#mango #seed
The mango seed is wrapped in moist towel and placed in a plastic bag.
I use this method for sprouting all sorts of the things including avocado seeds and ginger. I like this method because it shows me I have a viable seed before I go to the trouble of planting it in soil.
There is no need to buy plastic bags for this step. Just use any plastic bags or wrap you have.
Dampen a cloth (can be a washcloth) or paper towel (see eco-friendly reusable ones here) in warm water so it’s moist but not dripping.
Wrap your mango seed with the damp cloth and place it in the plastic bag.
If you are sprouting several seeds, put one on the damp towel, fold over, add another, fold over and so on. I keep them apart with a layer of towel to prevent any roots from growing together or becoming entangled.
Place the bag in a dark kitchen cupboard. You can also put it in a warm spot, which is always good to speed up germination, but be sure the towel does not dry out.
Set a timer on your phone to check on it every 3 days.
After 3 weeks, the seed is sprouting.
Every few days, open up the paper towel and check for signs of sprouting.
Dampen the paper towel again if needed.
I wait until any new growth is 2 to 3-inches long before planting in potting mix.
After 5 weeks, there is enough new growth to plant the seed in potting mix.
At this point you can see how the red sprout is also growing roots, and there is another sprout on top. This took 5 weeks to grow.
Now it’s time to plant the seed in potting mix.
At week five (or when there is a few inches of new growth), we plant the seed in potting mix.
Some of the new growth will become roots and the other parts are shoots, but it’s very hard to tell what’s-what at this stage.
Because of this, it’s fine to plant the seed flat in the pot (the way it is in the photo, above). The plant will sort itself out just fine.
Your pot should be a few inches wider than the seed and have room for several inches of root growth. The pot I used is 8-inches deep total, but 6-inches would be fine too.
Also, be sure the pot has drainage holes and a drip saucer to avoid water-logging the plant.
Fill the pot with potting mix (suitable for houseplants) leaving two inches below lip of pot.
Water the potting mix thoroughly, let it settle, top it up to same level (2-inches below lip) and set sprouted seed on top.
Cover seed in an inch of potting mix, water it and top it up.
You want to end up with about an inch of space between top of potting mix and lip of the pot for easy watering without overflowing.
At six weeks, a shoot has emerged from the potting mix and leaves are forming.
Mangos are tropical plants and enjoy warmth and humidity.
Place your plant in a sunny location but not in direct, hot sun where it could dry out.
Keep soil moist but not damp.
During the early growth stage, the leaves may be limp. It’s normal.
Limp leaves! I’ve had this several times and I’ve seen others mention it so I’m confident it’s normal.
As the mango grows its first leaves, they may look limp, as if the plant is over- or under-watered.
Unless you have been a bit off with your watering and/or have stressed the plant, this limp stage is normal.
Keep providing proper care and it will perk up. And don’t be tempted to change your water routine if you know it’s fine.
After 9 weeks, the leaves have perked up and the plant is approximately 9-inches tall.
At this point the mango plant is approximately 9-weeks old (from the day we put it in paper towel) and it’s nine inches tall.
The five main leaves formed early (week 3) and no additional leaves have appeared since then.
It’s fairly cool in our home (just below 20°C / 68°F), so growth will be slower than you’d get in a warmer space with better humidity.
After 18 months, the main stem is starting to die off at the top of the plant but a lot of new side shoots with leaves have formed.
Basic Indoor Mango Plant Care Tips
Ideally, you will mimic tropical conditions in your home, or as close to it as you can manage.
Warmth | Mango trees grow best in ambient temperatures ranging between 21º to 24ºC (70º to 75ºF).
Extremes | Mango trees die at temperature below .5ºC (33ºF) but can tolerate up to 48ºC (118ºF).
Humidity | 50-60% until/if flowers form (then lower it).
Light | Needs heat more than intense light; do not allow the plant to dry out.
Summer | Place outdoors in dappled sun for maximum warmth.
Fall to Spring | Keep indoors.
Fertilizer | I cannot find any research on specific fertilizer needs for indoor mangos. This is what is recommended for outdoor ones: Fertilizer may be a 1:1:1 or 1:2:2 N-P-K ratio formulation, such as 16-16-16 or 10-20-20 N-P-K.
Warnings | Mango trees are in the same family as poison ivy. The skin, bark, and leaves can cause strong reactions. [Read more here at University of Illinois]
Frequently Asked Questions