The Andean fir, also known as the ornamental fir or araucaria, is one of the oldest and rarest plant species in the world - in its native Chile, the ancient-looking conifer is threatened with extinction. Araucarias that are native to us should therefore be propagated if possible, although this is not that easy.
How can the Andean fir be propagated?
To propagate the Andean fir successfully, use fresh, not dried out seeds and stratify them at around 5°C. Then sow the seeds in cocohum potting soil or a growing substrate and sand mixture and always keep the substrate slightly moist.
Vegetative propagation not possible
This also means that vegetative propagation is basically not possible - cut cuttings may sometimes set roots, but after a while they will stop developing and die. The same applies to offshoots growing directly from the roots of the main stem, as these are usually not viable on their own after they have been removed. The reason for the unsuccessful vegetative propagation lies in the Andean fir's poor pruning tolerance - where the plant has been pruned, it basically no longer sprouts.
Sowing the Andean fir
However, propagation using Andean fir seeds that ripen in autumn is relatively promising, as long as you follow a few basic rules. It is particularly important not to use dried seeds for sowing - these germinate only with difficulty or not at all. For this reason, it doesn't make much sense to buy araucaria seeds over the internet - it's better to get a fresh cone with seeds in autumn.
Stratifying Andean fir seeds
The reddish-brown seeds have a strong germination inhibition, which can only be eliminated through stratification. For this purpose, you can sow the seeds directly outdoors in the fall or instead store them, well packed in moist sand, in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for a few weeks or months. Temperatures around five degrees Celsius are optimal. The main thing is that the seeds don't dry out and become unable to germinate.
Sowing Andean fir
Basically, you can sow Andean fir seeds all year round. When sowing the stratified seeds you can proceed as follows:
- Use cocohum potting soil (€2.00 on Amazon) or a mixture of potting soil and sand for cultivation.
- Pour the substrate into a planting bowl.
- Insert the seeds into the substrate with the tip facing down.
- The core should still be about a third to half way out.
- Always keep the substrate slightly moist.
- The temperature does not have to be uniformly high,
- but can also fluctuate in the range between 5 and 25 °C.
- This corresponds to the natural conditions of the Andean fir.
The seeds germinate after about 12 weeks - however, depending on the weather, it can happen faster or take longer.
Tip
You should cultivate the young araucaria in pots for three years and overwinter frost-free - the young plants are very sensitive to cold, but get used to it as they get older.
