How to Plant Silk Tree Seeds for a High Germination Rate

The filaments of the silk tree flower are pink, and the flower shape resembles a small fan. It is mostly used as a city street tree and ornamental park tree. So, do you know how to plant silk tree seeds?

1. Seed collection

The silk tree is usually propagated by sowing, with seeds collected between September and October. When collecting seeds, choose plump, pest-free pods, dry them in the sun to thresh out the seeds, and store them dry in a dry, ventilated place to prevent mold.

2. Seed treatment

Between March and April of the following year, the seeds must be treated before sowing. Because the silk tree seed coat is hard, to make the seeds germinate evenly and emerge quickly, 2 weeks before sowing soak them for 2h in a 0.5% potassium permanganate cold water solution, then remove them, rinse them clean with water, and soak them in hot water at about 80°C for 30s (no longer than 1min at most, otherwise the germination rate will be affected). After 24h they can be sown. Using this method, the germination rate after forcing can reach 80%-90%, and after emergence the seedlings grow vigorously and are not prone to disease.

3. Raising seedlings

There are two seedling-raising methods: nutrient-pot seedling raising and nursery-bed seedling raising.

① Nutrient-pot seedling raising: There are 2 commonly used nutrient soils: one is 60%-70% charred mud ash, 20%-30% garden soil, 9.5% garbage or barn manure, and 0.5% calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer, mixed evenly; the other is 90% fertile topsoil, 7% plant ash, 1% bone meal, and 2% decomposed livestock manure, crushed and mixed evenly. Sow 2-3 seeds that have undergone germination treatment into each cup. After sowing, cover with some mud ash or fine soil 1cm deep, and if conditions permit, sprinkle on some pine needles. Arrange the sown nutrient cups into beds 1cm wide and of indefinite length, and bank soil around the beds to the same height as the cups to retain moisture, arranging about 180,000 cups/hm2. About 1 week after sowing, they sprout and emerge.

② Nursery-bed seedling raising: The nursery bed should be chosen in a place sheltered from wind and facing the sun, with deep soil, sandy loam or loam, and convenient irrigation and drainage. Loosen the soil, break up the clods, and make a seedbed running east-west, 1m wide and with a level surface. Before sowing, first apply decomposed human manure and calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer on the bed, then cover with a layer of fine garden soil. Use wide-row drilling or broadcasting. After sowing, cover with a layer of fine mud ash about 0.5cm thick, then cover with rice straw, and water it to keep the soil moist. For the sowing rate, 45-60kg/hm2 is needed for seedlings to be transplanted, and 30-37.5kg/hm2 if not transplanting. Within 7d after sowing, spray water 1-2 times on sunny days to keep the seedbed moist. After the seedlings emerge, gradually remove the covering. After the first true leaf has generally unfolded, remove all the covering and pull out weeds.

Before planting silk tree flower seeds, be sure to do the soaking work well, so that the saplings that grow will be more robust.