How to get Magnolia seeds to grow?

Question

I have a magnolia tree that has produced many red seeds, how do I go about getting them to germinate please

Answer 1

Grannygrunt offers a very nice link with instructions to propagate Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandifolia) but, Southern Magnolia is restricted to the warmer USDA cold hardiness zones 7-9 and does not tolerate much cold; therefore, its seeds do not require cold stratification. Use of these instructions for other Magnolias is likely to result in failure.

For most other Magnolias, you can gather seeds when mature or the pods have started to split open exposing the red fleshy seeds. For best germination results remove the fleshy outer pulp. Do this by soaking your seeds for a couple of days and then rubbing off the fleshy pulp from the hard coated seeds. Also, use fresh water each day when soaking your seeds. Do not excessively dry the seeds once the pulp has been removed; this leads to loss of seed viability.

Cold stratify your Magnolia seeds in the refrigerator for at least 2 to 4 months. Use a sealed container filled with slightly dampened sand or vermiculite. Sow your seeds in the spring. Remember that seeds should not be planted more than two times their diameter deep into the soil.

Answer 2

Magnolia Grandiflora trees grown from seed may take from 15 - 20 years to produce a blossom, while trees that are grafted bloom much sooner. Please keep in mind that trees grown from seed may not be exactly like the tree the seeds came from due to haphazard pollination.
http://home.att.net/~SpanishMoss/pods.html
How to plant the seeds:
http://home.att.net/~SpanishMoss/pods.html
Seeds should be sown in a fresh state, and not allowed to dry out. Remove the seeds just before the pod bursts open or immediately after.
Open the link for more info.

Answer 3

wow I've had a magnolia for over 20 years and I've never had 'seeds' on mine

Answer 4

stratify for 3 to 6 months at 32 to 41degrees.

Answer 5

Cotton wool nutrients and water.