Grow dioon from a fresh seed after you clean off the pulp. A rooted pup from the base also works.
Sow a fresh seed after you clean off the pulp
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | A fresh seed with the fleshy coat cleaned off | Do not sow an old, dried seed and expect a quick sprout |
| Mix | Warm, sandy mix that drains; keep it barely moist | Do not seal the seed in a soggy peat cube |
| Warmth | About 75 to 90 F until a root shows | Do not chill the tray on a cold windowsill |
| Pup | A basal offset that already has roots and several leaves | Do not twist off a leafless nub and bury it wet |
chestnut dioon and giant dioon both start from seed. Clean the fleshy coat off a fresh seed, soak it, and sow it on its side in a warm sandy mix. [1] Keep the tray about 75 to 90 F. A root often shows in two to six months if the mix stays barely moist. [2] These are the two kinds most often grown. [3]
- Wear gloves. Rub the fleshy coat off a fresh seed. The coat left on the seed invites rot.
- Soak the cleaned seed in water for a day or two. Discard seeds that stay light and hollow.
- Sow the seed on its side, half buried, in a sandy mix that drains.
- Keep the mix warm and barely moist until a root shows. Do not throw the seed out after a few weeks.
How long do dioon seeds take to sprout?
Often two to six months in a warm, barely moist mix. Some seeds take the better part of a year.
Cut a rooted pup, and let the wound dry before you pot it
A mature plant sometimes makes a basal offset, a pup, at the base of the caudex. Wait until that pup has several leaves and its own roots, then cut it free and let the wound dry before you pot it. [4]
- Wait until the pup has several leaves and its own roots. A leafless nub is too young.
- Cut it from the parent with a clean, sharp knife. Keep any roots that already formed.
- Set the cut in shade for a few days so the wound dries. Do not pot a wet, fresh cut.
- Pot it shallow in a gritty mix, and keep the mix barely moist until it takes.
Can I grow dioon from a leaf cutting?
No. A leaflet does not make a new plant. Use a fresh seed, or a rooted pup from the base.
Sun, shade, and watering once the plant is in the ground stay on How to Grow Dioon.
If nothing has sprouted after a few months, keep the mix barely moist and warm. Do not throw the seed out until a year has passed.
FAQ
Can I graft dioon?
Start it from seed or from a rooted pup. Do not start with a graft.
Can I eat the seed I just cleaned?
No. Clean the pulp off so the seed can sprout. Do not treat cycad seed as food.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Missouri Botanical Garden -
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279675 - [2] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/5906/dioon-edule/details - [3] UF/IFAS Extension -
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/palms-and-cycads/dioon/ - [4] Floridata -
https://floridata.com/plant/896
This note is part of Dioon Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors