Cedrus seedlings care

9 years ago

After 10 days in the fridge, my cedrus atlantica and deodoara seedlings are coming out:

Are the pots ( plastic glasses) two small, for first year seedlings development?

I am keeping them indoors since here in the Mediterranean region of valencia we are having a very wet ( 580 mm so far) and cold winter:

Any advice on how to care them?

Featured Answer

gardener365

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Sand is not going to give them much in terms of nutrients. I would use an acidic fertilizer (diluted) 1 teaspoon per gallon at every watering. Mir-acid for example or a generic equivalent. Give them as much sun as humanly possible.

When temps normalize then put them outside but you'll need to harden them off. To do that you take them outside into morning sun (East facing against a structure/home) for 3-hours the first couple days; 4 hours the next 4-5 days; and then 5-6 hours the next 4-5 days. After that I would keep them in an eastern situated spot for at least a month or two months (in your Mediterranean location.) You notice any burn, put up a temporary shade cloth 'configuration'. I suspect it might be in your best interest to grow them east-facing the entire first season. Here in the USA I harden off seedlings and put them directly into a shadehouse for their entire first year at 50% shade cloth. I'm in an area where the summers are very hot and very humid and very sunny as well.

Keep them well-hydrated. The pots look fine. Cedrus don't grow very much the first year. You should be more than fine until Fall at which time you should check the root systems to see if they should go up a pot size. Sand may dry up very quickly so it's going to be key for you to establish a watering regimen. I've never grown anything in 100% sand.

Dax

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
sand is going to be near impossible to water properly .... the top will have to be flooded.. to insure the bottom and the center stays relatively moist... without staying so sodden that you end up with a root rot ...

when they are about an inch or two big.. large enough to handle with your giant hands ... i would transplant them into a better media.. aka water management system.. which is all media is ...

you seem to have plenty ... at a minimum... repot at least half... you have enough to experiment... why not ...

below is a pic.. if i can find it.. of rooted conifers i grew in FREE water bottles .. top cut off .... large slits in the bottoms ... i have to admit.. the tote was great .. for keeping small plants in small containers ... grouped ...

bottom left corner of tote.. is a rose of Sharon dax sent me ... lol

ken
Josep Canet thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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gardener365
9 years ago
I know, lol. I remember quite a bit of that stuff, Ken. A juniper 'Sparkle' or some other name, too.

God that was 10, 12-years ago. Might even have been longer.

Dax
Josep Canet
Original Author
9 years ago
The growing medium is thin clay mixed with organic compost ( rabbit excrement ). I maintain the soil slightly dry to avoid root rot.
Josep Canet
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Following your advice, I am trasplanting some of the seedlings to a better soil and bigger pots. After 10 to 15 days of growth, roots seem quite large to me
Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
9 years ago
I've found Cedrus is deep rooted and (except for C. deodara) generally not well suited to growing in pots. I've since started all mine in Stuewe D40 pots since a nearly failed episode with conventional pots. The roots were all in the bottom of the pot with nothing at all in the top 1/2. They are fine in D40's for up to 2 years (10-14") after which I grow them on in Roottrapper bags. The root structure is still down in the lower 2/3's of the container but the Roottrapper promotes a more fibrous root structure than I might expect in a plastic container.

The way you are growing them, I would suggest judicious root pruning when you go to the next pot size and get them in their permanent positions as soon as you can (~3-4 years).

There is a reason C. deodara is used as rootstock for all the others in the nursery trade (fibrous root system and roots from cuttings)....
Josep Canet thanked Smivies (Ontario - 5b)