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newbi, need advice on germinating Redwood

13 years ago

I have a pack of 50 redwood seeds on their way to me. I hope to grow a couple in pots like I do with palms and bring them in for the winter. If anyone can offer advice on how to get as many to sprout as possible I would appreciate it. Assuming I got some to germinate in the next month and they could be moved outdoors my early-mid May how much growth could I see by fall?

thanx,

Andy

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Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
since there are hardy dawn redwood and the PNW redwwods.. might it not help us, if you were to clearly ID what you have in the sack ...

since you are in mi and talking about winter protection i am presuming you mean the big redwoods.. sequoia rather than metasequoia ...

but.. well .. what tree???

ken
andyandy
Original Author
13 years ago
Ken-
Sequoia-
I didn't know there were any others refered to as a Redwood. The BIG ones.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
common names suck .... and i cant tell you how many times i have wasted time.. talking about the wrong plant.. lol ..

i am sure others will roll along with an answer for you ... now that they will be sure what to discuss ...

where are you in mi.. i think you told me long ago ... but i forget.. gotta be SW mi ...

ken
taxo_man
13 years ago
I grew both Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Sequoia) and Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood) from seed last year. From what I can remember, I placed some of the seeds in the fridge ( to sow) and some just planted right away, just to see which worked better. Both had a decent success rate.. I think the Coast redwood was a little easier... The coast redwood grew very quick the first year.. but I started them around this time last year, maybe even a month earlier.. anyway, the coast redwood got to be around two feet tall by the end of the season. The giant sequoia didn't grow that fast and was only around 7 inches tall by the end of season.
If you receive the seeds soon, you can start them indoors and then you can move them outside around May. I had a coast redwood that I moved indoors and out for 5 seasons and it was nice and healthy.. Basically if all goes well, you will have a 2 foot tree at the end of this season. You will have to bring it back inside around December or so.. then keep in a low light, coldest room in the house.. and wait till spring.. and repeat. The giant sequoia is a bit more hardy and can probably survive a winter after its second year of doing the indoor outdoor method.. ( this method does sometimes put a little stress on the tree, but for the most part I have alway had success doing this..)

J
famartin
13 years ago
Andyandy,

Unfortunately its still confusing by saying "sequoia" because:

Coast Redwood = Sequoia sempervirens
Giant Sequoia = Sequoiadendron giganteum

Both are huge trees. The former is the tallest on Earth, the latter the biggest on Earth.

So we're down to differentiating where in California they grow, and what their foliage looks like. The former grows along the northern coastal and has foliage similar to the yew (Taxus). The latter grows in the Sierra Nevada mountains and has foliage similar to a juniper (Juniperus).
Soquili
12 years ago
I have received seeds and planted them in seed starter about a month ago, no luck so far. On all my research, I found that seeds are not easily germinated and the ratios are not good either. Out of 50 seeds, I was told maybe one or two might sprout. I am wondering if this is true. Btw, I am trying to grow Sequoiadendron giganteum. Is there any advice as to how deep to plant the seeds, what medium to use, etc.? I have found varying differences on my research all stating they were successful.
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
12 years ago
For me germinating Metasequoia most reasonable methods were similar in success rates but the source was very important. E-bay seeds did work but I found the reward of a plat sprouting up oddly rewarding.

No doubt there are other companies but F.W. Schumacher seeds did well for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Schumacher Seeds

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