HOW to GERMINATE The World’s BIGGEST trees! Giant Sequoia | Coastal Redwoods
Summary
TLDRIn this informative video, the host embarks on a journey to germinate two of the world's most magnificent tree species: the giant sequoia and the coastal redwood. The process involves soaking the seeds for 24 hours, wrapping them in damp paper towel, and subjecting them to cold stratification for approximately 60 days to mimic winter conditions. Despite a lower germination rate for the coastal redwood, the giant sequoia thrives. The host plans to use a heat mat and grow lights to extend the growing season, with updates to follow. This engaging tutorial offers viewers a chance to witness the beginning of these majestic trees' growth.
Takeaways
- 🌱 The video demonstrates the germination process for two of the world's most spectacular tree species: the giant sequoia and the coastal redwood.
- 🏆 The giant sequoia is known for being the largest tree in terms of volume, with a trunk diameter that can reach over 30 feet (9 meters).
- 📏 The coastal redwood is recognized as the tallest tree in the world, with one measured at 380 feet (116 meters) in height.
- 🌲 There is a distinction between the two tree species; giant sequoias are smaller but denser, while coastal redwoods are taller and more slender.
- 💧 The first step in germinating these seeds is to soak them for 24 hours to initiate the process.
- 📄 After soaking, the seeds are placed on a damp paper towel, wrapped, and stored in a ziploc bag with holes for airflow.
- ❄️ A technique called cold stratification is used, which involves leaving the seeds in the bag for about 60 days to mimic winter conditions.
- 🌱 An alternative to the full 60 days is to remove the seeds after three to four weeks for a lower germination success rate.
- 🌳 The seeds are planted on top of a mix of loam and potting soil, ideally in early spring to maximize the growing season.
- 🌡️ The video creator is experimenting with planting in autumn using a heat mat and grow lights to extend the growing season.
- 📈 The giant sequoia seeds have shown a higher germination success rate compared to the coastal redwood seeds, which are struggling.
Q & A
What are the two tree species discussed in the video?
-The two tree species discussed in the video are the giant sequoia and the coastal redwood.
What makes the giant sequoia seeds unique?
-The giant sequoia seeds are unique because when fully grown, they become the largest trees in the world in terms of volume, with a trunk diameter that can reach over 30 feet or approximately 9 meters.
What is the distinction between the giant sequoia and the coastal redwood in terms of height and volume?
-The giant sequoia is known for its massive volume but is smaller in height compared to the coastal redwood, which is the tallest tree in the world, reaching up to 380 feet or around 116 meters in height.
What is the first step in germinating the seeds as shown in the video?
-The first step in germinating the seeds is to soak them for 24 hours.
Why is it important to separate the seeds during soaking?
-The seeds are separated during soaking to prevent them from getting mixed up when they are planted.
What is the purpose of placing soaked seeds on a damp paper towel?
-Placing soaked seeds on a damp paper towel helps to maintain the necessary moisture for germination and prevents the seeds from drying out.
What technique is used to replicate winter conditions for seed germination in the video?
-The technique used to replicate winter conditions for seed germination is called cold stratification.
How long are the seeds left in cold stratification according to the video?
-The seeds are left in cold stratification for around 60 days.
What is the minimum duration for cold stratification if one cannot wait for the full 60 days?
-If one cannot wait for the full 60 days, the seeds can be taken out after three to four weeks, although the germination success rate will be lower.
What type of soil mix is used for planting the seeds after stratification in the video?
-A mix of loam and potting soil or potting mix is used for planting the seeds after stratification.
What is the best time to plant these seeds according to the video, and why is the video's author deviating from this?
-The best time to plant these seeds is in early spring to maximize the growing season. However, the video's author is experimenting by planting in autumn, using a heat mat and grow lights to extend the growing season before dormancy.
What is the germination success rate for the giant sequoia seeds in the video?
-The giant sequoia seeds are doing fantastic, indicating a high germination success rate in the video.
What challenges are faced with the coastal redwood seeds during germination in the video?
-The coastal redwood seeds are struggling with germination, having a lower success rate compared to the giant sequoia seeds.
What tools does the author use to help the seeds grow through autumn and winter?
-The author uses a heat mat and grow lights to help the seeds grow through autumn and winter.
Outlines
🌱 Germinating Giant Sequoia and Coastal Redwood Seeds
In this video, the host introduces the process of germinating seeds of two majestic tree species: the giant sequoia and the coastal redwood. The giant sequoia is noted for its immense volume, with trunk diameters potentially exceeding 30 feet (9 meters), while the coastal redwood is celebrated as the tallest tree species, reaching heights of up to 380 feet (116 meters). The host clarifies that these trees belong to different genera and have distinct characteristics. The video will demonstrate the germination technique used for both species, starting with a 24-hour soak to begin the process.
🌲 Cold Stratification: Replicating Winter for Seed Germination
Following the initial soaking, the seeds are placed on a damp paper towel, wrapped, and stored in a ziploc bag with holes for airflow to facilitate cold stratification. This technique mimics winter conditions and is essential for the germination of these tree seeds. The host suggests leaving the seeds in this state for approximately 60 days, although a shorter period of three to four weeks is acceptable if patience is lacking, albeit with a lower germination success rate. The anticipation of seeing the seeds sprout after this extended period is palpable, and the host shares their excitement by cracking open a beer in preparation for planting.
🍂 Planting in Autumn: An Experiment with Seasonal Variation
The host deviates from the norm by planting the seeds in autumn instead of spring, aiming to extend the growing season using a heat mat and grow lights to simulate optimal growing conditions throughout autumn and winter. This experiment is juxtaposed with a more traditional approach of planting in spring, which will also be demonstrated with another batch of seeds. The video captures the moment of planting the seeds on a mixture of loam and potting soil, with the hope of an extra long growing season before dormancy sets in the following winter.
🌳 Monitoring Germination and Anticipating Growth
The host provides a progress update on the germination process, noting that some seeds have germinated within a week, while others may take up to six weeks. The giant sequoia seeds are thriving, but the coastal redwood seeds are facing challenges, with a lower germination rate observed. The use of a heat mat and grow light is highlighted as a crucial element for nurturing the seeds through the colder months. The host expresses excitement for the experiment and promises to share updates on the seeds' progress in a few weeks, inviting viewers to subscribe for continued insights into this botanical endeavor.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Germinating
💡Giant Sequoia
💡Coastal Redwood
💡Volume
💡Cold Stratification
💡Loam
💡Potting Soil
💡Heat Mat
💡Grow Lights
💡Dormancy
Highlights
Germinating two of the most spectacular tree species: the giant sequoia and the coastal redwood.
Giant sequoia seeds grow into the largest trees in the world by volume.
Coastal redwood is known as the tallest tree species globally.
Differentiating between giant sequoia and coastal redwood based on size and volume.
Soaking seeds for 24 hours as the first step in germination.
Separating seeds to avoid mixing during planting.
Using damp paper towel to wrap soaked seeds for stratification.
Placing wrapped seeds in a ziploc bag with holes for airflow.
Cold stratification technique to replicate winter conditions for seeds.
Stratification period of around 60 days for optimal germination success.
Alternative shorter stratification period of three to four weeks.
Mixing loam with potting soil for planting germinated seeds.
Planting seeds on the surface for optimal growth.
Experimenting with planting in autumn using a heat mat and grow lights.
Providing an update on seed germination progress in a few weeks.
Germination success rate varies between giant sequoia and coastal redwood.
Using a heat mat and grow light to extend the growing season.
Encouraging viewers to subscribe for updates on the experiment.
Transcripts
g'day there and welcome to planter
banter
in this video we'll be germinating two
of the most spectacular tree species
in the world the giant sequoia and the
coastal redwood
these are the giant sequoia seeds and
when fully grown they'll be the largest
trees in the world in terms of their
volume
their trunk diameter can reach over 30
feet which is around 9 meters
and the coastal redwood is known to be
the tallest tree in the world
they've measured one to be 380 feet
which is around 116 meters in height
now there's a bit of confusion between
these different trees but they're
actually from a different genus all
together
like i said before the giant sequoia are
smaller but have much more volume
and the coastal redwood are taller but
bit skinnier
in this video i'll show you how i
germinate these seeds
and i'll use the same technique for both
the first step is to soak the seeds for
24 hours
i'm obviously separating mine so they
don't all get mixed up when i plant them
[Music]
after they've soaked for a day take them
out and put them on a damp piece of
paper towel
[Music]
gently wrap the seeds up in the paper
towel so they don't fall everywhere
put them in a ziploc bag and then poke
the ziploc bag with a few holes to allow
for a little bit of airflow
now the next step is going to test
everyone's patience
we're going to use a technique called
cold stratification
which basically replicates a winter and
will leave
the seeds in there for around 60 days
if you can't wait that long then no
worries you can take them out after
three to four weeks
you just won't get quite as high
germination success rate
[Music]
personally i was very excited after such
a long wait to plant these seeds
so i cracked open a beer and i mixed a
little bit of loam
with some potting soil or potting mix
and then i place the seeds
on top of the surface
[Music]
the best time to do this is in early
spring to maximize the growing season
however i'm doing a little experiment
and i'm actually planting these in
autumn i'm going to use a heat mat
and grow lights over autumn and winter
try and get them
through and see if i can give them an
extra long growing season before they go
dormant next winter
i'll give a little update video in a few
weeks to see how everything is doing
and i've also got another batch of seeds
that i'll do at the normal time
next spring
[Music]
so we have some of the seeds germinating
in under a week
if you don't see anything in that time
don't worry sometimes it'll take
six weeks for germination
[Music]
so the giant sequoia are doing fantastic
as per usual
the coastal redwood on the other hand
are struggling a bit i've had a few
germinate but they have a lower success
rate usually
and here you can see my heat map
and i use that and my grow light here
and this is what's going to get me
through autumn and through winter time
so excited about that we'll see how it
all goes
[Music]
thanks for watching everyone i hope you
found this video useful
and subscribe for an update in a few
weeks cheers
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