Here's a statement from one website, for what it's worth: "Fraser fir planting stock may be produced by rooting cuttings under controlled temperatures and moisture. A high percentage of stem cuttings from young trees can be induced to root. In one study, rooting was 92 percent in cuttings from 5-year-old trees, compared with 54 percent from 12-year-olds and 29 percent from 22-year-olds. Rooting of cuttings from 32- to 65-year-old trees averaged 4 to 6 percent and varied with crown position." So it looks like the keys are 1.) cuttings should be from younger trees, and 2.) controlled temperatures and moisture are important.

It depends on what type of conifers. Some conifers are actually very very very easy to grow from cuttings. Basically you could just stick them in a pot with potting mix and they are likely to grow. Use some rooting hormone and your chances are even better. Some are next to impossible to grow from cuttings. Some are in between. Step one would be to determine which species of conifer you want to grow. You might also want to check out the Conifer Forum here on GardenWeb. I'll bet you'll be able to find posts about growing multiple types of conifers from cuttings on that forum. And/or better define what you are trying to do and maybe we can also give you more advice here.

you do NOT need fancy .. read that expensive lights ... a common shop lamp for 11 bucks at bigboxstore with two bulbs works just the same ... at the proper distance from the plants ... its very hard to do diverse plants ... under one light set up ... heights differ ... etc ... you need to get all the plants .. the top of the plants.. on one level.. so the lights can be close to all .... and again ... i have no clue.. what the plastic dome does.. to interfere with the light coming thru it ... i am glad you have teachers involved ... you never know where that kernal of insight will come from .... ken

This may fill in the blanks a little so we are on the same page. I will try to answer the questions from each response. I am in Southwest VA and the seeds are all indoors. Average room temp is around 75 degrees with wood heat. I started the seeds in a mixture of organic seed starting mix (4) 8lb bags, (1) 6lb bag vermiculite and (1) 10lb bag perlite. This combination may not be ideal and could be a problem but it was what was readily available at Lowes. The seeds are planted in two inch deep disposable aluminum pans. I have been watering twice a day with spray bottles (just enough to darken surface). Lastly I think the issue with the losses is likely to be "Damping Off" as the plants look to taper off at the surface of the soil and fall over. The plants that have remained are not growing. Is this likely to be due to over watering as well?