brand new dawn redwood seedlings, need help.

16 years ago

Got a bunch of seeds from Schumacher.

I got 80% cut seeds and put them in a little baggie full of water, and sealed it. within two weeks they had started to swell and the little white tip was protruding out of about 80% (thus 80% cut) of them. I planted them all very carefully with the tip of a knife into some good soil, now I have about twenty seedlings coming up. THey just shot out about three weeks ago and are only about an inch tall, two cotyledons.

Anyway, I'm wondering what type of light would be best for them. I'm in oakland, california and I have a backyard that gets direct sunlight. It isnt getting hotter than 70 degrees here during the day, I'm wondering if I should put them in direct sunlight or perhaps shield them behind another plant (geraniums, sage, etc.). At about what age is it okay to put them in direct sunlight?

ANy other suggestions as to how to make them grow best? Water when the soil is getting dry only?

Thanks for your help.

s. stiffy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

conifers
16 years ago
I keep sprouted seeds in a greenhouse at 68 F right now. Of course the night temps are near the same and so would anyone one else using a greenhouse. I'd be more worried about what will happen when intense sunlight occurs (around here that's when summer begins and temps are warm at night as well as day - in the days, 80F, etc). That's when you'll need to shade cloth them for the entire day or place them under trees so they get dappled light. After two summers for us here in Illiois with that approach, then it's homefree and they can be planted permanently to the outside (with less losses).

Dax
kingn8
16 years ago
I have heard from a very reputable seedling grower that full sun is the way to go. Start them there, and keep them there. I have yet to try it, and I will this year, but for you where you are at this time of year I would definately give that a shot. At least for half of them.

As for watering; depending on how sunny it is you might want to let them surface dry between waterings. In a few weeks, once they are a little more sturdy I would keep them good and moist... they will grow like weeds.

Another tip; I know there are some here that prefer a balance between the root and top growth, but in artificial condidtions like you have them in, and porbably always will; give them about a teaspoon of slow release fertilizer on the surface. Something like 18-6-12. There may be better ways to fertilize seedlings, but this is an easy and the results versus unfertilized is unbelievable!

Nate
Related Discussions
Dawn Redwood Bonsai Pruning Advice- please help / what would you?
Q
Comments (17)
This tree LOVES to grow. The gritty mix seems to make my plants very happy. I propagated the cuttings acquired from this tree's pruning in early March, and now have about 20 new Dawn Redwood trees. I have some planted in a forest style, and will probably field grow about half of the rooted cuttings for trunk fattening. They grow so fast. I love this game! I wish I would have discovered my passion for bonsai years ago. Even after dedicating over a year to attentive research, there is not much that can compare to the skills only acquired through experience. I have to learn the hard way sometimes, but if this hobby (obsession) was based on a scholactic scale, I think I've earned myself an even 'B' so far. Anyway, I figured I would keep anyone interested updated......(moochinka). This picture is probably almost 2 weeks old, too, so I'll try to post a more recent one later with a time frame for reference of how much my plants are growing. A big 'shout out' to Al and his enlightening posts that have helped me understand the Plant Kingdom a little better, as I am alone in my interest where I live, and can only learn through you all. Thank You! Mikey Lee G
...See More
Growing Dawn Redwood in Standing Water
Q
Comments (13)
Good to hear there has been some success with planting them in shallow water. I have planted some at the waterline and some a couple feet below the future waterline. lkz5ia - 99+ percent of my trees are planted out of water. I have planted about 8000 seedlings and counting the last 3 years as part of my reforestation project. I am simply trying to add features to make my pond more appealing to the eye - plus I'm guessing the fish will like the structure. I have planted the bald cypress / dawn redwoods in a corner of each pond. Am interested to see how they grow once the water comes up. Will let you know - hopefully we get some runoff this year. We've been dry as a bone for about 18 months now. Here is a link from erniew posted on gardenweb of the cypress trees just down I-70 from me. Pretty cool looking - I am definately going to visit next time I'm in St. Louis. John Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
Ogon Dawn Redwood 'Gold Rush'
Q
Comments (2)
I just checked the info on the Greenwood nursery site from where I purchased the tree. They claim it was grown in a 3 gallon size pot to its 4-5 foot size, and they had reduced the soil around the rootball to make it less heavy for shipping. They also say it grows well in any wet soil, even to the point of them suggesting for customers to plant it by a stream. If the information they provide is correct then the spring rains should not be causing my tree any problems. Streams can often overflow much deeper than the amount of standing water I have seen, after our heavy rain fall events, around the planting area where my tree is planted. So what could be causing my currently 5' 5" tall single trunked tree to be so sluggish in its attempt to fully recover?
...See More
Dawn Redwood Seedling Update Amazing Growth
Q
Comments (66)
August 3rd 2009. This seedling has exceptional characteristics and since I had no tape I guessed it to be 17 feet tall. My father is going to go measure it as I do not live close to it. You'll see the bark is normal red below and at all hte upper branches off of the main trunk there is a black blotch and the entire branches have curling/black tones/bark. The last photos show the very first year where the bark has had 2 years to age. It's really something. I think it has characteristics (I'll watch it for another five or ten years) to become cultivar material. Dax
...See More
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
be very careful with tiny babes.. and any fertilizer .... it is real easy to burn them to death ....

as far as trees go .. i tend to think they never need fert.. when in mother earth ... obviously potted stock is a whole nother ball of wax ... but if you started with a decent medium .... i cant see them needing all that much right now ...

i would tend toward 1/4 tspn of soluble in a milk jug of water.. and just feed them that when you water ....

and ... be very careful about the water in the medium .... too much is much worse than too little .... imho ...

but do note.. this is general info about growing seedlings .. i have never tried it on trees.. nor taxodium disectum ... so the info may be useless.. lol ... i figure its better to give you the variables... others can fill in the specifics ...

ken
lou_spicewood_tx
15 years ago
Ken,

Read anything by Dr Carl Whitcomb regarding fertilizer that he has done experiments for 20 something years. I don't understand why you're so scared of fertilzer esp very slow release type recommended by Whitcomb. Frankly, I think you are completely clueless on this stuff. You are confusing artificial vs natural and pretty much everything are grown in artificial environment and they do need help if done right...

brand new dawn redwood seedlings, need help.

Comments (4)

conifers

kingn8

Related Discussions

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

lou_spicewood_tx

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US