Dr Susannah Lydon
I grow #Wollemi pines - Wollemia nobilis - from seeds. #Wollemia is an ancient survivor, a member of the #Araucariaceae family (so not actually a pine), and critically endangered in the wild. I'll soon bring these ones indoors to protect them from frost. #WollemiPine #WollemiaWednesday
Nov 16, 2022 at 4:30pmMastodon for Android
Show threadAlun SaltNov 16, 2022

@susieoftraken How hard are they to grow from seed?

I bought one for my parents, and was a little upset that we had to leave it in the garden when they moved.

Show threadDr Susannah LydonNov 16, 2022

@alun I left one in my old garden and it was the worst thing about moving house!

I've found them a lot more forgiving than other conifers I've tried to grow such as Sequoiadendron. I've tried stratifying them in the fridge for a couple of weeks before raising them indoors, I've tried leaving them outside over winter. Both worked... Low germination rates but afterwards they are mostly easy in my experience :)

Show threadPalaeo3DNov 16, 2022
@susieoftraken I recently got some seeds. Any "must follow" rules for growing them?
Show threadDr Susannah LydonNov 16, 2022
@palaeo3d I actually find them a lot more forgiving than other conifers I've tried to grow. I've tried stratifying them in the fridge for a couple of weeks before raising them indoors, I've tried leaving them outside over winter. Both worked... Low germination rates but afterwards they are mostly easy in my experience :)
Show threadPalaeo3DNov 16, 2022
@susieoftraken many thanks!
I'll try my.luck 😀
Show threadSte CookNov 16, 2022
@susieoftraken Mine’s taking its chances outside again this winter. It’s eventually going to get joined by the Norfolk Island “Pine” once that outgrows the conservatory. I’m not sure whether I’ll be happy or (even more) worried if it survives in the long-term.
Show threadDr Susannah LydonNov 16, 2022
@Polypompholyx These two are going in the ground in the Spring & then they are on their own too (apart from when I panic & end up up a ladder with garden fleece & clothes-pegs. Again.)
Show threadDr Susannah LydonNov 16, 2022
@Polypompholyx Yep still no exit strategy for my Norfolk Island pines... But I suspect they would have been okay outside here last Winter 😬