The evergreen strawberry tree, which comes from the Mediterranean region, is also enjoying increasing popularity in our latitudes. The special appeal of this exotic plant, which is mostly cultivated as a container plant, is the attractively colored bark, the strong green foliage, the delicate, white flower umbels and the fruits that ripen on the tree all year round. Unfortunately, strawberry trees are quite expensive in stores. However, cultivation is not difficult, so you can easily grow strawberry trees yourself from a strong specimen.
How do I propagate a strawberry tree?
Propagate strawberry tree: Cut cuttings, remove leaves, place in potting soil, cover with plastic bag and place at 20°C. Alternatively, sow seeds, stratify, germinate at 5-10°C and then transplant into pots.
Vegetative propagation through cuttings
To do this, cut cuttings about ten centimeters long. The shoots should only be half woody so that they can easily form roots. Then do the following:
- Remove all leaves except for the top two leaves.
- Fill the pot with nutrient-poor potting soil.
- Insert cuttings and water.
- Put a clear plastic bag over the container.
- Place the cuttings in a bright place that is around twenty degrees warm.
- Moisten regularly and ventilate occasionally to prevent mold formation.
- Once the cultivation pot has roots, the small strawberry trees are placed in larger pots.
Generative propagation by seeds
Seeds can be obtained from the ripe fruits of the strawberry tree. You should get these into the ground as quickly as possible. Alternatively, you can get seeds from specialist retailers.
Attention: Here, too, you usually have to stratify the seeds, because for germination the small grains have to be exposed to the cold over a longer period of time.
- Sow fresh seeds directly, soak purchased seeds in water for a week.
- Fill seed trays with sand, scatter seeds (light germinator).
- Place in a place that is around twenty degrees warm and keep moist.
- After four weeks, put the sand together with the seeds in a bag and close it.
- Place in the vegetable compartment of the fridge for eight weeks.
- Stir occasionally and check whether the sand is still slightly moist.
- After two months, place the seeds in growing containers filled with potting soil. The same applies here: Do not cover with substrate.
- Do not expose pots to higher temperatures too quickly. About five to ten degrees is ideal.
- Make it bright so that the seeds germinate.
The right place is important because only then will the seeds sprout. For example, a cool basement room is ideal. However, it can take some time before the leaves appear. Only after about three to four months will the small strawberry trees have grown so large that you can transplant them into pots with potting soil that you add sand to.
Tip
Growing indoors is possible all year round. Plan the stratification so that the optimal germination temperature prevails, for example in a bright garage or greenhouse.
