Perennial coniferous plants are one of the best ways to decorate the local area. Undoubtedly, it is very simple to purchase a ready-made seedling in a nursery, but growing your own pine from seeds at home will give you incredible pleasure. A tree independently grown from the moment of a tiny seed to an adult pine will warm the soul at every glance at it. In this article, we will share all the intricacies of this process, starting with the collection of planting material and ending with the features of caring for grown seedlings. In addition, we will definitely share a photo of growing pine from seeds at home, which will allow us to clearly see the simplicity of the process. So, we will begin with one of the most important stages.
Seed selection
The process of growing pine from cone seeds is a fairly simple, but lengthy process. If you decide to create your own pine grove on your site, it is important to take a responsible approach to the choice of planting material. Cones are harvested either in early spring or in autumn - during periods when they have not yet opened. The autumn harvest period lasts from mid-September to early November. Moreover, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the species of trees in advance and collect cones immediately under several pine trees. The strongest, most fully ripened and healthy cones are chosen - two years are enough for them to fully mature. In the first year they have a green color and medium density, and at the end of the second year their color changes to brown. In addition, the cones begin to stiffen, and the seeds inside - fully ripen. It is important to remember that for growing pine from seeds at home, only female cones are suitable, on the scales of which seeds with wings are located. Cones are collected as carefully as possible to prevent seed scattering. Transportation of seeds to the home is carried out in paper bags.
Preparing planting material
Before you start preparing seeds for planting, free them from cones. To do this, shake the bumps well over a white sheet of paper or in the same bag where they were stored. If the seeds after this procedure have not sprinkled, let the cones ripen at room temperature or on a radiator. You should not use an oven for these purposes, since you can not calculate the temperature regime and overheat the seeds, which can lead to their death. After the flakes are fully open, you can once again try to shake the cones to get seeds.
After that, the strongest seeds are selected and cups with water are prepared (their number corresponds to the number of cones collected). The seeds of each fruit are immersed in a separate cup with water for some time, after which those specimens are selected for planting that sank to the bottom of the container much faster. Floated seeds are not suitable for further use and must be removed. After this, there are two ways of preparation: indoor germination in wet gauze and stratification, which we will talk about a little later.
Soil preparation
In terms of soil selection, growing pine from seeds at home is a fairly simple procedure. However, it is worth remembering that heavy soil is not suitable for these purposes. Seeds in such soil may simply not sprout even when creating other comfortable conditions. Preference should be given to sandy or sandy loamy soil, which will be well saturated with oxygen.
In addition, light and loose soil will prevent decay of the prolate root and embryo. Rot can develop not only with a lack of oxygen, but also with excessive moisture in the soil. If you plan to plant pine in the sand, then its moisture can be controlled as follows: moisture should not ooze from the lump of the substrate, but its particles should be well interlinked. An ideal medium for seed germination and the development of already hatching sprouts is considered peat compost from a more friable, upper layer. This substrate is rich in various trace elements necessary for the growth and development of pine.
The need for stratification
From experienced gardeners, you can often hear reviews about growing pine from seeds at home. And they say that pine necessarily requires stratification, or, in other words, significant cooling of the seeds before planting. According to some statistics, this procedure pretty well accelerates plant growth not only in the first year after planting, but also at later stages. However, at home, stratification of seeds is not recommended, since it is rather difficult to control the temperature regime, which in the end often leads to decay of planting material. Fully ripened seeds germinate well without being kept in the refrigerator chamber or in a cool room. It is enough to germinate them in warm water or wet gauze.
Temperature mode
Pine ordinary is considered a thermophilic plant, and it does not tolerate too high air temperature. Heat dries the soil and leads to the death of seeds. At the stage of ripening and drying the seeds, it is important not to heat them more than 40 °. However, lowering the temperature to -27 ° C is completely undesirable for this plant. After planting seeds, you should ensure that the soil does not overheat, because this threatens the development of fungal diseases. The optimum temperature for growth is considered to be 22-24 ° C.
Lighting
In addition to the pleasant and warm air, pine need sunlight. Therefore, containers with landings are best placed on the south side. Even slight shading can slow down the development of sprouts. Engaged in the cultivation of pine from seeds at home, it should be understood that ultraviolet radiation plays a key role in this process. Therefore, you should be prepared for the fact that home plantings will develop a little slower than those that were planted in the open ground. Replacing natural light with artificial light will not change the situation for the better. Therefore, it is much more correct to arrange a place for a pine in a greenhouse, rather than splurge on expensive fluorescent lamps and other equipment.
Landing rules
Pine from seeds at home grows, though not quickly, but without special difficulties. The main thing is to comply with all the requirements for the selection and preparation of planting material, as well as correctly implement the planting process itself.
After two to three weeks of germination in moistened gauze, the seeds split into two parts, and the root begins to grow from them. Planting material is planted immediately in separate containers with prepared soil and a drainage system. For each seed, at least 200 grams of substrate is calculated. The seeds penetrate slightly and very carefully so as not to damage the fragile sprouts. Regardless of the location of the seed, the plant will develop correctly and grow evenly. Plants will be ready for transplantation after reaching a twenty-centimeter height.
Watering and feeding
Moisturize the soil should be regular, namely daily. But at the same time, watering should be moderate and not impede the access of oxygen. Hardness of water does not affect the development of sprouted seed. To ventilate the substrate, make small holes in the side walls of the container. This is done if more than 500 grams of soil is prepared for each plant. It is advisable to water from the sprayer or by immersing the container with plants in a water tray (provided that drainage holes have been prepared in it). Pine is fed exclusively with mineral preparations until mid-summer.
Features of growing pine from seeds in open ground
This method of growing pine is permissible only in warm regions. Preparing seeds for planting in this case is no different from growing at home. Seeds are sown to a depth of about three centimeters at a distance of at least 15 centimeters from each other. After planting, the soil is mulched, but not shaded, as this will lead to growth inhibition. In spring, seedlings are covered with a film to protect them from birds and rodents. Such a shelter is removed after dropping the remaining seeds. Under such conditions, pine trees grow for three years, after which intermediate planting should be carried out. The distance between the seedlings in this case increases to 90-100 centimeters. Five years later, pine trees are transplanted to a permanent place. At each transplant, soil must be brought into the soil from a pine forest.