Better safe than sorry, I always say.

Not sure I understand. Do you mean it would be safe to leave it in place? Or safe to move it to it's own pot?

II think it should be easy to scoop out, without hurting the roots, beings it has it's own divided container. This might be the only one I get so would like to do what's best.

Although I do not grow tree from seed - or at least not intentionally - it is my understanding that ALL tree seeds produce a taproot on germination. Or for better terminology, the radicle root extends deeply into the soil after germination in an indirect proportion to the development of the top shoot. It is not unsual to find a maple seedling with 10-12" radicle root supporting a mere 3 inches of top growth :-)

But for most trees, these long initial roots do not persist as a taproot but evolve into a more typical anchoring but spreading root system as the tree grows.

A one inch deep egg carton is a pretty shallow home for a new tree seedling, even if it only produces a short radicle root. I'd be inclined to carefully transplant the new seedling, disturbing it as little as possible, into a container that would allow unfettered development.

Sorry db if what I'm asking seems elementary but I've really not done much of this at all and am learning as I go. ;-) At my other job, if you didn't know, you asked. We did not assume anything. :)

gg, I know that about tap roots but those Gleditsia triacanthos I germinated had a long thick tap root that was curling around the bottom of a 4" Styrofoam cup by the time the real leaves came, which wasn't very long after the seed leaves opened.

Don't know why I used an egg carton and won't do it again. It was handy and didn't take much media but I expected all the seeds to break ground about the same time and then move them. It was after planting that that learned about not moving seedlings until they get their first real leaves so that left me with a dilemma.

Anyways, It was ready to go into a pot. Just today, the thing had grown to almost touching the tent I had made earlier and the leaves were straightening up and starting to open. I planted 2 seeds in each cell and the other seed was rotten so glad at least one sprouted. I may be lucky to get one tree out of all 18 cells, which is all I really wanted so hope this one makes it.

The coir did not make this easy. It all broke up using a spoon to dig it out. Didn't come out all in one lump like I thought.

I noticed then there was a hair fine, stringy root 2"L. dangling off the side of my spoon. I think it was coiled up in the bottom but when I dug it out, the weight of the soil that stuck made it hang down, off the spoon. So I poked a hole in my 511 media and lowered the root down into the hole. I think I was lucky not to damage that root considering all the spoon work it took.

Watered it liberally and so far, it acts like it doesn't know it was moved. It will be in the light tomorrow :-)

Air-pruning pots are worth the investment if you are growing trees from seed.

I've used an egg carton too (and quickly realized it was a mistake). Yes, typically transplants at this stage are 100% successful even on difficult to transplant tap rooty things like milkweed.

is it as tender as your other seedlings ... i presume so ...

as such.. leave it alone until it literally hardens up a bit.. and you can move it to a pot.. and unwind the roots ...

i really dont see a problem here.. other than you are panic.ing at your success ...

tree time ... give it a couple weeks.. maybe more will sprout in the meantime ... try not to love them to death.. before they are ready for your love.. lol ...

ya know.. a lot of trees will sprout in uncleaned gutters ... so what difference is an egg carton ....

imo ... a tap root is just another root.. to hold the seedling there.. while it uses up to stored energy in the seed.. and once that spent seed hulk falls off... its just another root ... and if anything happens to the tap root after that.. the root will bifurcate ... and make more secondary roots ... its not all that special.. imo ... after its initial job is done ....

ken

Glad I didn't wait. No more second thoughts. :-)

Thanks again!

You might be right ken,

but the more things I get done with here the better.

I suspect Celtis seeds don't like things too wet and I'm pretty sure all the other seeds in this tray are done for.

I'll leave them another week just to see for sure.

I wasn't so worried about 'if' it has a tap root as much as I was wondering if it was a large fast growing thick one like some other trees I've had. But it's all a done deal now so nbd.

I'm actually elated with my success considering the learning curve involved.

Not sure about rain gutters but know that some trees are easier than others and didn't want to take a chance on a tree that I know nothing about and apparently have only one chance at.

Again, anything I can get under control and in pots so I can easily move them in and out to get sun and water, will be one less thing I'll be doing the hard way. lol

But thanks for the input and concern, it's appreciated. :-)

Hello Bill,

Good luck with your seedling. :) I'll try to germinate them as well, currently having them in the fridge because at sheffields they say 90 days of cold stratification is needed. I find that incredibly long to be honest, but I guess I just have to be patient and wait.

To be honest, these Celtis had been in the fridge only 30 days. I should have started the stratification a month sooner. There we extra seeds left in that same bag that molded shortly after it was out of the fridge.

I'd watch your seeds closely. They possibly could germinate even with the cold temps in the fridge. I had maples do that in less than 60 days.

90 days does seem long to me too.

Good luck with yours and keep us updated! :^)

I noticed another sprout beginning to sprout in another cell, so scooped it out and potted it. It was barely cracking the media when I did this. The tap root was already on the bottom of the cell trying to find a way down. (excuse the blurry picture).

So maybe the hair fine thing I saw on the first one wasn't a root after all.

I decided to take my pick and break up the remaining cells. There was 2 more that had germinated. So I now have 4 pots with Hackberry.

The other seeds had not germinated so chucked the carton in the trash.

So 4 seeds out of 36, a little over 10%. My goal is to end up with a Hackberry tree. If I have extra, I'll see if anyone around here wants them or plant them out on my land in the country.

Lol, considering I consider them kinda like fencerow weeds here (despite acknowledging they are a good wildlife tree), I would expect you should have luck.

Thanks. There are several around town. I got my seeds from a tree in the park. :^))

Looks like a tree is on the way. :-)

I kept the best looking 2 of the 4, and chucked the rest. They both are getting 'real' leaves. The other is just a little behind. I already know where it's going in the yard.