Question:
How can I germinate redbud seeds?Answer:
Collect the pods on a redbud when the pods turn brown in fall. Remove the seeds. Redbud seeds have hard, impermeable seedcoats and dormant embryos. The seedcoats must be broken and dormancy overcome before the redbud seeds can germinate.
The seedcoats on redbud seeds can be broken by submerging the seeds in boiling water for 1 minute. Dormancy can be overcome by subjecting the seeds to moisture and cool temperatures for a specific period of time. Place a small amount of a moist 50:50 mix of sand and peat moss in the bottom of a small plastic container, such as a margarine tub. Place the redbud seeds on the surface and then cover with additional moist sand and peat. Punch 1 or 2 small holes in the plastic lid and then place it on the container. Place the container in the refrigerator for 5 to 8 weeks. (The temperature should be 35 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit.) After the cool, moist requirement has been met, remove the seeds from the refrigerator and plant indoors. Using a commercial potting mix, plant the redbud seeds 1/4 to 1/2 deep. Keep the potting mix moist until the redbud seeds germinate.