Christmas Tree Growing Kit

The Christmas Tree Growing Kit by Radis et Capucine lets you grow your very own Christmas tree from a tiny seed – the most sustainable Christmas gift imaginable. The set includes a terracotta pot, Norway spruce seeds (Picea abies) and coconut soil tablets. A charming project for nature lovers and Christmas enthusiasts alike.

What's in the Kit?

• 1 handcrafted terracotta pot
• Norway spruce seeds (Picea abies)
• 2 coconut soil tablets (rehydrate with water)
• Illustrated instructions in German, English, Italian and Spanish
• Dimensions: 9 × 12 × 7 cm | Hand-assembled in France (Anjou)

Step-by-Step: Growing Spruce from Seed

1. Cold stratification: Spruce seeds need a cold treatment to break dormancy. Place seeds between two moist cotton pads (or in damp sand) and refrigerate at 3–5 °C for 4–6 weeks. Do not freeze. Check moisture every few days.

2. Sowing: After stratification, rehydrate the coconut tablets with lukewarm water and place in the terracotta pot. Press seeds about 0.5 cm into the soil and cover lightly. Moisten well.

3. Germination: Place in a bright spot (no direct midday sun). Keep soil evenly moist. Germination takes 2–4 weeks – patience is key. Ideal temperature: 15–20 °C.

4. First year: Your seedling will grow slowly – 5–15 cm in year one is perfectly normal. Water regularly; do not fertilise in the first year.

5. Transplanting: Repot into a larger container after 1–2 years. From year 3, plant outdoors. Norway spruce loves partial shade to full sun with slightly acidic, moist soil.

Realistic Timeline: From Seed to Christmas Tree

• Year 1: Tiny seedling, 5–15 cm. Perfect as a miniature desk Christmas tree.
• Years 2–3: 15–40 cm. Can move outdoors into a larger pot or garden bed.
• Years 4–6: 50–100 cm. Growth accelerates noticeably each year.
• Years 7–10: 1–2 metres. Now it truly looks like a Christmas tree!
• Year 10+: Norway spruce can grow up to 1 metre per year and reach 30–50 metres in nature.

The journey is the joy: every Christmas you can watch your tree's progress. A living family tradition project!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need to refrigerate the seeds?
Yes! Cold stratification is essential. Without it, spruce seeds germinate poorly or not at all. 4–6 weeks at 3–5 °C simulates winter conditions.

When is the best time to sow?
Start stratification in December–January, sow in February–March. This gives the seedling the full spring and summer to establish.

Can I keep the spruce in a pot permanently?
For 2–3 years, yes. After that it needs more space – ideally plant it in a garden. It stays smaller in a pot.

Is Norway spruce winter-hardy?
Fully hardy down to -40 °C. Once planted outdoors, it requires no winter protection.