How to Grow Conifers From Seed
Conifers grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9, depending on the species. Most of these trees and shrubs produce cones, except junipers and yews, which produce berry-like cones. With more than 500 species worldwide, this group of woody plants contains the smallest, largest and oldest trees. Conifer seed germination is erratic, because they are pre-programmed to only sprout under favorable conditions.
Soak the conifer seeds in warm water for 12 to 24 hours. Drain the water and layer the seeds in an airtight container with damp peat moss. Place the container in the refrigerator for two months. Keep the temperature in the refrigerator above freezing but below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Make a soilless planting mix out of equal parts of peat moss and vermiculite or perlite. Using a soilless mix protects the seeds from the fungi that cause damping off. Fill a tray 18 inches square and 2 to 3 inches deep with the potting mix. Sprinkle the mix with water.
Place conifer seeds on top of the soil 1 to 2 inches apart in a grid pattern. Cover the seeds with enough potting mixture to hide the seeds from view. Mist the top of the mix with water in a spray bottle. Place the tray in a warm area.
Feed the seedlings with half-strength liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion when the first true needles appear. Sprouting starts in a couple of weeks, but some stubborn seeds may take longer. Keep the tray in a sunny protected area such as under the edge of a tree or in an unheated greenhouse. Do not let the plants dry out.
Cut the bedding between the conifer seedlings with a sharp knife so as not to disturb the roots. Plant each seedling in a 1-gallon plant pot filled with potting soil when the seedlings begin to crowd each other. The conifers are ready for transplanting into the ground when they outgrow their containers.
Karen Carter spent three years as a technology specialist in the public school system and her writing has appeared in the "Willapa Harbor Herald" and the "Rogue College Byline." She has an Associate of Arts from Rogue Community College with a certificate in computer information systems.