The Mistletoe plant itself is an
evergreen with many translucent white berries. It actually grows on host plants
and it has a definite preference for certain species. Mistletoe plant can be
grown indoors on a small tree or outside on an established nurse plant.
Mistletoe plant is actually a
parasitic plant that lives off another tree. Its favorite hosts are hawthorn,
lime, apple, poplar, and conifers. Mistletoe plant bear seeds inside the
berries. Mistletoe plants are best planted when they are fresh and they are
harvested between March and April. You can check their preferred host trees for
caches of the berries. Also you will really need a host plant for the seeds to
germinate and grow upon. Growing the mistletoe plant indoors will actually
require a small potted tree for the seeds to latch onto. Orchard apples are
really perfect for mistletoe growing and may be seeded. The parasitic nature of
the mistletoe plant really means it will take nutrients and moisture from the
host, so be cautious which plants you choose to seed.
How to Grow Mistletoe Plant
Make sure you only use fresh berries
for mistletoe growing. You have to remove the seed from the berry. To actually
do this, you can squeeze out the seed and then rub off most of the sticky
coating. Rinse the seed very well and then plant the seeds. In the wild
mistletoe plant actually grows on host plants but this condition is not
necessary for germination. Most species of mistletoe seed really needs light
for germination but can also sprout in moist seed flats. You can use
a potting mix with generous amounts of peat in a flat. Sow several
mistletoe seeds and mist the medium until damp. You can place a lid or plastic
over the flat and then place it in a well lit area with temperatures at least
sixty degree Fahrenheit. The mistletoe plant will need to be moved to a host
plant to grow on, but rooting can be sporadic. Preferably, you should just push
the mistletoe seeds into a host plant’s bark and spritz them daily with water
in other to keep them moist. Germination may actually take several months
depending on the light, moisture and temperature conditions.
Some schools of thought say you need
to make a cut in the bark of the host tree and then push the mistletoe seeds
inside, but this is not strictly necessary. No matter how you do plant,
fruiting may take about 4 to 6 years from germination. Make a cut in a host
tree’s bark for transplant. The seedlings are ready for transplant when they
have some true leaves. Insert the roots into the cut bark and then pack with
moist moss. Make sure you keep the area misted until the seedling attaches to
the host.
Mistletoe Care
Mistletoe plant is not actually
prone to damage from insects and but it has few disease problems. Mistletoe
plants are diocieous, which means each is either male or female. The slow
growth rate of the plant means you won’t know which you have until about 4
years. If you just get flowers and there are no berries, it means your plant is
male. This is why it is vital to plant several mistletoe seeds at the same
time. The care of mistletoe plant is minimal, but you will want to give the
host plant some extra TLC as the mistletoe plant saps some of its energy. Apply
fertilizer in spring and also watch the host for pest and disease problems.
Make sure you keep the host tree watered. Mistletoe plant will take off after
the 4th year and is very hardy, even to the point of becoming a
nuisance. Mistletoe gets all its needs from the air and the host plant. In most
areas, like California, prevention and control are the issue with mistletoe
plant, which spreads like wildfire. Make sure that you are not adding to the
problem when you plant them outside.
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