- 1). Soak the sago palm seeds in water for at least a day to soften the tough outer layer.
- 2). Peel off the orange, fleshy outside layer of the seeds. Wear gloves to prevent your hands from getting stained.
- 3). Drop the cleaned seeds into a bucket of water and leave them overnight. The seeds that sink are viable; the seeds that float are likely infertile. Discard the floaters.
- 4). Let the seeds dry for a day or two on a paper towel.
- 5). Gently scratch the pointed end of the seeds with a file. This process helps the seed germinate.
- 6). Plant the seeds in the potting mixture with the flat side facing up. Only bury two-thirds of the seed. Make sure the soil can drain well -- sago palms hate getting their feet wet.
- 7). Water the seeds gently after planting -- you want to prevent them from being dislodged from the soil. If the seeds come loose, press them back into place, being careful not to bury them completely.
- 8). Put the seeds in a shady, protected spot. Keep them warm, ideally between 75 and 90 degrees.
- 9). Water only when the soil is getting dry. Irrigate them with a three-stage method -- Water the seeds once to wet the soil to a depth of about 1 to 2 inches, let the water drain, then water a second time.
- 10
Repot the individual seedlings into 4-inch pots when they have one or two true leaves. This may take up to four months. Use fresh potting soil that's the same type as before. - 11
Repot the seedlings whenever they become root-bound. The first transplant will be into a 5-inch pot, usually after six to eight months. By the second year, the plant likely will need to be replanted into a 6-inch pot. - 12
Move the plants to a sunnier location in your home or garden after about three years.
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