Plenty of sun shone on sequoias past week. Average growth appeared to be smallest since the start of the growing season at slightly less than half of an inch for the week. However, the story is a bit more interesting because of the new variable introduced last week.
Three samples were relocated to a new sunny place. All three, marked with light orange in the table, posted negative "growth". This is explained by general disturbance of moving to a new sunnier (and hotter) place and by significant shaking of the containers during relocation. One experimental sample suffered 1.5" loss but that sample (#65) saw wide fluctuations in the past due to branch bending between measurements. The rest of the patch performed quite well.
One clear concern for the sun experiment is the heat. The summer so far had been in mid to higher seventies and heat was not a big concern till this week. The week saw generally mid to upper 80s. However, the sun was full out with temperatures today climbing into mid-90s on the forecast of "cloudy and in mid 80s". Humidity is near 90% transferring heat extremely well all around. It is expected to be at least 10 degrees hotter next week.
Since containers are fully exposed to the sun, their roots experience much higher temperatures than the ones buried in the ground. For the experiment to be more successful, I will move them one more time to the other end of the yard with full sun exposure but with containers buried in the ground.
Three samples experienced more than 1 inch of growth, with #33 adding yet another 2" in one week. The height leader #34 added only 1" over last 4 weeks but it was able to maintain its top position, for now.
Second best height-wise (but as discussed last time, probably overall best) #31 added robust 1.25" and side branches remain very active as well.
#33 with its steady and outstanding growth overtook number three spot, beating #72 to the fourth place. #72 continued to add height at a slightly above average pace of 0.75" per week but it's overall volume is not as impressive as the anomalously strong "30s pack".
Samples in 5-10 range grew steadily with the above mentioned "sun experiment" #39, which posted 0 growth. Permanently planted #38 seemed to have picked up speed, both vertically and volume-wise.
Bottom ten saw very little movement adding somewhat below average height. A possible break out sample is #212, followed by #214 and #215. #212 formed a well defined leader with a solid lower branch support. There rest of #200s still look like seedlings that have bent main trunk and numerous branches sticking every which way.
A new sample, #207 was moved from a 3" container into a 6" one, becoming number 22 for tracking purposes. It also went to the sun experiment:
Three samples were relocated to a new sunny place. All three, marked with light orange in the table, posted negative "growth". This is explained by general disturbance of moving to a new sunnier (and hotter) place and by significant shaking of the containers during relocation. One experimental sample suffered 1.5" loss but that sample (#65) saw wide fluctuations in the past due to branch bending between measurements. The rest of the patch performed quite well.
One clear concern for the sun experiment is the heat. The summer so far had been in mid to higher seventies and heat was not a big concern till this week. The week saw generally mid to upper 80s. However, the sun was full out with temperatures today climbing into mid-90s on the forecast of "cloudy and in mid 80s". Humidity is near 90% transferring heat extremely well all around. It is expected to be at least 10 degrees hotter next week.
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| Sun experiment: #39, #65, #207 and #221 |
Since containers are fully exposed to the sun, their roots experience much higher temperatures than the ones buried in the ground. For the experiment to be more successful, I will move them one more time to the other end of the yard with full sun exposure but with containers buried in the ground.
Three samples experienced more than 1 inch of growth, with #33 adding yet another 2" in one week. The height leader #34 added only 1" over last 4 weeks but it was able to maintain its top position, for now.
Second best height-wise (but as discussed last time, probably overall best) #31 added robust 1.25" and side branches remain very active as well.
#33 with its steady and outstanding growth overtook number three spot, beating #72 to the fourth place. #72 continued to add height at a slightly above average pace of 0.75" per week but it's overall volume is not as impressive as the anomalously strong "30s pack".
Samples in 5-10 range grew steadily with the above mentioned "sun experiment" #39, which posted 0 growth. Permanently planted #38 seemed to have picked up speed, both vertically and volume-wise.
Bottom ten saw very little movement adding somewhat below average height. A possible break out sample is #212, followed by #214 and #215. #212 formed a well defined leader with a solid lower branch support. There rest of #200s still look like seedlings that have bent main trunk and numerous branches sticking every which way.
A new sample, #207 was moved from a 3" container into a 6" one, becoming number 22 for tracking purposes. It also went to the sun experiment:
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| #207 July 2015. About 1.5 years old |
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