Italian Cypress

Italian Cypress Strata Germination guide

1
Stratify the seeds for at least three weeks before sowing.

Place the seeds in a plastic bag or container with damp but not wet peat moss or sawdust and store them in a refrigerator or space where temperatures are between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

2
Prepare the germination container and a suitable medium.

Use disinfected flats or pots with several drain holes and a sterile, well-drained medium that could contain a mixture of peat moss, sand and perlite or vermiculite.

3
Sow the seeds on the surface of the germinating medium.

4
Sprinkle about 1/5 inch of germinating medium over the seeds.

5
Mist or gently water the seeds and medium thoroughly.

6
Place the germinating container in bright, indirect light where temperatures are between about 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

7
Mist the seeds and medium regularly, never letting the medium dry out.

When seedlings emerge after one to two months, be careful to avoid excessive watering.

8
Transplant seedlings into pots with well-drained, nutrient-rich potting soil once the seedlings are large enough to easily handle.

Keep the young plants in these containers for about a year.

Overwinter them indoors or in a protected site their first winter before planting them in their permanent locations the following spring