If you want to propagate the bladdernut, you have two options. We will explain how propagation by seed and by stolons works.
The bladdernut (Staphylea pinnata) has become a true rarity both in gardens and in the wild. It is a decorative plant that also produces edible fruits. The Pimpernuss lives in the shadows completely wrongly.
Although there are a few things to consider when caring for the bladdernut, on the whole it is an easy-care plant that copes quite well with the climate in our latitudes. So what speaks against using existing plants for propagation or growing a rattlenut yourself and thus contributing to the preservation of the endangered species? You have two options for this.
Propagating Pimpernut by sowing
If you want to propagate the bladdernut by seeds, you need a little patience. First you need seeds. If you do not own a peanut from which to extract the seeds, you have the option of buying them commercially. Be sure to pay attention to quality. The chances of being able to cultivate your own young plants soon are all the greater.
But it's easiest if you already have a Pimpernut. Once the skin has turned brown, you can harvest the fruiting bodies. Remove the seeds from these and start preparing them for later sowing. Of course you can now eat the nuts.
Preparing seeds - step by step
1. Select container2. Fill container with moist sand
3. Bring in seeds
4. Cover cores with sand5. Apply several layers
6. Set up the container in the dark
7. Always keep the sand moist
8. Overwinter the container
You cannot sow the pimpernut kernels directly. You must first prepare them for wintering. To do this, choose a higher and, if possible, transparent vessel. This is now filled with about one centimeter of sand. Place the kernels of the bladdernut on this layer of sand.
Tip: Leave about two kernels between each nutinches of space.
You should choose a container of appropriate height so that you can place the cores in several layers. A thin layer of moist sand is always placed on the cores. In this way, you can store all the seeds intended for propagation in one vessel and thus work in a space-saving manner.
Tip: But don't put too many layers of seeds and sand, because this encourages mold to form in the container.
Check the container regularly for possible mold growth. It is advisable to use a transparent container for this purpose. This way you can clearly see the mold growth in the individual layers. The vessel filled with the seeds and the sand can now overwinter in a dark place at around 10 to 15 degrees. You should always keep the sand moist.
Sowing seeds - step by step
1. Select planters2. Prepare substrate
3. Fill in substrate
4. Place seeds on the substrate5. Cover the seeds lightly with soil
6. Set up the planter bright and warm
7. Keep the soil moderately moist
8. Wait for germination
The actual sowing can be done in spring. To do this, select a suitable plant pot.
Tip: Shallow planting bowls are very well suited for cultivation, as no deeper roots are formed.
Fill the planter with potting soil and place the seeds on top. Then cover the nut kernels lightly with soil and set up the planter in a bright and warm place. Make sure that the temperatures do not fall below 20 degrees. So that the seeds do not grow, you must keep the substrate evenly moist. However, avoid washing it in excessively. Because if the liquid accumulates in the planter, this will cause the seeds to rot.
It may take about two weeks for the first germs to appear. Only when small plants of about ten centimeters have developed should they be transplanted into separate planters.
Overview of advantages and disadvantages of sowing
Advantages
✔ Seeds can be easily obtained from existing plants.
✔ Many seeds can be prepared for sowing to save space.
✔ Several young plants can be grown.
✔ After sowing, germination occurs quite quickly.
Cons
✘ If you want to grow seeds yourself, you must already own a Pimpernut.
✘ Mold can form in the seed tray.
✘ The seeds mustinitially hibernate and sowing is delayed.
✘ It takes at least half a year from harvest to germination.
Propagating firenut by stolons
If you already have a bladdernut, keep an eye on the soil around the plant. If you are thinking about propagating the plant, runners are the easiest and most uncomplicated way. However, it is a real stroke of luck when the rattlenut develops offshoots. These are small, independent plants that sprout from the ground around the mother plant. If you have discovered a runner, it can be carefully dug up and separated from the mother plant. Cultivation is preferably first done in a bucket.
Where to put the young buttercup plants?
There is nothing wrong with keeping the bladdernut as a container plant for the first few years. Theoretically, young plants can be placed outdoors from a height of 30 centimeters, but the young plants are often not strong enough to survive the winter unscathed.
Caring for young bladdernuts in the bucket
The care required for potted plants is higher than for plants that are cultivated outdoors. Young rattlenut plants need a relatively large amount of moisture. You should definitely avoid waterlogging. A soil that is too heavy prevents the irrigation water from draining away. Therefore, when inserting the young plants, place a drainage made of gravel or broken pottery on the bottom of the container. Potted plants need sufficient nutrients. You get this if you mix mature compost into the substrate when planting as an organic long-term fertilizer or supply the plants with a commercially available liquid fertilizer for ornamental trees.
The potted plants can spend the summer in a bright and warm spot. As soon as night frosts appear, it is time to move to the winter quarters. The plant pot can overwinter at temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees and only move back to the balcony or terrace after the ice saints, in mid-May.