How to Germinate Sago Palm Tree Seeds

A sago palm tree can add a touch of the tropics to your yard. These palm trees live for an exceedingly long time if you take care of them properly, but they take a long time to grow. Sago palm trees can take anywhere from three to nine months to germinate. With patience and the right tools, though, you can grow your own sago palm tree from a seed and enjoy its beauty for years to come.

Gloves

10 inch pot

Soil

Soak your palm tree seed in water for 48 hours. Keep the water clean while the seed soaks by switching out the water at least twice a day. This will soften up the outside skin for peeling.

Don a pair of gloves and peel the softened outer layer of the sago palm tree seed. Make sure not to touch the seed with your bare hands at this point because it contains toxins that will make you sick.

Fill a pot with starter mix that is high in organic matter. Starter mix is a soil that is exclusively for seeds. Ensure that you choose a starter mix that drains water well. Your seed will not survive in heavy soil that retains a lot of water.

Nestle your seed into the soil so that only one-third to one-half of the seed is under the soil. You should be able to see the top of the sago palm tree seed poking through the soil.

Water the sago palm tree seed with a steady and gentle stream of water until it begins to leak out of the bottom of the pot. Continue to water your tree like this throughout the germination process. Sago palm trees are tropical plants, so they need plenty of water to thrive during their early years and the rest of their lives.

Set the pot in a sunny location with a high amount of humidity. The humidity will help your sago palm tree grow in an environment close to its natural one.

Sago palm trees grow best in hot and humid environments but they can still survive in colder climates as long as you protect them from frost.

Handling the seeds with bare hands can cause diarrhea, headache, nausea and dizziness.