You don't have to be a gardening professional to propagate a holm oak. We present two ways to do this that you can easily implement.
The holm oak (Quercus ilex) offers a bizarre sight and conjures up Mediterranean charm in every garden. However, the plant will only survive the winter outdoors in the mild wine-growing regions of Germany. But the plants can be cultivated well in tubs and even as bonsai and are a very special eye-catcher with their bony growth.
If you want to propagate your holm oak, you have several options. In addition to sowing, propagation via cuttings is also possible. You can read here what needs to be considered when propagating the holm oak.
The seeds of the holm oak
The seed fruits develop from the blossoms of the holm oak. The acorns, which are about two to three centimeters in size, mature in autumn. However, anyone who focuses on propagating their holm oak should know that the trees only develop their first blossoms from the age of 30 to 40 years and that fruit is therefore not to be expected earlier. But you can buy them in stores:
Another possibility would be to bring the acorns back from vacations in southern climes. Rich deposits can be found particularly on the Iberian Peninsula. The trees grow in groves there and the acorns are fed to the Iberian pigs.
Tip: The acorns are also edible for humans. Depending on the degree of ripeness, they can take on a sweet or bitter taste.
Since the acorns also serve as food for squirrels and other wild animals, it can happen that the seeds suddenly germinate in your garden or balcony box. This would solve the question of propagating the holm oak and you would have a young plant within a short time, which you can plant out and, depending on the climate, plant outdoors or cultivate in a bucket.
Propagate the holm oak by sowing
If you have the opportunity to collect holm oak seeds or get them from a plant owner, it is better to get several specimens at once. Not every seed is for thatSuitable for germination. Therefore, subject the acorns to a swimming test. Put the seeds in a bowl of water. Only the acorns that sink in the water should be selected for cultivation. Any seeds still floating on the surface after waiting two minutes can be discarded.
Tip: Germination can be accelerated if the seeds are kept in the refrigerator for about two months.
The cultivation takes place in separate flower pots, which are filled with peaty potting soil. Place the seeds in the plant pot with their small root down and lightly cover the acorn with substrate. The planter is placed in a sunny and bright location and watered regularly. The substrate must never dry out. As soon as the soil has dried slightly on its surface, it should be watered again.
Once the young plants have grown about 15 cm in height, they can be placed in a larger planter.
Propagation by seed in keywords:
1. Collect acorns
2. Test acorns for suitability
3. Remove fruit cups
4. Place acorns in moist sand
5. Place acorns in refrigerator for two months
6. Transplant acorns separately
7. keep bright and warm
8. water continuously
9. wait for germination
Propagating the holm oak with sticks
If you already own a holm oak or if you know someone who owns it, propagation using sticks should also be of interest. This is a fairly simple and promising method of propagation. Sticks are cut in late winter. Strong and he althy shoots are used for this.
Sticks are always cut diagonally. So that a young plant can develop from the stick, it is important to ensure that there are several dormant eyes, i.e. thickenings from which the plant will later sprout.
For the cultivation, first fill the plant pots with cultivation soil. Each stick should be grown in a separate planter. The sticks are placed in the planter with the sloping cut pointing downwards. About a third of the stick should still look out of the substrate. The sticks are left in the house and placed in a bright and frost-free place. Make sure the soil doesn't dry out. The stick is now forming roots and in spring you will be able to see the successful propagation of the new leaves that sprout. Did theySticks with sufficient roots can be placed in the planter.
Tip: If you live in the Rhine Valley or near Lake Constance, you can plant the plants outdoors immediately.
Propagation with cuttings step by step
1. Cut the cutting
2. Prepare the planter
3. Fill in the substrate
4. Insert the cutting
5. Press the soil down gently
6. Sticks light and frost-free set up
7. Keep the cuttings evenly moist
8. Wait for germination
Summary for Speed Readers
- Propagation by cuttings
- Get several seeds and test them for germination.
- Place the acorns in moist sand in the refrigerator for about two months.
- Place the acorns in separate planters.
- Set up the plant pots bright and warm.
- Keep the plant pots evenly moist.
- Propagation by cuttings
- Use strong shoots as sticks.
- Sticks are cut in late winter.
- Sticks must have multiple sleeping eyes.
- Sticks are placed individually in planters.
- Sticks are cut diagonally at the bottom.
- The substrate must not dry out.