10 Giant Sequoia Tree Seeds - Sierra Redwood - Giganteum Tree Bonsai

Growing Information: The seeds of Giant Sequoia are notoriously difficult to germinate as they are very particular about the conditions they need for germination. Even if the seeds do germinate, they require a skilled grower to get them beyond the seedling stage. But that makes them especially rewarding to grow for those who fully succeed. The seeds should first be soaked overnight in water. Distilled water or even bottled water is recommended. After the soak, you need to cold stratify your seeds in the fridge for one month. That involves putting them in some type of non-soil growing medium such as a damp paper towel, rockwool or sterile sand. One trick that will help keep molds from growing is to use a little bit of hydrogen peroxide to moisten your substrate instead of water. After placing your seeds in the moist substrate, you want to put them into a re-sealable plastic baggie or something like a take-out container with a lid. The latter is probably better because it has a little more room to hold air. Place the seeds in the fridge and check them regularly to make sure the substrate has the proper moisture and to air out the bag/container. After a month, the seeds will need to be placed at 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. You can choose to germinate the seeds in the bag and then transplant them to soil after or you can transplant them to soil after cold stratifying and wait for sprouts to pop up. If you are using the second option, bury your seeds at just ¼" deep as burying them too deep can ruin your chances of success. Giant sequoia seeds require a mineral-rich soil with good drainage. The advantage of germinating them before moving them to soil is that the soil can hold more contaminants than your starting substrate. For good measure, you may even change the paper towel, rock wool or whatever you chose to use so you have fresh material for this next stage. It is especially important that the seedlings do not get too wet. Do not water too much.