What Are the Best Tips for Growing Mistletoe?

Anyone interested in growing mistletoe should keep a few simple ideas in mind to make the process easier, and better ensure a productive culture. Even though mistletoe has some traits in common with plants, it requires a host computer on which to grow, such as an apple tree or oak. It grows well in well-lit places, it must be placed on a rather thick branch of a tree, usually the same kind of which its seeds or berries came from, it is in full sun. The growing mistletoe process may take four or five years and should start in the spring.

 Tips for Growing Mistletoe

Growing growth is not necessarily easy, since seeds can have a fairly low success rate once grown. One of the most important tips to help make the process successful, however, is that the mistletoe requires another tree to grow on. This is a hemi-parasite, which means it produces little chlorophyll as a plant, but also acts as a parasite that attracts nutrients and other materials from a host.

Different types of trees can be used for the growing mistletoe, but it seems to do better on different types of apple trees. Oaks can also work quite well, especially for American mistletoe, which is similar but not identical, European type. Berries are usually grown from an existing plant, and should be transferred to the same type of plant, if possible. Someone who is increasingly interested in mistletoe on an apple tree, for example, should look for an existing company on another apple tree from which to pick berries.

A fairly thick branch of a tree should be used for the growing mistletoe, usually about 4.0 inches (about 10 centimeters) in diameter. It is best if it is in full sun, which partly explains why mistletoe is often found at the top of trees where light can reach it. Birds often spread mistletoe on their beaks and in droppings. Many berries or seeds should be used together because both male and female seeds are needed for a plant to flourish and grow.

Berries used for the growing mistletoe should generally be gathered around March or April when the plant is blooming and producing many of them. These should be held together until used, to prevent the inner seeds from drying out. Within a few weeks, placing the seeds on a host's branch, or in cracks made in the bark of the host tree, a green shoot should appear. This usually remains through the following winter, after which the plant will continue to grow and grow. It often takes four or five years before the mistletoe reaches full maturity and begins to bloom.

Gui requires a host tree on which to grow.