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Colorado blue spruce from seed is not growing.

jasonbockenfeld

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Ok so I realize it's not specifically bonsai related but anyways. I am growing blue spruce from seed for a bonsai problem is that it just kinds stays the same size (see picture). It has been getting watered but one died and the other not progressing. I live in Midwestern Illinois and it sets on the east window outside.

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Comments (2)

Todd C
7 years ago
It isn't a houseplant. Put it outside. Spruce seedlings don't get very big the first year. And this will take many many years to be a bonsai. Save you self a decade buy a small tree
jasonbockenfeld thanked Todd C
Peter
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Spruces and pines are very easy to germinate from seed, but become extremely difficult after sprouting, until about the second year... by then you'll know you got it right. What's really tricky is that you won't know one is dead until it's already too late.

Sprout as many as you can manage, try different sized containers and different soils. Not all will make it. They grow in stages each year, so just because you don't see them constantly growing it does not mean nothing is happening... as long as they're green they're alive.

After germinating, the sprout puts out a root that tries to go down rather deep, anticipating dry and hot to follow. If it does not get dry enough near the base of the stem then it rots and dies.

Spruces need UV light, they die behind windows which block UV rays. UV also seems to help prevent fungus and rotting near the surface if overwatered and left wet for too long.

The next obstacle (if you can avoid rot from wet surface soil) is wintering it. Colorado Blues love a cold hard winter, but only bad windchills can really kill them, so put them someplace sheltered from strong gusts over the winter. As far as I know they do not require much light at this point, and certainly even less water.

Keep the surface as dry as possible (with occasional access to deep moisture), give as much sunlight as possible, keep outdoors someplace and they should grow fine.

I think it's worth growing them, especially if you're still young, it takes so long to grow and to learn about their growing needs. Conifers such as Colorado Blues don't exactly propogate easily (or at all) and mature trees cost a small fortune. They're better off in the ground but if you don't have the land space available then they CAN be grown in containers.

Best of luck.
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