The seed requires no pre-treatments to trigger germination. In this respect it is more like Pinus caribaea than P. elliottii. Nursery results in Queensland indicate that for each 1,000 viable seed about 680 are expected to produce viable field plants. The best plants and field growth results when seedlings are raised free of pests, disease and weeds. Stock is raised at least 60 cm off the ground.
Water used for irrigation is chlorinated or otherwise known to be disease free.
Pots and trays are new or sterilised before re-use. The fertiliser adopted for the above media is shown below. Considerable variation in seedling growth and survival has been demonstrated with different slow release fertiliser products. Generally, this is not required if the media base is pine bark peat. Once the fertiliser is added to the media, it must be utilised within one to two weeks.