Grow Baobab EN

For all baobab enthusiasts: learn how to grow your own baobab from seeds sucessfully: this video takes you through the process step by step. For more information of how to take care of the saplings visit: www.baobabstories.com/en

[@anielnegrao]

The best video I've ever seen about Baobab seed!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you, a wonderful video and I'm going to check out the website!

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you very much, Nigel, for your positive comment! Well appreciated on this end :-)

[@kristonjones5359]

Thank you for your tutorial and video. Well done and much appreciated. I have followed your advice and have been very successful.

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you Kriston Jones for your positive feedback - well appreciated on this end & congratulations for successfully growing baobabs from seeds! Enjoy your trees & all the best to all of you. Kind regards, Heike

[@greentopia7365]

Thanks, this was useful. I just got some seeds from a friend and excited to see them grow...

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you Greentopia for your comment & good luck with the seeds!

[@ther_bcn]

I went to Madagascar last year and i've been curious about Baobabs since then. lucky to find your website and youtube Channel Heike :)

[@baobabtravels]

Thanks very much for your kind feedback & all the best!

[@wingardiumlachancla9078]

I managed to make one grow, it was such a blissful moment to see it rising up from the ground !

[@baobabtravels]

Congratulations & enjoy your baobab!

[@crouchingwombathiddenquoll5641]

Thank you for information 👍 from Australia

[@anam2045]

Thank you for the information. Really useful🙏

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you very much for your feedback!

[@AmitKumar-hq3ms]

Wow many thanks, it was so easy from your procedure. Great!

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you so much for your comment & all the best!

[@hallodanel1456]

Dankie, It was very interesting to watch!

[@sanandanacm7934]

Thanks for the information!!

[@heikepander8165]

Thanks for using it :-)

[@tanakakokilovad1594]

Thanks you🌱 for planting baobab trees🌱🌳 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌱🍃🌿🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌱👍🌳😊🌱🍃🌿🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌱🌳

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you for your appreciation 😃

[@yemekvebahce6366]

Very good work. Congratulations 👏👏👏

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you so much for your positive feedback!

[@blooky102]

I did all this but I did a test to see which grow better , the ones using this method or ones I simply plant into the pot with always moist dirt and the healthiest ones were the ones that I planted naturally without any help shown on this video but they took several weeks to germinate however they outgrew the ones that I grew with this help so I'm really confused why people risk damaging the seeds when nature already figured out how to make them grow perfectly fine.

[@baobabtravels]

Congratulations, blooky, & thank you for your comment. I think you can consider yourself really lucky. I have done quite some experiments with seeds and the method I show works best for me. Seeds I "just planted" in soil did not germinate at all. It is good that you found a way that works best for you. Kind regards, Heike

[@blooky102]

@@baobabtravels I think the trick is to just constantly have the soil moist so that the seed gets soggy over time making it easier for the plant to burst out of it 2/2 seeds that I tried this way sprouted.

[@blooky102]

soggy as in the soil , not in water*

[@baobabtravels]

@@blooky102 well, believe me, I tried that as well & the seeds started to rot. In nature the germination rate of adansonia digitata is about 20%...

[@sophiearef4667]

3:00 looks like a miniature croissant

[@baobabtravels]

Yes, but I doubt that it tastes like that ;-)

[@e.1220]

Love these trees!

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you, me, too! :-)

[@jamestropicals8262]

I’ve noticed that baobab trees grow really fast for some people or they grow really slow for other people if you leave that seed shell on the baobab seed it came take 8 months or a year to germinate

[@baobabtravels]

Hi James, it really depends on how you treat the seeds - if you just "drop" them in soil without doing anything to the seed coat they might germinate quickly but can take a year and even more to germinate - or simply rot in the soil. If you treat them (meaning opening the seed coat in one way or the other or even removing the seed coat) then they germinate much quicker, basically immediately - as they are keen to grow & live.

[@mayoffnaise5141]

Thank you for this video ! The most informative out of all. It appears that there is growth in the baobab seed (the leaf formation and tiny root coming both looking tiny) but the weather was around 20 C (the seed was inside) and the seed growth is very slow (I think its the fourth day). Is it normal that the growth could be so slow? When would it be ideal to plant it to soil ?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Z - thank you very much for your positive comment - it is very much appreciated on this end. Well, usually the seeds should be ready for peeling after they sat for two days in water (they should be roughly double the seedsize as from the start) and they should be ready for planting two days after sitting in the little container. It is very difficult to diagnose from far - I assume you peeled the seeds after two days of soaking? Sometimes the growth can be slow and 20 C is a bit below the temperature they prefer (24 C) for growing. Nevertheless, after 2 days in the little container you could either keep them for another few days in the container - but with each day the risk of rotting grows, too. Or you could place them in soil as described in my video and keept them at a warm place. Sometimes the seeds differ in size considerably... Good luck & all the best, Heike

[@RCohle452]

I find that tipping boiling water over them softens the shell up in a few hours.

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Anonymous, yes that is one way of softening the shell but it does not solve the problem of sticking shells on the little leaves once the seed germinates...

[@CanarianReggie]

Amazing

[@TheBonsaiZone]

What temperature is ideal for them to grow out of the soil? I have mine in a greenhouse at 30 C.

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Nigel, 30 °C sounds just great for them to grow (they like it from about 24°C up). Just make sure that they get enough ventilation in the greenhouse/fresh air - that they do not start to rot and be careful with watering.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

@@baobabtravels Thanks, yes one did rot and it smelled terrible! I've increased the ventilation for the others and they seem to be growing in the paper towels really well. Thanks for getting back to me, I'm very excited to grow my Baobab's!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I left a link to your channel in my latest video description, thanks for your help and your videos!

[@baobabtravels]

@@TheBonsaiZone thanks for your feedback and for the link - that is well appreciated on my side! Your project sounds exciting - if you like, let me know about progress with your baobabs. All the best to you & your baobabs and other plants :-) Heike

[@Julian8219Alvarez]

thanks, everytime I saw one on pics or tv people use to say they were very old, special and magical trees from another world or dimension I know little about them but I like them since the first time I saw them, what kind of weather they strive best Im thinking on planting baobabs in a few years in mexico so I would like to know what weather is perfect for them to grow a whole mini forest... thanks

[@heikepander8165]

Thanks Julian, baobabs thrive in dry & hot climate. They do not like too much water and particularly the smaller ones do not tolerate frost at all.

[@tasneembashir2733]

It is by no way mini. It is the biggest trea & will continue to grow so plan it wisely

[@pbs-piccolabotanicasperime6214]

thanks, very interesting and information-rich video! I want to try too

[@baobabtravels]

Hi PBS - did you try?

[@pbs-piccolabotanicasperime6214]

I hope soon! The seeds, ordered online in China, have yet to be delivered to me (the lockdown did not help shipments, unfortunately). I will let you know :)

[@baobabtravels]

@@pbs-piccolabotanicasperime6214 thank you!

[@garamabe6891]

Lady can you do a video of your baobab trees today? Did they survive?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Gara, I do not have a video of my baobabs today - I have been growing them for years and they are still there. At the moment I take care of 13. Pls check my website www.baobabstories.com - there you can see some of my trees. All the best, Heike

[@mayoffnaise5141]

Hi Heike, So when in the process of removing the coat some of the seed also came off despite how much I tried (around the leaf area), does it mean the seed will not grow or should I still try (it was not a huge part but almost like the tip)

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Deniz, thank you for getting in touch - I would suggest you continue with your project in any case! Good luck & let me know whether it worked. Kind regards, Heike

[@ericteunen1357]

Hi Heike, we picked up a baobab fruit some 25 years ago in Botswana and after seeing your very informative video I tried to see if the seeds would still geminate. To my surprise all the seeds sprouted in a couple of days. This was a year ago. Some of the plants are now about 35 cm high by now, but only the main stem is there. At what stage will the tree start making side branches or is there something I can do to promote the growth of the side branches. Thank you

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Eric, thank you for getting in touch & congratulations for growing baobabs from seeds! It is quite normal that you see a main stem - the trees try to gain hight as quickly as possible and get bigger branches later on. Even if they do so during the first years, the branches point somewhat upwards. If you'd like them to grow side branches, you need to cut back the stem. That can normally be done at any time of the year. All the best & kind regards, Heike

[@ericteunen1357]

@@baobabtravels Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it. Go well!

[@baobabtravels]

@@ericteunen1357 with pleasure & all the best to you & your baobabs!

[@makacosemotokas2164]

Show!!!!! Brazil!!!!

[@plant_people]

講的很仔細

[@jawadhossain4739]

Dear Heike, What kind of fertilizer should I use on the soil before planting the Baobab seedling? Do they grow in Florida? Much love.. Joey from Florida, US.

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Jawad, they do grow in Florida and if you use fresh soil mixed with sand your baobabs should be fine - usually they do not need fertilizer.

[@nn843]

I use OSMOCOTE (slow release fertilizer) for my baobabs and they love it

[@rhunter6427]

What number of holes should I drill into the pot? Do I need to drill a lot of holes considering that I read the roots shouldn't be too wet?

[@baobabtravels]

That depends on the size of the pot & the size of the holes you intend to drill. For a small pot with a diameter of 10 cm between 5-10 holes sized 1 to 2 mm should do fine. The water just needs to get out somewhere... the holes should not be too big though...

[@DkRavliya]

Warm places like can we put it in direct sunlight!?

[@DkRavliya]

at 3:34 please clarify

[@baobabtravels]

Hi there, if the plant is still very small it is best not to place it in direct sunlight - although it will survive it. Once the baobab is a bit bigger & stronger it takes direct sunlight very well...

[@DkRavliya]

@@baobabtravels I'm asking about during germination period. Where do we put it!? In dark places with humid!? Or in direct sunlight?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi, during germination it is best to keep baobabs in a bright spot with a lot of light & warm but not direct sunlight. Hope that helps & all the best!

[@torb1trick415]

do i need river sand? or should some rocks provide the same effect of draining the soil?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi there, river sand works best says my experience. Problem may work, too. Rocks do not mix wirh the soil as sand or pebbles do. They help with good drainage at the bottom of the pot but do not really help in the soil... and in addition Sand on top of the soil in the pot keeps the little black flies out. Hope that helps & all the best, Heike

[@baobabtravels]

I meant pebbles instead of Problem...

[@hementrajkaphale4623]

wonderful

[@baobabtravels]

Thanks a lot for your positive comment!

[@rhunter6427]

I’ll plant Boabab from seed… how frequently should I water them?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi there, depends on where you grow them. If it is very hot, they need more water. The seedlings should not dry out completely and they should not stand dripping wet. Pour water & allow for good drainage, no standing water, then let the pot get dry. Poke wirh your finger into the soil - if it feels dry pour water. Hope that helps & all the best for your baobab project...

[@jamestropicals8262]

My friend had a baobab tree seedling that has no leaves and he gave it to me to see if I could get it to grow back do you know how I can get it to grow new leaves?

[@baobabtravels]

Thank you for your inquiry, James. The question is whether it is still alive or not. It is quite normal that baobabs drop their leaves - like oak trees - once a year. But other than with oak trees they still produce hier food with special cells in their stems. Therefore they need water regularly but not too much as they may catch root rot and die. If your baobab is still alive it will get new leaves in spring. While it is in its dormant phase with reduced metabolism, try to keep it in a place with around 15 - 18 degrees C. When it shoots new leaves keep it in a warmer spot. Test with your finger if soil is dry near the roots (poke into soil) and only water if it is dry! Hope that helps & good luck! Heike

[@jamestropicals8262]

@@baobabtravels finally it started growing new leaves a few months ago! Now its growing back!

[@rhunter6427]

I want to plant this tree in my backyard; how far should I place it from my house? Can this tree be planted in a location with heavy rainfall? Does the trunk have water resistance? Will the tree trunk perish if it is buried in water?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi there, in case you'd like to enjoy your baobab for many years, plant it as far away from the house as possible. Baobabs get shallow but nevertheless extensive roots. They do not appreciate standing water over longer periods. If the ground where you plan to plant it allows good drainage and the water ceases quickly (does not stand there for days or weeks) the tree should not get a problem. But one never knows. Generally speaking the roots of the trees are prone to root rot.. hope that helps your decision making. All the best, Heike

[@rhunter6427]

@@baobabtravels I appreciate your answers. Despite the fact that my backyard is quite large, if I place the plant far away, it will be in an area where there would be a lot of water when it rains. I must therefore plant a little nearer to my house. Do you consider 15 meters to be a suitable distance? Another question. How much should I water the seeds in the pots?

[@baobabtravels]

@@rhunter6427 well, as I said: baobabs get extended roots, but only over time as they grow wirh age. You can give it a try and it will take the tree some time until the roots grow big - your house may be safe over the next couple of decades. The tree may outlive the house anyway as baobabs can get 800 years and older. I have seen a tree with roots spreading over 500 meters but that tree was 1000 years of age... to your other question: I have given my answer in your separate request... All the best!

[@fadovoicemakers5534]

Hi man, when i try to do your method, the seeds rot and smell terrible, how can i solve this? thanks for the tips

[@baobabtravels]

Hi there, yes, if the tissue you are using is too wet the seeds can start rotting and that makes them smell bad. Try to use damp tissue and keep the seeds at a warm spot but not direct sunlight. If it is around 25 ° C open the lid of the little container every now and then to let some of the moisture escape. If that does not work at all, place the germinated and peeled seeds in soil directly and skip the part with damp tissue altogether. All the best & good luck! Heike

[@fadovoicemakers5534]

@@baobabtravels I will try, thanks bro

[@suchitagreendream]

It happened with me too seeds got rotten and terrible smell it was during rains I tried. Now my seeds germinated in soil directly ..only soaked in regular water for 24 hrs

[@rhunter6427]

I'm going to plant a lot of trees in my backyard because it's so big. 30 baobab trees might be in the plans. They are large and quite gorgeous. I want to plant some trees that cast shadows. So, I have two inquiries: first, does this tree lose its leaves each year, and second, if so, for how long? Furthermore, wouldn't my property appear unattractive if all the trees lost their leaves? Since it would resemble a savanna or scrubland in my thoughts... 😅

[@baobabtravels]

Well, to your latter comments: you'd have to take a decision. Normally baobabs get their leaves shortly before the rainy season and drop them upon its end which is on average after 3 to 4 months in the areas where I have seen them grow naturally. But there are exceptions: if water is available year round and they are used to it they can keep them. But that is not a given. To keep their leaves they need a lot of water. They are trees that flourish best with 800 mm of rain on average per annum. There is no guarantee that they'll keep their leaves if they have water year round and remember: they may catch root rot if the roots are in water for too long... you'd have to give it a try - hope that helps your decision making...

[@rhunter6427]

Can I keep the pot outside in the sun?

[@baobabtravels]

Generally, baobabs are used to direct sunlight & where they come from the sun can be very intense. Nevertheless, my experience with very tiny baobabs is that they do better if kept in warm temperatures with enough light and no blazing hot direct sun... hope that helps.

[@HandsONreviews4u]

Amazon sells these seeds but i am not sure if i am waisting my money?, what do you recommend and where should i buy some? Please provide a link

[@baobabtravels]

Hi there, sorry, I do not have the information you require as I do not know the market in the country of your residence. I have not tried to buy seeds from Amazon either. A safe source in Germany are gift shops in botanical gardens - maybe you have similar ones in the country where you live. Good luck & all the best.

[@Demissokol]

Привет!! А какой состав почвы нужен для баобаба? И как его правильно поливать?

[@baobabtravels]

Hello - I understand that you want to know about the soil and how to water baobabs. Soil needs good water drainage - it should not hold water for too long. To get good results: take garden soil (like you would grow vegetables with) and mix with rough river sand. Place some pebbles on bottom of pot. The pot should have a hole to let water out. Place the germinated seed on top of the soil/sand mix & cover seed with a layer of 2 cm of sand. Water seeds regularly but only as much as they need. That depends on outside temperature. Do not let them dry out! Do not keep them too wet. All the best!

[@Demissokol]

@@baobabtravels Thank you friend!! This is very good information !! I live in Russia and have already learned how to germinate baobab seeds well, but then as I plant them into the soil, they then constantly rot. Now I know how to do it right !!! THANK))))

[@baobabtravels]

@@Demissokol with pleasure & good luck with your baobabs - make sure you keep them warm enough :-)

[@rockgameing7180]

We perches seed of baobab

[@baobabtravels]

All the best & good luck in growing baobabs from seeds!

[@shirshendumondal8705]

How to bye seeds in india

[@baobabtravels]

Hello & thank you for getting in touch. As I am based in Germany I do not know the seed market in India. Can you try local grocery markets in areas where baobabs grow? Another good source is the internet or nurseries with exotic plants & seeds... All the best to you!

[@barrytan6170]

Hi, where can I get baobab seeds?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Barry, thanks for getting in touch. Depending on where you live you could try the internet, botanical gardens or nurseries specialised in exotic plants... if you happen to live where baobabs grow naturally you could buy the fruit on local markets & extract the seeds from them... good luck & all the best, Heike

[@jamestropicals8262]

Where can I get baobab seeds

[@baobabtravels]

Hi James, I have no idea where you live - you could try the internet or nurseries specializing on "exotic" plants. Sometimes seeds of adansonia digitata are sold in botanical gardens or gift shops of zoos. If you are lucky to live in a country where baobabs grow, try to get whole fruit on local vegetable markets. All the best, Heike

[@paarthanand8712]

Seeds kitne ke hai or kaha se milega

[@baobabtravels]

Dear Hukam, thank you for getting in touch. You can check the internet for sources to buy seeds. If you live in India the seeds should be available there as baobabs do grow there as well... Kind regards, Heike

[@jamestropicals8262]

Do those baobab trees grow fast?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi James, yes during their first years they grow fast as it is part of their survival strategy in the wild...

[@jamestropicals8262]

I need to try to a baobab tree of my own if I do I will get the baobab fruit

[@baobabtravels]

@@jamestropicals8262 Good idea, James - which country do you live in?

[@jamestropicals8262]

Just the United States

[@baobabtravels]

@@jamestropicals8262 Hi James, as you do not live in a country where baobabs grow naturally you could try to find whole baobab fruit or the seeds on the internet or in tree nurseries specializing on "exotic" plants. Sometimes seeds of adansonia digitata are sold in botanical gardens or gift shops of zoos. Hope that helps you - all the best, Heike

[@nielsrendbk8238]

I sell seeds from Tanzania, easy to grow.

[@snail9552]

I just want to grow some seeds and save most of it

[@iddra1868]

Do you still have them? How tall are they

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Iddra, yes I still have them & they are doing fine. Starting to get new leaves. Both are about half a metre in height. Will write a blog post about my baobabs soon...

[@iddra1868]

@@baobabtravels Hi, I couldn't find a better way to contact you because I have a quick question, and I'll link an album to a few images below: My baobabs are about 40 days old now, but the very bottom leaf has dried out completely. Is this normal? They look pretty healthy otherwise. Is there anything I have to do with them at this stage? Images: imgur.com/a/1nN355t Thank you.

[@baobabtravels]

@@iddra1868 Hi Iddra, thanks for getting in touch. It is quite normal that baobabs drop leaves and get new ones. Otherwise your baobab look ok and at this stage I would just let it grow. Do not repot as it develops its tap root during the first three months... All the best, Heike

[@iddra1868]

@@baobabtravels Actually, I might have drowned them a bit. Their stems were rotting, the bigger one recovered and it looks fine now, and hopefully the smaller one will too. I ordered one of these to know better when I need to water them: www.ebay.com/itm/173530182752?var=472218052853 It has a scale from 0-10 for moisture. I'm guessing baobabs should be around 4-5? And thanks for the advice.

[@baobabtravels]

@@iddra1868 Hi Iddra, sorry, but I have never used one with my baobabs. I check the soil with my finger whether it is ok to pour more water. All the best to you, Heike

[@jeffreymatthies3095]

Hello where can I buy the seeds?

[@baobabtravels]

Hi Jeffrey, as I get the baobab seeds from friends I can only recommend that you search the internet. It depends on where you live. Sometimes you can get seeds in specialized nurseries or in gift shops of museums. Hope that helps. Kind regards, Heike

[@jeffreymatthies3095]

@@baobabtravels ok thank you very much for replying.

[@ichwanyoro1250]

Bolehkah saya mendapatkan bijinya baobab ini??? Saya ingin menanamnya

[@baobabtravels]

Dear ichwan yoro. Sorry, I saw your post only today. You can try to buy seed on the internet. I do not sell them. Good luck & all the best, Kind regards, Heike

[@louiscastro2701]

Can anyone recommend an online source to buy real Baobob seeds? Ive purchased from several online sellers and so far theyve all looked way too small to be the real thing.

[@baobabtravels]

Dear Louis, thanks for stopping by. What sources have you tried? I could recommend a German source: baobab.org/Baobab-Growpack-Affenbrotbaeume-zum-Selberpflanzen - they offer growth packs and whole fruit with seeds inside. Hope that helps & good luck!

[@louiscastro2701]

Heike Pander thank you so much! I've purchased from a few different Amazon sellers that appear to have shipped from Asia. I'm going to germinate some of them just to see but I'll definitely look into your seller. Thanks again!

[@spider182bait]

HI, Ive ordered from this guy on ebay. They are real baobab (at least they look the same when you peel them)but I didn't manage to germinate any of them yet..www.ebay.com/itm/THE-TREE-MORE-WIDTH-THE-BAOBAB-WORLD-adansonia-digitata-10-seeds/401636514115?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

[@baobabtravels]

The company Saflax sells baobab seeds online - you could give it a try there..

[@maheshgurnani8082]

How can I get Baobab's seeds..

[@baobabtravels]

Hello Mahesh, that depends on where you live. You could try buying some online. If they grow naturally in your country, you could try to get some whole fruit with seeds on local markets. Sometimes you can get seeds in specialized nurseries or in gift shops of museums. Hope that helps. Kind regards, Heike

[@maheshgurnani8082]

@@baobabtravels I am leaving in India, this Baobab's trees are not found here.

[@baobabtravels]

@@maheshgurnani8082 you may want to check out this link: indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/known-to-live-up-to-1000-years-baobabs-are-mumbais-green-monuments-5285482/

[@baobabtravels]

and some more: madrascourier.com/environment/the-baobab-the-tree-of-life-which-connects-africa-india/ and paudhshala.com/buy-kalpvriksha-plant.html - although I am not aware of the reliability of this source. But as you can see: there are baobabs in India. All the best, Heike

[@ahmedalzady127]

Diffecalt method

[@baobabtravels]

Yes, but nevertheless very effektive...

[@awdheshkumar4742]

Send me few seeds if u have

[@baobabtravels]

Sorry, at the moment I am not selling... You could try the company Saflax.

[@heikepander8165]

Sorry, I do not sell seeds...