Bryce, this might help.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1028498/

Barb

Thanks Barb

ive done M tripitala. I used a flat, about 3 inches high. Buried the seeds 1/4 inch deep, threw the flat in a baggie, and tossed em in the fridge for 3 months. Had a few germinate in the bag, most within 5 days of taking out of the fridge. 10/30 seeds sprouted, supposed low germination ratio (cant remember if thats Tripitala, or mags in general). Prick out seedlings when you see a root. Mine werent particularly "delicate" when I moved them in various states of germinatinon.

I think you need to clean them first as well... I dont know much about that, as mine were cleaned.

Good luck

Yeah I have read that Magnolia's have low germination rates, and they say to soak them in water about 4 days to get rid of the fleshy red pulp, the pulp has a germination inhibitor in it apparently, probably to keep them from germinating until the spring. I am soaking mine now, then ill clean them then put them in the fridge for 3 months, Yay!!! lol. Then come spring I should have some little mags, hopefully. Thanks

Bryce I think you have the right idea. I have no luck with M. grandiflora, but succeeded with ONE of about a dozen using the method, Bryce, that you just described for Magnolia virginiana. planted beside the Yucca elata utahensis, I forgot about the mag seeds when I planted the yucca seeds.
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/7884933052/" title="Lincoln-20120826-01041 by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="Lincoln-20120826-01041"></a>

Nice little mag seedling 🙂 It's looking healthy. I hope I get at least a few to germinate.

SLugs are attraced to the seedlings here. THey are 8/10 seedlings with in a few weeks :(. Keep them in a tall screened box, or surround the, with beer cans cut open (give em caustic shock... (.basically they die 😀 )