the seeds in
I may have dropped one when sanding, decided not to recount
They say if any float to toss them out
None floated
I imagine the black ones I tossed would have floated
Now they soak for 4 days & then they get planted in potting soil
They say 85% germination rate, we will see

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

Sanding or soaking the seeds in a mild acid solution breaks down the outer layer. This is important in tough seeds like baldcypress, but I don't think it's necessary for redbud, as this crap comes up by the hundreds every year in my yard. I have to pull the seedlings like weeds.

Water as hot as near-boiling can cook the seeds if you aren't careful. If you're not successful in doing this, send me a PM and I'll pull up a bunch of them this spring, stick them in a baggie and mail 'em to you.

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

Thanks, I haven't had any come up from the seed pods dropping
I have a stream on the property & plan to plant seedlings along the stream to hold the soil in
I ordered 25 dogwood seedlings & planted those last Spring ($35 I think)
About 1/2 died & the company is sending me replacements this Spring
I like trying to grow different things, some from seed, some not
Friends have commented on the trees when they bloom, so thought I'd give it a try

I have a problem w/Rose of Sharon's coming up like weeds

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

Hmmmmmmm....could be seedlings will start to pop up from my trees
Its only been 2 years since the 1st tree started to bloom

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

Yeah, I have those coming up all over as well.

Dogwoods are difficult to transplant without killing them. Try sweating them the next time you plant them (you'll have to look up directions for that). I alternate my redbuds and dogwoods so that I get the mixed purple and white when they bloom. It's very striking.

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

Moving the Red Bud seeds into potting soil & then they go back in the fridge for 5-8 weeks
I'll see how the weather goes & decide when to bring them out of the fridge

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

Actually just put them into potting soil today

Re: Red Bud Tree seedlings Germination
 

How did this turn out? I've been pulling seedlings up like crazy, so if you want some, lemme know.