If the problem extended to many pots, I prefer the liquid form for convenience - the liquid also gives you the option of solution strength, weaker for light infestations, more if they are into everything and making you crazy while visibly damaging seedlings by feeding on fine roots. But on the other hand, the dunks work fine, are cheaper, and it sounds like you only have just the acorn containers. The dunks are often easier to find, hardware stores, Home Depot, Fred Meyer, garden centers in the insect control aisle...popular product for those who have water features in their gardens (mosquitoes). Intermittent wetting/drying of the dunk doesn't alter the effectiveness, keep a couple for yourself and you can pass on the rest of the package to a friend with a pond.

I would just guess that the tree needs to conserve energy, or the stuff others here have said. My Chestnut oak used to have TONS of acorns every year, BUT, the last couple of years it has been either like last year, NO acorns at all, and this summer I can see a few here and there, and they just may abort before they become a decent size. And, I have NO idea why, I just can guess that the tree needs a break. I had seen NO catkins on it at all this spring, so, I am shocked it even has a few here and there this year so far. The deer have gotten used to the feast of acorns each summer. They still have the apples to eat though. It shouldn't be a big problem. I hope not anyway. I have a Live oak that has had a couple of tiny buttons on it and it NEVER keeps them, or they never get any bigger, so, no biggie, that LO is NOT very old anyway.

Rick @ Sheffield's Seed here. I'd like to comment on this post, having just seen it. I'm very pleased that so many people are making good comments about our seed. We do the best that we can to get in high quality seed, store it properly and ship it to our customers so it arrives in good shape. Quercus species are some of the hardest to work with when it comes to keeping quality high. Members of the White Oak group being quite a bit more difficult than those of the Red Oak group. We do store our oak seed just above freezing in a slightly humid cooler so they keep as well as possible. We have been able to store some species this way for over two years while maintaining good viability. We periodically float the seed and trash the floaters to help keep what we do sell the best quality. This past season we also started giving some seed lots a hot water bath to kill weevil larvae and eggs. 120 degrees F for 10-15 minutes kills the weevil without harming the seed. We have had some complaints from overseas customers about members of the white oak group arriving with sprouted and dead radicles. We don't import any Quercus seed for this reason and the fact that USDA requires fumigation on almost all seed lots of Quercus entering the USA. I would say shipping is our biggest problem as we don't have much control over how long the seed sits around in customs, etc. I'd be happy to hear any suggestions from members here on how we might improve our seed and service. Also, if you ever notice that we are out of a particular seed and you have it for sale, we may be interested in buying or trading!

What a cute baby! Our county forester said that live oaks are the most hurricane proof oak trees. I am now mothering 2 young Shumard (sp?) oaks(I like the leaf shape). I don't know if I will ever plant them in my yard because I am trying to control the amount of shade I will eventually get. I have 2 live oaks that are about 5" in diameter at waist high. I know that one of the Shumards will got to Susan's plant swap.