Русский
+1 is the theme as of late. After 100 containers were filled more sequoias continue to germinate. I keep adding "just one more" to the collection. Very few seedlings have died so far. Newly germinated ones keep well ahead of the dead ones. At this time there are a little over 150 new sequoias in small containers.
In addition to the sequoias about 25 Doug-fir and 70 Norway spruce seedlings keep slowly growing.
This winter I am not placing the fluorescent lights as close as possible to the plants like in previous years. Instead, the lights remain at a constant distance of about 2 feet above. My justification for this is that I do not believe that some extra growth before spring improves chances of survival. Last year the numerous germinations in December faired worse than the ones germinated in March-April. Slow steady growth with more careful water control is the idea that I am trying to experiment with this time around.
Regarding water control, the start up mix is prepared more carefully at the time of moving germinated seeds from the coffee filter into small tall containers. More careful means better overall consistency of the peat-moss and perlite mix without dry clumps. I also pack the mix into containers somewhat denser than the previous years.
Watering is done from above so far (not from below like I described previously). I choose the time of watering when the top of the mix is clearly dry. I use tweezers to dig to the depth of about half an inch in one of the containers to ensure the mix is dry. Once it's clear that the top is dry I fill the containers to the top with water, which is about half an inch. Total amount is actually a bit more because the mix drains water fairly quickly and by the time I actually fill to the top about half an inch of water is already absorbed by the mix.
Unlike previous years I am not trying to keep humidity up. Past years I had either a humidifier or an open tank of water with a heater-fan blowing over it. The soil dries up noticeably quicker, which is good and bad - good that it does not let sensitive root-stem connection get wet for too long and develop classical dampening off. Bad is that if not watched carefully the growth medium dries very fast to substantial depth. At the current humidity levels and temperatures watering is happening about twice per week.
In order to avoid germinated seeds from desiccating in such conditions I keep germinated seeds a bit longer on the filter than before. This year I let them grow to the total length between 1 and 1.5 inches before moving to the containers. The idea is that a bit longer root will have a better chance to establish while the soil is getting dry faster than before.
Most of the germinated seeds are still folded in half at this stage although some (about 10%) straighten out. Folded germinated seeds are placed ends down and loops up. I make an inch deep depression in the wet mix with the tweezers, then poor some more water in the small hole. After pouring the water one inch hole shrinks to about half an inch deep. The seeds are placed in the hole and the mix around the hole is pushed from sides toward center to make a tight contact between the root and the growth medium. The seed shells are covered with the mix but a little less than the other side of the seed with the root. This leaves the middle part of the folded plant, the loop, sticking out above the ground:
All seedlings were watered for the first month with a chlorotolanil instead of water. After one month they are now watered with regular tap water. Occasionally, they are sprayed with a small amount of chlorotholanil.
Six-week old plants were watered once with an extremely diluted (one teaspoon of concentrate to 1 gallon of water) feed mix (Nitrogen, Phosphor) and also once with a 0.5% solution of Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salt). The idea is that the seeds will need some nutrients but I am still keeping them in the mostly inert medium of peat moss. I decided to experiment with a little bit of magnesium since the green needles need to get "the green" from somewhere but neither the growing medium nor the feed contains it. Even if extra magnesium is not terribly needed I am certain that it will not hurt in such low concentrations.
Finally, I am taking daily pictures of #303. Here is the picture from today:
+1 is the theme as of late. After 100 containers were filled more sequoias continue to germinate. I keep adding "just one more" to the collection. Very few seedlings have died so far. Newly germinated ones keep well ahead of the dead ones. At this time there are a little over 150 new sequoias in small containers.
 |
| 2016-17 winter germination batch |
This winter I am not placing the fluorescent lights as close as possible to the plants like in previous years. Instead, the lights remain at a constant distance of about 2 feet above. My justification for this is that I do not believe that some extra growth before spring improves chances of survival. Last year the numerous germinations in December faired worse than the ones germinated in March-April. Slow steady growth with more careful water control is the idea that I am trying to experiment with this time around.
Regarding water control, the start up mix is prepared more carefully at the time of moving germinated seeds from the coffee filter into small tall containers. More careful means better overall consistency of the peat-moss and perlite mix without dry clumps. I also pack the mix into containers somewhat denser than the previous years.
Watering is done from above so far (not from below like I described previously). I choose the time of watering when the top of the mix is clearly dry. I use tweezers to dig to the depth of about half an inch in one of the containers to ensure the mix is dry. Once it's clear that the top is dry I fill the containers to the top with water, which is about half an inch. Total amount is actually a bit more because the mix drains water fairly quickly and by the time I actually fill to the top about half an inch of water is already absorbed by the mix.
Unlike previous years I am not trying to keep humidity up. Past years I had either a humidifier or an open tank of water with a heater-fan blowing over it. The soil dries up noticeably quicker, which is good and bad - good that it does not let sensitive root-stem connection get wet for too long and develop classical dampening off. Bad is that if not watched carefully the growth medium dries very fast to substantial depth. At the current humidity levels and temperatures watering is happening about twice per week.
In order to avoid germinated seeds from desiccating in such conditions I keep germinated seeds a bit longer on the filter than before. This year I let them grow to the total length between 1 and 1.5 inches before moving to the containers. The idea is that a bit longer root will have a better chance to establish while the soil is getting dry faster than before.
Most of the germinated seeds are still folded in half at this stage although some (about 10%) straighten out. Folded germinated seeds are placed ends down and loops up. I make an inch deep depression in the wet mix with the tweezers, then poor some more water in the small hole. After pouring the water one inch hole shrinks to about half an inch deep. The seeds are placed in the hole and the mix around the hole is pushed from sides toward center to make a tight contact between the root and the growth medium. The seed shells are covered with the mix but a little less than the other side of the seed with the root. This leaves the middle part of the folded plant, the loop, sticking out above the ground:
 |
| A classical sequoia seed loop. |
Six-week old plants were watered once with an extremely diluted (one teaspoon of concentrate to 1 gallon of water) feed mix (Nitrogen, Phosphor) and also once with a 0.5% solution of Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salt). The idea is that the seeds will need some nutrients but I am still keeping them in the mostly inert medium of peat moss. I decided to experiment with a little bit of magnesium since the green needles need to get "the green" from somewhere but neither the growing medium nor the feed contains it. Even if extra magnesium is not terribly needed I am certain that it will not hurt in such low concentrations.
Finally, I am taking daily pictures of #303. Here is the picture from today:
 |
| #303 Jan 12, 2017. 1.5 month old |
I'm blown away by your experiment and the experience you've accumulated the last few years.
ReplyDeleteJust bought my 1oz ~ 6000 seeds from Hudson. Next to look for proper germination medium and pots.
Cheers,
Sergiu
Good luck. This is a great hobby. Rewarding like few others.
ReplyDelete