- 1). Collect winged seedpods from the Japanese maple when they turn red. Pick sugar maple and silver maple seedpods when they turn yellowish-green--before they turn brown.
- 2). Peel open the winged seedpods with your fingertips and pop out the seeds. Place the seeds in a plastic baggie full of damp peat moss, seal the baggie and store it in your refrigerator for 90 days. Chilling the seeds (stratification) is necessary for germination.
- 3). When the stratification period is over, fill 6-inch pots with organic potting soil. Organic potting soil has an airier texture than ordinary potting soil and will allow the roots plenty of room for expansion as the maple seedlings grow.
- 4). Remove the maple seeds from the refrigerator, and push three or four seeds a quarter-inch down into each pot. Pat the soil gently over the top to remove air pockets.
- 5). Mist the potting soil lightly using a spray bottle filled with water. Keep the soil moist throughout the germination process, which could take three to five months.
- 6). Set the pots in an area that receives bright, indirect sunlight, or use a grow light. Maintain a temperature above 75 degrees F during germination. If this is not possible, set the pots on plant heating pads.
- 7). Continue providing the maple seedlings with plenty of bright light, warmth and moisture after they sprout. Weed out the weakest seedlings when they grow to approximately 12 inches tall--leave the healthiest seedling in each pot and discard the others.
- 8). Transplant the little maple trees outdoors in the early spring or fall once they have completed their first year of growth. Choose an area for planting that has well-drained, sunny soil.