Growing Pachypodium saundersii from Seed: A Step-by-Step Guide

Seed Propagation for Madagascar Palm in Zone 10

A gardener in Southwest Florida (Zone 10) has four seed pods from a Pachypodium saundersii and wants to know how to sow them, having never grown plants from seed successfully.

Greg's Seed-Starting Protocol

1. Timing: Wait until late spring to sow.
2. Medium: Use a shallow tray (cookie-sheet style) filled with a sand-and-soil mix, topped with a thin layer of pure sand.
3. Humidity: Cover with a clear lid or plastic dome to maintain high humidity.
4. Fungicide: Apply a fungicide at sowing to prevent damping-off.
5. Light: No direct sun; bright indirect light only.
6. Watering: After germination, water only when the surface is dry—avoid disturbing delicate seedlings. Overwatering causes rot.

Patience is essential; Pachypodium seedlings grow slowly. With careful attention to moisture and hygiene, they can be raised successfully.