Growing an Oak Tree from an Acorn – 195-Day Timelapse & Step-by-Step Guide

Young oak tree grown from an acorn after 195 days

TL;DR (Quick Summary)

This guide shows you how to grow an oak tree from an acorn and documents my 195-day timelapse from tiny seed to young oak tree.
You’ll learn how to cold stratify acorns in the fridge, when to plant them, and how to care for the seedling.
We cover substrate, temperature, watering and light so your oak sapling actually survives past the cute stage.
The full timelapse video is embedded below – perfect if you like watching trees grow (but faster).
This is a long-term project: your oak will be a proper tree in a few years, but the journey from one acorn is pretty amazing.

Growing an Oak Tree from an Acorn – A 195-Day Timelapse Adventure

If you love oak trees and timelapse videos, this one is for you. In this project I grew an oak tree from a single acorn and captured the whole process as a 195-day timelapse. It’s a surprisingly emotional journey – watching a hard little acorn turn into a real baby tree.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to grow an oak tree from an acorn: how to stratify it in the fridge, when to plant it, and how to care for the seedling so it doesn’t die after the first set of leaves.

Step 1: Cold Stratification – Preparing the Acorn

Many oak species need a cold period (called stratification) before they germinate. In nature that’s winter. Indoors, we fake winter with your fridge.

First I chose a healthy, plump acorn – no holes, no mold, no cracks. Then I wrapped it in a damp paper towel, put everything into a zip bag and placed it in the fridge at about 4–5°C (39–41°F).

Acorns wrapped in damp paper towel for cold stratification in the fridge

The key points for cold stratifying your acorn:

Paper towel should be damp, not dripping (you don’t want mold soup).
Seal the bag but leave a tiny bit of air inside so it’s not vacuum packed.
Label the bag with the date – future you will forget.
Store it in the fridge (never the freezer) for about 2–3 months.

Stratified acorns stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator

Step 2: Germination – When the Acorn Wakes Up

After 2–3 months in the refrigerator, I started checking the acorn every few days. Once the acorn feels slightly softer and you see a white root (taproot) breaking through the shell, it’s showtime.

Germinated oak acorn with visible white taproot

At this stage you have two options:

Plant the acorn directly into soil (recommended long-term).
Or, like I did for the timelapse, let it grow a bit further in water so the early root and shoot development is clearly visible on camera.

Step 3: Growing the Oak in Water (for Timelapse Fun)

For the video, I placed the germinated acorn above water so the root could grow down while the acorn itself stayed dry. This is not a must for normal growing, but it looks awesome on timelapse.

Oak acorn with emerging root grown above water in a glass container

Oak seedling developing roots and stem in a water-based setup

If you try this:

Make sure only the root touches the water – not the entire acorn.
Change the water regularly to avoid rot and algae.
Switch to soil once the root system is established and the first leaves appear.

Step 4: Potting the Young Oak Seedling

Once the oak seedling had a decent taproot and the first leaves were forming, I moved it into soil. Oaks form a strong taproot early on, so choose a deep pot rather than a shallow one.

Young oak sapling with first green leaves grown from an acorn

I planted the acorn about 2–3 cm (1 inch) deep, with the root pointing down and the sprout above or just at the soil surface. Then I watered thoroughly and kept the soil evenly moist until the seedling was clearly established.

Oak Tree from Acorn Timelapse (Video)

If you want to see the whole 195-day journey as a smooth video, here’s the complete timelapse:

Optimal Growing Conditions for Young Oak Trees

Once your oak seedling is in soil, it behaves like a normal (baby) tree and needs the usual basics: substrate, water, light and time.

Substrate: Oak trees prefer well-draining, loamy soil. A mix of potting soil with some sand and organic matter works great. You want soil that keeps some moisture but doesn’t stay soggy – deep, moist but well-drained is the sweet spot.

Temperature: Oaks are pretty hardy, but young seedlings like a temperate range of about 60–75°F (15–24°C) during the growing season. They also benefit from a natural cold period in winter, which ties back to why acorns need stratification.

Watering: In the first year, keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. As the oak tree establishes, it becomes more drought tolerant, but regular watering during hot, dry periods still helps a lot.

Light: Oak trees love full sun. Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. This helps your sapling develop a strong trunk, healthy branches and dense foliage.

195-Day Growth Timeline (Overview)

Stage	Time Frame	What Happens
Cold stratification	Day 0–90	Acorn in damp paper towel in the fridge; internal “winter mode” resets.
Germination	Day 90–110	Taproot cracks through the shell; first sign of life.
Early seedling	Day 110–150	Root grows, shoot appears, first leaves open.
Young sapling	Day 150–195	Stem thickens, more leaves, oak starts to look like a tiny tree.

FAQ – Growing an Oak Tree from an Acorn

Do I really need to cold stratify the acorn?
For many oak species, yes. The cold period helps break dormancy and triggers germination. If you skip it, the acorn may just sit there and do nothing for months.

Can I grow an oak tree from an acorn in a pot long-term?
For the first years, sure – especially if you use a deep pot to accommodate the taproot. Long term, oaks want to be in the ground with space to spread roots and branches.

How long does it take until I have a “real” tree?
You’ll have a visible oak sapling within the first year. A proper small tree takes a few years, and a big, mature oak is a multi-decade thing. Growing oaks is definitely a patience hobby.

Can I grow an oak tree indoors?
You can raise the seedling stage indoors, but oaks are outdoor trees. Long term they need lots of light, space and natural conditions that indoor environments rarely provide.

External Resources if You Want to Go Deeper

Here are some great, more traditional guides on how to grow an oak tree from an acorn:

Recommended Materials

Healthy, ripe acorns (no holes, no mold)
Paper towels and zip bags for cold stratification
Deep pots with drainage holes
Loamy potting mix with a bit of sand or grit
Optional: small magnifier to check root and early growth

If you want to turn your oak project into a timelapse, check out my complete Plant Time-Lapse Equipment Guide where I share my camera setup, interval settings and lighting tips.
👉 Plant Time-Lapse Equipment – All You Need