OSRS Guide to Obtaining a Spirit Sapling

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), spirit saplings are essential for growing spirit trees, which serve as powerful teleportation hubs across Gielinor. These saplings allow players to access remote locations, streamline farming runs, and enhance gameplay efficiency. However, obtaining a spirit sapling requires specific steps, resources, and a solid understanding of the Farming skill. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about getting a spirit sapling, from acquiring spirit seeds to planting and growing them, optimized for players of all levels.

A spirit sapling is a key item used to grow a spirit tree at level 83 Farming. Once planted in a spirit tree patch, it takes approximately 58 hours and 40 minutes to mature, yielding 19,501.3 Farming experience (199.5 for planting and 19,301.8 for checking health). Spirit trees are highly valued for their teleportation network, connecting locations like the Tree Gnome Stronghold, Farming Guild, and player-owned houses (POH). For players looking to optimize travel or complete quests like Tree Gnome Village, spirit saplings are a game-changer.

Why Spirit Saplings Matter

Efficient Travel: Spirit trees connect key locations, reducing travel time for skilling, questing, and bossing.
Farming XP: Growing a spirit tree provides significant Farming experience, ideal for leveling up.
POH Utility: A spirit tree in your POH (requires 75 Construction) centralizes your teleportation network.

Step-by-Step Process to Obtain a Spirit Sapling

Creating a spirit sapling involves acquiring a spirit seed, planting it, and nurturing it into a sapling. Since spirit seeds and saplings are untradeable, players must source them through specific methods. Below is a detailed breakdown of the process.

Step 1: Acquiring a Spirit Seed

Spirit seeds are rare, untradeable items obtainable through various in-game activities. Here are the most reliable methods to get them:

Bird Nests: Obtained from Woodcutting, birdhouse runs, or trading mole skins/claws to Wyson the gardener in Falador Park. Nests have a chance to contain spirit seeds. Tip: Buy mole skins or claws from the Grand Exchange for faster nest acquisition.
High-Level Bosses: Monsters like Zulrah, Vorkath, Abyssal Sire, and Hespori drop spirit seeds at low rates. These are ideal for high-combat players.
Farming Contracts: Completing contracts in the Farming Guild (requires 45 Farming) can reward tier 5 seed packs, which have a 1/22 chance of containing a spirit seed.
Other Sources: Tortured gorillas, lizardman shamans, and demonic gorillas occasionally drop spirit seeds, though rates are low.

Step 2: Gathering Required Materials

Once you have a spirit seed, you’ll need the following items to create a sapling:

Item	Purpose	How to Obtain
Filled Plant Pot	Holds the spirit seed	Purchase from farming shops (e.g., Vanessa in Catherby) or Grand Exchange
Gardening Trowel	Plants the seed in the pot	Farming shops or tool leprechauns
Watering Can	Waters the seedling	Farming shops or fill at any water source

Note: The Humidify spell (68 Magic, Lunar spellbook) can replace a watering can for faster watering.

Step 3: Creating the Spirit Sapling

Follow these steps to turn your spirit seed into a sapling:

Use the spirit seed on a filled plant pot with a gardening trowel in your inventory to create a spirit seedling.
Water the seedling using a watering can or the Humidify spell to create a spirit seedling (w).
Wait one crop cycle (0-5 minutes) for the seedling to sprout into a spirit sapling. The seedling can be banked, and it will still mature.

Important: You need at least level 83 Farming to plant the seed and create the sapling. Boosts from spicy stews (+5 Farming) or garden pies (+3 Farming) can allow you to start at level 78, but both planting and sapling creation require the boost.

Planting and Growing Your Spirit Sapling

Once you have a spirit sapling, you can plant it in a spirit tree patch to grow a spirit tree. Here’s how to do it effectively.

Choosing a Spirit Tree Patch

There are five spirit tree patches in OSRS, each with unique access requirements:

Etceteria: Located east of Miscellania. Accessible via charter ship, Ring of Wealth, or fairy ring (code CIP after Fremennik Trials).
Port Sarim: Northeast of Brimhaven, reachable by charter ship or Amulet of Glory.
Brimhaven: North of the town, accessible via charter ship or House Teleport (if POH is in Brimhaven).
Hosidius: North of Saltpetre, requires 35% Hosidius favour. Use Xeric’s Talisman or Skills Necklace.
Farming Guild: Requires 85 Farming (65 with boost) to plant. Accessible via Skills Necklace or Xeric’s Talisman.

Additionally, you can plant a spirit tree in your POH’s Superior Garden at 75 Construction and 83 Farming, which doesn’t count toward the patch limit.

Protecting Your Spirit Tree

To ensure your spirit tree grows without dying, pay the nearby gardener to protect it. The cost is:

5 Monkey Nuts
1 Monkey Bar
1 Ground Suqah Tooth (made by using a pestle and mortar on a Suqah tooth, dropped by Suqahs on Lunar Isle after Lunar Diplomacy)

These items can be purchased from the Grand Exchange (except the Suqah tooth, which requires killing Suqahs). Payment can be noted, making it easier to carry.

Boosting Farming Levels for Early Access

If you’re below level 83 Farming, you can use boosts to create and plant spirit saplings as early as level 78. Here’s how to time your boosts effectively:

Boosting Methods

Spicy Stew: Provides up to +5 Farming (random). Use orange spice (3 doses) for the best chance.
Garden Pie: Grants +3 Farming, available from the Grand Exchange or cooking (level 34 Cooking).
Pork Pie: Boosts +5 Farming, but requires completing Bringing Home the Bacon (RuneScape 3 quest, not OSRS).

Timing Boosts for Efficiency

Saplings grow on a global tick every 5 minutes. To create and plant a sapling in one boost:

Determine your growth tick using another seedling (e.g., oak seedling).
Check if the Farming skill reduction tick (every 1-2 minutes) overlaps with the growth tick. If not, you can plant the seed and water it just before the growth tick.
Plant the sapling in a patch immediately after it sprouts, as the boost will still be active.

Tips for Maximizing Spirit Sapling Efficiency

To make the most of your spirit sapling efforts, consider these strategies:

Optimizing Seed Acquisition

Birdhouse Runs: Perform daily birdhouse runs for a steady supply of bird nests, increasing your chances of getting spirit seeds.
Farming Contracts: Focus on medium or hard contracts in the Farming Guild for tier 5 seed packs, which may yield spirit seeds.
Trading Excess Seeds: If you have extra spirit seeds, trade them to Guildmaster Jane in the Farming Guild for tier 5 seed packs (average value ~93,564 coins).

Managing Multiple Spirit Trees

Your Farming level determines how many spirit trees you can plant:

Farming Level	Spirit Trees Allowed
83-90	1 (plus 1 in POH)
91-98	2 (plus 1 in POH)
99	Unlimited (plus 1 in POH)

After planting, consider boosting to plant additional trees if you’re below the required level.

Integrating with POH

Planting a spirit tree in your POH’s Superior Garden (75 Construction, 83 Farming) is highly recommended. It grows instantly, doesn’t require protection, and integrates with other POH teleports like the Teleport Nexus or Jewellery Box, creating a centralized hub.

By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to obtain and grow spirit saplings in OSRS, unlocking the full potential of the spirit tree network. Whether you’re a skiller, quester, or PvM enthusiast, spirit trees will save you time and enhance your gameplay. Start your Farming journey today and watch your spirit sapling grow into a mighty teleportation hub!