Germinating GIANT SEQUOIA (World's biggest trees)

In this video, I show the entire process of germinating/growing giant sequoia (sequoiadendron giganteum) with clips over the last 12 months as I have grown this batch of trees. From seed to 1 YO seedling. I will continually show updates on these trees from these videos for as long as I can. They will eventually be planted in a grove at my friend's large property, where they will have the chance to hopefully grow into the enormous old growth specimens they can be. Thank you for watching.

[@aliya-lawton]

Such a great video! And it’s cool that you’re going to have planted giants all across the world ☺️

[@planterbanter]

Thanks Aliya that's the plan :D

[@AlanM22]

Love your channel keep it up 👍, please make a video of planting them into the ground

[@planterbanter]

Thank you kind sir! Watch this space…😎

[@suz4keeps]

Fascinating thank you. We had a sequoia in NW Tassie, planted early 1900's. Hopefully it's still growing along with some other exotics. I'm now interested in bonsai

[@planterbanter]

Yes! I have read there are a few giant sequoia and coastal redwoods in Tassie. I love it there, one of my favourite places in the world to visit. We also have a bunch of giant sequoia in Adelaide, I've seen about 5/6 trees around the 50-100 YO mark.

[@LittleBearGrylls]

I liked seeing the growing progression over the last year. Well done PB

[@planterbanter]

I'm going to keep updates on these trees, thanks for watching Baxter!

[@jacklegminercanada3866]

I love how You don't fold the paper towel over, saves me opening to unfold to check!! Well done I've been in cultivation for 6 years and never seen that until now.

[@planterbanter]

Thanks, it’s a useful little trick that I do when I remember 😂 That’s amazing, have you planted any in the ground?

[@watermelontrevor60]

FINALLY another Planter Banter post, been waiting for almost six months 😂

[@planterbanter]

HAHA, finallyyyy!

[@BalenciaErskine]

Awesome! Keep us updated on the growth of the trees. I would like to learn as much as I can.

[@planterbanter]

Thanks mate appreciate it, and I’m organising a video in the next month or two to do just that!

[@BalenciaErskine]

@@planterbanter I got my seeds today. Going to watch this video again, bit by bit, step by step, for the beginning, and watch for more from you.

[@planterbanter]

Perfect time to do it if you’re in the Northern hemisphere! A month away from spring. I’ve got more collected seeds and purchased seeds ready for spring. Will plant some older trees at a friends property and film it also. I’m actually doing a lot of species this year! How many seeds did you get and is this your first time? I also recommend using quality potting mix when you plant them 👍🏽 if you can spend the money get high quality rather than cheap stuff (it helps with the growing season and water retention). When it comes to winter, if they’re still in pots, winter them! Something I haven’t spoken about in my sequoia videos yet. You can see a good winter technique on my latest oak tree video. If you can get them through the first summer and first winter then you are well on your way and they will become exponentially stronger!

[@BalenciaErskine]

@@planterbanter Are you in Australia? Yes, I am in the Northern hemisphere. I live in zone 7 in Tennessee USA. The seeds I bought are 75 California Sequoia and 75 California Redwoods. I do not have a lot of money to spend but I will try to see if I can afford high quality seedling mix to germinate them and when they get their second set of leaves I will transplant them in a larger container with high quality potting mix. We, in Tennessee, have strange weather. Currently we just had a week of spring type weather and now we are headed toward another winter snow coming up. Our last frost day is said to be April but the last two years we still had snow in May. However, I do have the ability to do indoor growing. You have given me a lot to look for more information. Oh and yes, this is my first time attempting to grow trees of any kind. Thanks also for letting us know that when it comes to trees, not all seeds will germinate, and I will be ok with that. Thanks again! I will keep watching.

[@planterbanter]

@user-qu7lk8mp1m I’m an Aussie but my wife is Canadian. Right now I’m in BC Canada. Most my videos are filmed in Aus but the last few are filmed in BC as I’ve been hear a year and a half or so. I’ve grown giant sequoia in big Aus and Canada! No worries, you can use regular potting mix and they’ll be fine! Try to avoid damaging any root when transplanting. That’s a long time for it to still be cold! You’ve got the right idea. Start them off inside and then get them out after the frost is perfect. Your first attempt will probably be your worst attempt. I found my 2nd attempt much better. I think I’m up to batch 5 or 6 now.

[@nickhollister9483]

Great vid and great trees. Love to see it!

[@planterbanter]

Thanks Nick, happy growing :)

[@proaudiohd]

I've had the best results from a much faster draining mix than shown here. Equal parts pine bark, decomposed granite, and floor dry. Slow release fertilizer on top and water almost daily.

[@planterbanter]

It really doesn’t matter if you know how and when to water. I deliberately try new things every year. I’ve used: sand/potting mix, one year I tried potting mix/pumice/compost/leca, another year only potting mix. All with similar results! This year I’m doing perlite/peat moss with mycorrhizal fungal inoculation. Each year was a success although this year is better so far with 60-70%. I haven’t posted a video on them yet. Only thing you need to know is less watering with more biological matter. So if you use pure potting mix you just have to let it dry longer and water less. If you use free draining substrate then water more! Over watering and underwater will kill your trees, not what soil you’re using if it’s quality substrate. I’d tend to recommend free draining soils like you suggest as it has better drainage, aeration and helps prevent soil compaction but I’ve had minimal to no difference in growth/success in the last 6 years if you have basic care principles. Adding something like perlite is a cheap addition to soil and works wonders for drainage and aeration. The more you fertilise (in moderation) the bigger they’ll grow. It doesn’t need to be rocket science for hobbyist growers!

[@palmsexoticsuk2194]

That looks like good growth in a year! Hope the big move went well and that you are settled

[@planterbanter]

Was definitely happy with the growth on them this year. I might try upping the fertilizing from 3x to 5/6x in the growing season and see if they will grow faster (with my new batch I'm germinating in a few weeks). Thank you, took some time to settle in. Nearly spring time for you and I, and that means exciting times for us :D

[@marcelacecil3036]

I love that Sequoia will grow in your part of the world, such a majestic plant! Thank you for the information. I recently visited the Sequoia grove in Crescent City, California and got seeds that I am currently giving a cold treatment in the fridge. I didn't know about the dark period to germinate so thanks for that. Could I ask you to move your camera a little slower for your updates? I would love to savor the beautiful little trees in your next updates!

[@planterbanter]

Hi marcela, I know, they are such adaptable and incredible trees! good luck with your sequoia and remember to germinate them in spring :) And apologies for the camera movement, I usually just take videos for myself as progress shots and always forget to shoot anything decent and before I know it, months have passed 😂

[@MrNosajwhitey]

Going to have to try this one for quite a few types of trees

[@planterbanter]

Happy growing!!! Perfect time to start getting your seeds ready if you live in the northern hemisphere. Spring is almost here!

[@daveyv3139]

Very informative, very helpful to all interested in these excellent trees, this is my 2nd year growing these and your videos are appreciated, thank you and keep them coming, keep up the great work 👏👏👍

[@planterbanter]

Thank you Davey, yes I think the more videos out there the better for those interested in these trees. I plan to document the trees more so we can watch them grow over the years, as well as germinating 1000s of seeds in future years to conduct experiments/research on the best ways/parameters for these trees. Eventually I want to plant multiple groves of them wherever allowed. One day (hopefully!!!!) I will have my own property where I can plant them and document them in great detail (along with many other species). Thanks for watching.

[@daveyv3139]

Well done you, keep up the great work, what's the best potting mix formula for these trees. Thanks

[@planterbanter]

@@daveyv3139 I usually mix potting mix/compost with a little bit of sand and maybe some coconut fibres. I have also grown batches in pure potting mix soil before and they seem to do okay in that as well. As for planting them in the ground: they seem to like well drained, loamy soils. I think that is the type of substrate the native groves are in (and thrive in). I don't think they like their roots sitting in water for very long periods. Anything with lots of nutrients is really good too. I have seen 100+ year old trees in pure clay in Australia before, which is not ideal but they seem to be okay.

[@daveyv3139]

Thanks for your updated reply, much appreciated for the advice that's great, big help 😁👍

[@planterbanter]

Absolutely anytime :)

[@mirodudas8428]

Thank you for sharing your journey. I started germinating 6 giant sequoia seeds this summer after my return from Sequoia National Forest where I collected a few open cones, after 2 months of cold stratification, I put them into soil and 1 of them emerged after a month. It's still in the early stage with 4 cotyledons at about 3 cm tall since it emerged from soil a week ago. I am keeping it near a window at this stage but I want to make sure it provide the appropriate environment. Should it keep out of direct light completely? If so until when? The little guy surely is trying to reach for the light as it bends toward it.

[@mrs.doubtwater4688]

so inspiring😊

[@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke]

Well done mate. Very detailed 👌 I have one of your babies growing in my bonsai swamp near the shed in the Australian desert. See what happens 😉

[@planterbanter]

Cheers mate!! Oh sweet I’m glad it’s still alive!! Any growth on it?

[@DankPiscean]

My giant sequoia seedlings have just started to sprout from their seeds and I'm so excited to see them take off! 2 out of 8 seeds so far hoping to see more popping out soon.

[@planterbanter]

I hope you have lots of success. Is this your first time doing it? Next year, you'll probably find you'll do 50-100 seeds. It's addictive. I ended up getting about 600-1000 seeds for this year haha!

[@DankPiscean]

@@planterbanter Yes its my first time with this species so I'm trying to do as much research as I can with them. I'm in NY right now so currently the seedlings are in a indoor greenhouse but I'll be acclimating them to sun when the weather starts to stay consistently warmer. They're beautiful trees and I'd like to try and turn one or two of them into a nice specimen for bonsai in time. 🤞

[@damionb3916]

Holy guacamole they are big trees

[@camacattack]

Dude they are boosting! Nice video. 😁

[@planterbanter]

Yes they are. Thank you kind sir.

[@brucefairbanks6254]

Well done! Keep it up. we also have an effort aimed at moving new sequoia farther north from California. These trees deserve our best efforts.

[@planterbanter]

That’s awesome, I’m planting as many as I can in BC Canada and they seem to go okay up here!

[@howtogrowdragonfruitplant7849]

Great video ! One tip. Test with 1 seedling to spray it early in the morning or evening with rainwater. See if it grows faster :-) no spraying when sun shilling though.

[@planterbanter]

Great tip! Will try that this spring.

[@howtogrowdragonfruitplant7849]

@@planterbanter Let me know the results :-)

[@gayefanner731]

Thanku Lawrie for such a detailed and informative video. Excellent results as your experience extends, n very encouraging regarding germination rate n what to expect. I’ve found, over many years, that the sooner trees (any variety) roots can get in contact with ‘proper’ soil the quicker they establish, for obvious reasons really! God bless you and all your endeavours 🙏✝️ ✌️🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦✌️

[@planterbanter]

Thankyou, and that is some great advice! A root bound, tree that has adapted living in a pot will probably do significantly worse than a tree that can be planted quickly into the ground, or even sown right into the soil itself!

[@gayefanner731]

Thank You. Very true 👌

[@juandelrio8125]

Hi from Northern California. Thank You to share this valuable germination process. I am interested in planting several hundreds of Giant sequoias in our 67 acres property in Miranda on the heart of the Avenue of the Giants. Would You be interested in selling some of the seedlings and help me going with the project?

[@planterbanter]

Hello there! I would have loved to GIVE you a bunch of seedlings. However, I’ve planted all my remaining older seedlings this spring at a friends property (have a video coming out soon about it actually). I only have about 2 dozen sequoias remaining from this season that I have no plans for. The customs cost to get the sequoias across the US/Can border is immense. I’d recommend you buy locally. It’ll be exponentially cheaper. If you can’t afford hundreds of seedlings (as it’ll cost a decent amount of $) you could buy lots of seeds to germinate yourself. That’ll save you a lot of money. Im finishing my studies in Permaculture in a city/apartment with very little space at the moment. Afterwards we plan to buy a property. When we can do that I’ll hopefully have hundreds available! I love the fact you plan to do that with your property. What is the condition of your land? Is it degraded? Healthy? In between?

[@jevgenijsalunin9820]

Awesome content, mate! I'm also trying to grow trees, germinating from seeds every year. But the thing is my sequoias (sequoiadendron giganteum) are occasionally dying, especially during winter. Maybe you had similar problem?

[@planterbanter]

Thanks for watching mate!! What trees species are you trying to grow? I definitely go through that. I would say the giant sequoia are extremely vulnerable in their first year. They are much harder than many other trees that I germinate and grow. If they survive germination, getting through a winter is as much of a challenge (especially if you have very cold winters). I would recommend growing large numbers, as well as wintering your trees. I’ve found burying your trees in the ground for winter (still in their pots) allows the roots to be insulated by the soil/ snow and stay warmer than the air temp. In spring, pull the pot out of the ground and let them keep growing (no root damage that way). Otherwise planting them in their permanent growing spot before their first winter can work. I’m still learning the art of wintering. I’m an Aussie living in Canada so wintering is a new skill I’m learning as Australian winters are quite pleasant 😂 Other thing to note is that in the first year or two, they can lose/change colour and they can appear dead. But keep them until spring because they can green up again! Hope this helps a bit.

[@jevgenijsalunin9820]

@@planterbanter thank you very much for such a comprehensive reply! I'm trying to grow sequoiadendron giganteum basically, but also other conifers, Douglas fir, Cedrus atlantis, Thuja plicata. I've searched for species that grow tall and big. I'm still struggling with watering, because i've read that drought kills them, but in my case I think I'm overwatering them and they get sick or something like that. Or maybe they don't get enough light during winter. I live in Lithuania, here it is like 6 USDA hardiness zone. Can I ask in what region of Canada do you live and how cold are winters?

[@planterbanter]

@@jevgenijsalunin9820 it’s hard to say exactly what’s going wrong as they all need a delicate and correct balance when they are young. I’m in British Columbia and the winters get down to -20C on a cold snap in winter. But it’s usually around -3C during the day. Some areas get much colder but where I am it’s not as cold.

[@howtogrowdragonfruitplant7849]

When you plant them into your friends forest make sure to keep roots moist. And in full sunlight. Then give them a lot of compost as they will only grow big real fast if you feed them. You can also collect coffee and tea grounds and feed those to them. But always slowly...

[@planterbanter]

Absolutely agree, it is essential to do things like so the sequoia are set up to grow as healthy and strong as possible. Feeding them, watering them and making sure they have lots of mulch will give them the best chance at survival. I have new sequoia video coming out in the next couple of days- stay tuned :)

[@howtogrowdragonfruitplant7849]

@@planterbanter Awesome! Sounds good. My small 5 cm giant seedling is under 1 meter here in Dalarna Sweden. I hope it survived. But also brought some new 5 cm seedlings I grow in my window. Looking forward to your new giant sequioa video !

[@Blackpyramid.]

Do you sell them .ones that are a foot tall or bigger.👍 Awesome video

[@testiboule5416]

Great video, how often should you water? do the roots have to be in contact with water or should we only water the surface? Thanks

[@planterbanter]

Hello, I'm assuming you mean once they have germinated? I would check up on the trees daily, they should get watered (and watered very well) and then do not water it again until it is almost dried out. But it is important to not dry it out! I keep the soil moist nearly at all times. But over watering them can also kill them. It is a fine line, but the more you do it, the easier it will become. I hope this helps

[@testiboule5416]

@@planterbanterthanks you so much, in my case my sequoia germinate 2 week ago and he didn’t grow. It is normal or does that mean something going wrong ?

[@planterbanter]

@@testiboule5416 okay, so your giant sequoia germinated and then died? Sometimes you can do all the right things for your seedlings, and they die anyway (DNA deficiencies etc). It's hard to say what happened without seeing the trees. Maybe they just died, or maybe you killed them by not looking after them correctly. Don't be discouraged though, and keep trying!! They are a harder tree to germinate/look after I would say. :)

[@testiboule5416]

Not really, everytime i plant a séquoia into soil the root start to eat herself, like the root start to get finer and finer

[@planterbanter]

@@testiboule5416 Maybe the roots are rotting? If the soil is really wet for long periods of time, rotting can take place.

[@MaineMotman]

Depending where you are- maine here- sink your pots into the ground for better wintering over. Here we got hard winters, deeper frost lines etc, average zone 4. Zone 5 on the mild years- potential for a zone 3 winter. That being said tho- there is a giant sequoia in portland thats at least 80 years old, wich that was growing around the time my grandmother was born on the sea ice between an island and the mainland. I think giant sequoia are a lot tougher than folks give them credit- they are just delicate when young

[@planterbanter]

Yep - couldn’t agree more with wintering pots. Something I realise that I didn’t bring up in the video. Being an Aussie with warmer winters, I remember learning that the hard way when I moved to Canada. lost a large variety of trees one year. Now to be extra safe I winter all my trees into the ground before the first frost. Wow amazing. I agree, they are a very resilient and hardy tree once established. There are 120-150 year old sequoia that can withstand Australian summers (40 degrees plus). I’ve seen plenty thrive in British Columbia (where I am currently) and everywhere in between! I think once the seedling gets through the first summer and winter, you know it’s going to do well.

[@angry9901]

How big are you four year old Sequoia? Mine is about 700 mm but growing very slowly. Perhaps I need to fertilize more often?

[@planterbanter]

Hello! I do believe that giant sequoia and coast redwoods can have a slow start to life. Don't be discouraged by this. It is quite common. After 10-15 years, they should begin to grow exponentially and I think that is when they grow multiple feet per year. Unfortunately I have had to give all my sequoias away as I have been moving back and forth between Canada and Australia for the last 5 years. Obviously moving back and forth has made it impossible to keep my trees. But I know some are doing well. I plan to document my new sequoias more, by planting them in friend's properties that I can access anytime . One day I hope to have a property, where I can grow/germinate/document all my trees for many years.

[@angry9901]

I was interested to compare with someone who also had a four year old Sequoia. The growing season would be longer here in Australia than Canada. I enjoy the propagation process so I am not concerned with slow progress. I hope you do get to make a follow up vid. 🍺

[@planterbanter]

I’ll do follow ups for sure. Wait you’re in Aus too? What state are you in?

[@angry9901]

I'm in NSW, got my seeds off a local tree, would love to go to California and look at some big examples.

[@planterbanter]

@@angry9901 I would love to see some pics of your sequoia, I have an email on my about section of my youtube page, if you want to email me some pics. I think they will do well in NSW, I have seen multiple 100+ year old sequoia in the Adelaide Hills. There are a decent amount planted in South Australia in the Hills, if you know where to look. In fact, there is one place called Belair National Park, and there are two 120 YO Coastal Redwoods, as well as 1 Giant Sequoia in planted right next to each other. So we know they can grow in Aus quite well in the right areas. I have also seen them in Vic and Tassie.

[@GeorgeMaier]

Nice 👌

[@planterbanter]

Thanks George. Are you germinating/growing any this year? About to start batch 5 in a few weeks time (once springs starts in Canada). Seed are stratifying and primed. Getting better every year at it.

[@GeorgeMaier]

@@planterbanter recently moved into a new house - plenty of space for growing trees here but also the house is a bit of a project and has been taking up all my time so far. Will see if I get much time over the next few weeks to have a go

[@tonyhebert1388]

I was also told to shelter the trees first 3 yrs from wind and sunburn after planted. My experience with trees, after hole dug for trees, I dig a pothole in the center and fill it with mulch. All my trees w/ potholes exploded in growth after second or third year.

[@planterbanter]

The trees are most definitely the most fragile in their first years of life. That is a great idea especially if they are being planted in the open. Although in their natural habitat, they germinate after a fire and are the first trees to germinate in the open, so I do think they are tougher than we think. If someone has paid money or invested time in a handful of giant sequoia, then you definitely can't go wrong with protecting them! That's an interesting technique. I usually fill plant the tree with very good quality and nutrient-rich compost and mix it with the soil it will be living in. Then on the surface, I place a thick layer of mulch so that it keeps the moisture in, cools the soil in summer, and warms it in winter. Slowly the the mulch breaks down into compost too and leeches nutrients into the soil over time.

[@bedundauniverse2447]

Hello my friend, i have been trying for about half a year to germinate giant sequoias and sempervirens.... I think you might have been watering them too much in the beginning. I lost my first batch and also some of my second batch and i from what i can tell, I think it is from watering too frequently (everyday or every other day). Can you tell me how often do you water them? maybe you can help me not lose any more. Thank you

[@oiocha5706]

What do you do with them once they grow up? Do you donate them or plant them in a forest somewhere?

[@planterbanter]

I give them away! But one day I hope to have my own property where I can plant them all :)

[@troycava]

Hey mate, Thanks for this video. Ive just received my Sequoia gigantea seeds. I'm in Cairns Queensland Australia, but looking to plant these in Malanda, tablelands, about 860 meters above sea level and 10 degrees cooler, but only gets to single digits in temp in winter. Do you think they will grow OK?? Watching your video made me think i maybe wasting my time with how hard they are to grow? Especially in my climate.

[@planterbanter]

Hey mate - definitely not a waste of time!! I have no experience growing them up in the tropics of QLD. I’ve grown them in Adelaide (South Aus) and in British Columbia. The winter in Adelaide rarely gets below 0 degrees C and the trees go alright. Obviously they can handle much colder conditions being a Northern Hemisphere species. they handle the heat well too as it gets pretty hot in the summer in it’s natural environment. The humidity will be the factor I’m unsure of. Could work well that they get lots of water in the warm season… but maybe it’s something they won’t like… not too sure! They’re a very adaptable and incredible tree species, however, so if any species could do it, it’s giant sequoias! You also have the sea level factor that plays in your favour - they tend to be at 1000m- 2000m above sea level so you being in the 800+m range will be beneficial for sure. I’ve seen them grow at sea level just fine - but they flourish up a bit higher I reckon. Definitely try and let me know how they go. Not a waste of time! My personal opinion is that they should do well as long as you look after them. How many seeds did you get? Perfect time to stratify your seeds (whack them in the fridge) since it’s your winter there in Aus rn. Give it a red hot crack in late winter/very early spring and see how you go!

[@troycava]

@planterbanter not to many seeds unfortunately. Maybe 30...

[@planterbanter]

@@troycava if you germinate them correctly you may get 5-10 giant sequoia!

[@MasterChiefSha]

It's hard to find content on coastal redwoods, but would you say I could use all the same methods on coastal redwoods?

[@planterbanter]

It is VERY hard. The goal is to eventually have my own property and when that happens, I will be able to go far more in depth into many different species including updates on them over time as I plant them. I have used similar methods for coastal redwoods. I’m just not in the right climate to grow them right now. They need stratification and they need to be kept moist! I find them harder than giant sequoia but in the future I plant to germinate/document them a lot more!

[@jumpjetcaptain495]

Fascinating! I live in Kenya - how do you think these would grow in the climate of Lake Victoria?

[@planterbanter]

Hello!! Thank you. Tell me what your max temperatures are in summer, and your low West temperatures are for winter, also, what is your annual rainfall? That’ll help me know if you can grow them :)

[@jumpjetcaptain495]

@@planterbanter The nearest town is Kisumu in Kenya. Its tropical (very close to the equator). Rainfall is about 1966mm or 77.4 inches per year. Min / Max temp is 18c /31c. There are no seasons like winter or summer. Just some months are slightly drier and some are wetter (more rainfall).

[@planterbanter]

@@jumpjetcaptain495 ohhh okay, so you live in a more tropical environment? Are you close to the equator? Giant sequoia are trees that need seasons. They have a cold season of rest and then receive plenty of hydration from the enormous snow melt at the start of spring. Then they have a rich and productive growing season in the warmer months. That's how they have existed for thousands and thousands of years. As for your climate, I am unsure how it would cope with the same climate all year round. 1966mm of rain is definitely enough , as I have seen 100+ year old giant sequoia live in areas of Australia with 800-1000mm of rain/year. There's no harm in ordering some seeds and trying! I just wouldn't invest too much money into lots of seeds. Try buying 50-100 and see how the seedlings do. If you do live in the tropics, I wonder how they would be more susceptible to fungal diseases??? 🧐 I have no idea

[@jumpjetcaptain495]

@@planterbanter Well, it would be fun to give it a go. I understand that they're adapted to their specific climate and would probably encounter some other issues in the tropics. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my query. I'll follow your channel and when I get a chance to get some seeds, I'll let you know how it goes!

[@planterbanter]

@@jumpjetcaptain495 Yes please let me know how it goes, I will be very curious to see how you do. Feel free to contact me anytime with questions. Thanks for the follow.

[@gml6040]

I’ve had about 10 germinate, including sempervirens but all bar one seem to wither after germination. Could this be over watering or not enough sunlight? I’m keeping them inside on a shaded area so maybe that’s it? I’m going to continue to germinate seeds and with trial and error I can find a good balance - any tips would be brilliant!

[@planterbanter]

Hello, sorry for the slow reply. It would really depend on all of your conditions. It's hard to say without seeing them myself. You have to remember that the seedling are at their weakest, most vulnerable stage when they germinate. They need the most care in the first few months and first year, than any other time in their life. Also, don't be too disheartened, as coast redwoods and giant sequoia have a very high mortality rate anyway. After a couple of tries you will get much better at it. As I said without seeing the situation I'm not too sure, but I can tell you what they need in order to survive: -Warmth (make sure you germinate at spring and they are outside when it's warm). Don't germinate them and then put them in below freezing temps. Germinate them and leave them by a bright window for the first 2/3 weeks if you start them early. Start you seeds in early spring for highest success. -Light (they need light to grow - it can be very bright indirect light by a window, dappled outdoor light or a little bit of sun when they are young - but not too much full sun in the heat of summer in the first year). The giant sequoia seedlings can do quite well with full sun in their first year, coastal redwoods on the other hand are more sensitive to the heat/light when young. I usually put my trees outside after the first 2/3 weeks and carefully weather them in over a week or two. -Water (keep the soil moist at all times, not sopping wet though! Wait for the soil to dry/drain a little and reapply when required. You have to be diligent in this when they are young. If they are too wet they will die. If they are too dry they will also die. A gently moistness is perfect. It is important to also make sure the pots have drainage holes to allow for soil aeration and drainage of water. There's more to it, but if you get these basic things right, you will have some survive. After that, it's all about practice and tweaking how you do things each spring. You will get better. Good luck and keep me updated on your seedlings!!

[@gml6040]

@@planterbanter ​ @planterbanter Thank you for the mega reply mate, stellar info packed in there. I think as a 'redwood community' we can continue to make strides into the best ways to cultivate these awesome trees. On reflection, I think it was over watering them, likely with stem/root rot to blame. Here is an overview of my growing so far: I germinated half of my seeds using the paper towel method, and half straight into the soil. I have found faster/higher rates using the paper towel, but what might hurt is the possible fungus that grows on the seed casing/root when left in the towel at room temp. Another possible cause of the rot is that I used covered plug trays to try and keep the moisture in. I am only able to check up on seedlings at weekends, so I thought this would help lock in moisture, and stopping them from drying out. But any fungal spores either already on the seed or that could form in the soil seem to be causing the damage. From the seedlings that have sprouted straight from soil (both coastal and giant), they seem to be doing alright which I find interesting, but this is a very small sample so no real conclusions can be drawn from this. I think in the future, I might try and change paper towels more often to reduce the chances of fungus, possible try a fungicide, or just plant all my seeds in soil (but it will take a lot longer for germination). Alternatively, I could try potting sprouted seeds in less damp soil/allow them to dry out more by not using tray covers. Approx numbers wise: Sempervirens - 8/32 paper towel germinated so far, only 2 have survived potting after a couple of weeks. 2/32 straight into soil potted have germinated, and both are looking decent (some potential seeds could have died under the soil) Giganteum - 7/20 in paper towel germinated, only 2 survive after a couple of weeks (though some that died seems to struggle to get the cotyledons out of the seed and that might have killed them?). 1/16 straight into soil partial germination, fingers crossed! Thanks for your videos again mate, I've just ordered 2 grams of sempervirens seeds (questionable seller but they were cheap!), so hopefully I can run a bit more experimentation and get some more data for you. Also trying stratifying foraged seeds in the fridge atm. Though the parent tree was big, I think it's still a bit of a baby in the grand scheme of things so I don't fancy my chances, but it is worth a try! My collected seeds seem noticeably smaller than purchased ones, but I'll continue to hunt around for different trees in the spring and hopefully I can get some luck!

[@planterbanter]

@@gml6040 thanks for the info. Really interesting. Your germination success stats seem pretty regular, both species produce lots of unviable seeds. I think if you were able to care for them all week round (and not just weekends) you could get it higher but 8/32 and 7/20 respectively is pretty good in my eyes, for us 'amateurs'. I have interestingly never had fungal issues with my seeds in moist paper towel. I wonder if it has anything to do with the moisture levels in the zip lock bag you keep them in? I have heard others having the same struggle, but not myself oddly. Also the warmer the area where the seeds are, the quicker the seed will begin to germinate. Meaning less time in the paper towel which could lead to less chances of fungal infections. Also, keep your seeds out of direct light while waiting for them to germinate. You will get a higher success rate if you do so. But once the seed is germinating and beginning to develop cotyledons, you can move into the light. What part of the world are you in? Does your temperature suit these species? I was thinking another reason for the fungus could be if you were in a different climate (e.g. a tropical region) - maybe your seeds are more susceptible to fungal issues? Yes, I have noticed that too with giant sequoia cotyledons being stuck in the seed shell. I just gently pull it off once it has almost fallen off itself (but is still stuck). I have only killed one seedling by doing it, just be gentle with it and wait awhile until most of it has been unattached. I think giant sequoia seedlings are much tougher in the seedling stage from my own personal experiences. I want to invest some more time in coastal redwood germination in the future, when I'm in a suitable region for them (maybe when Im back in Australia, or Vancouver Island etc.). Let me know how the germination success is with your collected seeds. I am actually about to attempt to germinate collected seeds too. My tree was relatively young too (definitely only 15-25 years old) from a giant sequoia. I am also trying to strike cuttings from it so we will see how that goes. Spring is an exciting time! And even if only a dozen trees grow into old growth trees from our seed germinations/experiments, then we have done our jobs well :D I have a business email address linked to my KZbin on my About section. Feel free to send pics of your trees at anytime.

[@gml6040]

@@planterbanter thanks for the continued discourse! I’m from Northern Europe, but we generally have a pretty temperate climate year round though should suit all sequoia pretty well - I’ll try leaving them somewhere warmer like an airing cupboard, maybe that will give them the kick they need to germinate a bit quicker. There’s not a lot of info on collected seeds of young trees, but I think the ones I’ve collected from will be 100 years old at least - I’d estimate they are 40-50m, but even then it may be too young. I’ve got green cones from the ground, collected from lower branches, seeds collected from opened cones still on the tree and opened cones on the ground - I haven’t separated them out, but if I have any germination whatsoever, I’ll do some more refined testing and pass on any info! Coastal on the other hand, apparently has a much higher success rate (probably due to no stratification cycle) so I’ll try to collect some of those, though the cones are so small and the trees are so tall, I think I’ll have to get lucky after a windy storm to find some on the ground!

[@planterbanter]

@@gml6040 That is interesting that coastal redwoods are easier than giant sequoia. I always found giant sequoia much easier, but it must be me doing something wrong then! 😂 I just took out all my seeds from the fridge this morning. I should start getting some germination in 2-4 days now. Exciting!

[@codemantris]

Me han sobrevivido 30 plántulas de secuoya gigante. Germinaron en octubre de 2022. A los dos meses las traslade a macetas individuales con un sustrato formado por turba negra, turba Rubia, humus de lombriz, harina volcánica y perlita. Las riego cada semana y media y las pongo a la luz directa del sol seis horas.

[@planterbanter]

well done and great tips (I was able to google translate your comment). I checked out your KZbin channel and I'm happy to find another person that loves giant sequoia as much as I do! :)

[@Axowobble]

Do you know if giant sequoias can grow naturally in Oregon (by Medford) after taken care of a few years?

[@planterbanter]

I don’t know for sure. They definitely are not an endemic species to Oregon however I strongly think that they would be okay there!

[@mutantbrain3033]

My mother lives in the Rogue Valley area and has 20 giant sequoia trees she planted from seed 25 years ago. She is at an elevation of about 2000 feet and they look healthy. They are about 15-20 feet tall after 25 years. @@planterbanter

[@karlpearson740]

I have dome about half the same in same size pots..eat would you do with them in a UK winter please? Thanks karl

[@planterbanter]

Hi Karl, are you asking what you would do with pots in winter? If that is your question, then I would keep them in the pots and bury them in the ground. That way the root zones are insulated and not exposed to air temp and they will survive. If your climate gets too cold, they will die if left outside. When plants are in the ground, the soil temp is significantly warmer compared to the air temp therefore keeping them alive. Otherwise, you could keep them indoors in an unheated garage etc. It is important that they do go through a cold/dormant period as this is what they go through in their natural habitat. Hope this help.

[@catialombardi602]

Ciao, scusami ma non riesco a capire tutto il video, in quanto tempo sono cresciiti dalla germinazione ?

[@jacklegminercanada3866]

I was told dawn redwood need light to germinate, I wonder is they're the same

[@planterbanter]

No idea! I do want to try germinate them one day!!

[@kostasvorniotakis4157]

I'm trying to grow them where I live in Greece. I live in Crete and the climate is hot in the summer but we have alot of moisture and fog up in the mountain. I managed to grow 13 seedlings but only 8 are alive now, we had a pretty hot summer this year. I hope the last surviving seedlings I have can grow so I will transplant them on the mountain for the future generations.

[@planterbanter]

What a wonderful thing you are doing. It is common for giant sequoia seedlings to die when they are in their first season. If you can get them through the first summer and winter, they become much stronger in the second year! How cold is it in winter? If you are keeping them in pots, make sure you 'winter' them so the roots don't freeze. An easy solution is to bury them (in their pots) in the soil outside, and then just as it begins to warm up take them out of the ground and then they are still in their original pots. If there is a lot of moisture in summer you could also try coastal redwoods. They love moisture in the summer and also grow huge! Good luck and keep me updated!

[@kostasvorniotakis4157]

@@planterbanter I'm not worried about the winter, I worry about the summer, winters here rarely below freezing. A normal winter is around 3-4 degrees Celsius to 10-15 degrees. Summer is hot. Maximum temperature 40-42 degrees.

[@planterbanter]

@@kostasvorniotakis4157 That is hot indeed. I have seen 100 year old giant sequoia in my hometown of Australia (reaches 40 degrees C also) and they are huge and established! They can survive those temperatures. When they are planted, they need to be mulched heavily so that the soil around them stays cool and can lock in moisture. You could also plant it around other trees, so that it gets shade or dappled light for some of the day. They may just need some water a few times in their first couple of summers until they get established. What's your average annual rainfall? Some sequoias can live with as little as 700ml per year of rain. They prefer a little more though for sure.

[@kostasvorniotakis4157]

@@planterbanter I think we have almost a little more than 700ml, but from September to May we have allot of humidity and fog up on the mountain so that's why I believe they might have a chance. The just have to survive for 2-3 years as you said or more,because there are sheep and goats and I don't want to be eaten... too many dangers here 😂😂I ll try grow them in pots untill they reach 1-2 meters but I don't know how many years will take for that

[@planterbanter]

@@kostasvorniotakis4157 I think getting them planted as soon as possible gives them the best chance as they are more adaptable. Oh yes the sheep/goats will find them and eat them 😂 Maybe you could plant them with large guards, or even better, hit four stakes around them and put wire around the tree. That's what I did on some of my planted trees and that seemed to work well.

[@empiremobile6101]

Are green cones viable for growing?

[@planterbanter]

This link will explain everything you need to know :) Happy growing!! www.instructables.com/Grow-Your-Own-Giant-Sequoia-Tree/

[@empiremobile6101]

@@planterbanter thanks very much. Btw, I am following this tutorial for about 300 seeds I have harvested and I have found it very useful, but I was wondering how often should I water germinated seeds when they start to pop out of the soil?

[@planterbanter]

@@empiremobile6101 hello I’m sorry I missed this comment. I did not see it until now. Give them a deep good watering so that all the soil is wet and dripping through so all the roots are watered. Then, keep an eye on your soil. Never let it dry out, but don’t keep it really wet for long periods of time. The roots will rot if they stay too wet for too long, and they will die if they are left dry. It’s a balance. Keep the soil moist at all times. Water them well so they are very wet, and then let the water evaporate and let the soil dry out a little (from wet to moist). Just before the soil is fully dry, water them again. They are at their most delicate and vulnerable stage when they first germinate so this is when it’s the most important time to do it well. They are more forgiving when they are older, but it’s still important to keep good care on them as best you can. keep me updated. You can comment anytime on my videos - I would love any updates on your trees. If you want to send me pics, send them through on my email (on my ABOUT section on my KZbin channel and you can contact me through there too).

[@planterbanter]

@@empiremobile6101 Also, green cones contain the most viable seeds! Collect them and you can let them dry out naturally. Just put them in a warm place inside and as soon as it opens you can harvest the seeds. Dried cones can have seeds germinate but the success rate is usually lower.

[@empiremobile6101]

@@planterbanter thanks a lot for the info, I will make sure to post a short video edit with the seeds germination progress over time. Hopefully I can plant some trees that will out live me :)

[@fletchbester]

Hello sir Jaco from South Africa I collect seeds and would like to enquire where I can get some seeds for my collection? Kind regards, Jaco Bester

[@planterbanter]

Hi Jaco, If you cannot collect them yourself, then I order them off of Etsy or EBay. I’m not sure what the laws are in South Africa for ordering seeds, but that is how I do it.

[@HerbieFullyLoaded2]

Where do you get your seeds?

[@planterbanter]

Etsy or EBay will provide you most seeds you need! I also collect a lot of seeds myself

[@cookiepan9124]

What is the temperature for cold stratification?

[@planterbanter]

I usually just keep them in my fridge! If you live in a a cold climate winter, then leaving them outside works too :)

[@adrianruiz8690]

Where did you buy them?

[@planterbanter]

When I buy the seeds I get them off the websites Etsy or EBay.

[@ummehabiba4570]

Do you sell them?

[@planterbanter]

Hello, unfortunately I don’t. What country are you located in? I will have many this upcoming spring but intend to plant most of them. If you happen to live in BC, Canada, i could possibly give you some for free !!

[@ummehabiba4570]

That's so generous of you. Appreciate that. However, my land is not ready yet. Just curious, If you do not sell, why do you grow them?

[@planterbanter]

@@ummehabiba4570 well I hope when your land is ready you will be able to plant lots of trees that will grow HUGE for many generations to come :) I grow them because I’m just really passionate about trees. I grow them for the earth and for people to enjoy (and for our great grandkids to enjoy). There’s nothing better than looking up at an old growth and enjoying it, knowing it’s been there for hundreds of years. If I can do that for people later on, I’ll be very happy! There are so many great species out there. Giant sequoia is just one of them and we should all plant as many amazing, big trees, all around the world, as much as we can :)

[@stevensibbet5869]

Giant Sequoia seeds would never experienced direct sunlight in the wild, in nature, in their natural habitat, because there would be underneath the canopy of full-grown trees.

[@planterbanter]

@@stevensibbet5869 incorrect, giant sequoia drop their cones after a hot wildfire. The cones open up and release the seeds from the heat of the fire. I’ve seen entire cleared fields with thousands of young giant sequoia seedlings after a fire! In direct sun!!! It’s the main reproductive strategy of giant sequoia. The species has adapted to live in wildfire regions. Yes, animals or storms can also knock the cones off and germinate under the canopy of the forest. But to say that giant sequoia would never germinate in direct sunlight is not right. I would say for germinating giant sequoia at home it is better to leave the seeds out of the light for better success, but most certainly not impossible as it is done in nature many times.

[@planterbanter]

@@stevensibbet5869 I’d watch this video for further reference: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hl66nmyMdrOEiKMsi=obiMjDpyAZDtsIZh

[@brunoraphael94100]

What kind of soil should i buy to germinate them?

[@planterbanter]

Hello, I have tried various soils over the years germinating them. Anything from seed raising mix mixed with sand, potting mix, garden soil, potting mix with perlite and peat moss. To be honest, they have all worked. Giant sequoias prefer free-draining loamy soils that are nutrient-rich.

[@brunoraphael94100]

@@planterbanter Thank you! I already put my seeds in the fridge and i cant wait for the time to plant! Greetings from Brazil!

[@planterbanter]

@@brunoraphael94100 how exciting! Let me know how they go, I will be interested to see how they go in tropical brazil!

[@brunoraphael94100]

@@planterbanter I'll update you, I already bought the soil you recommended, now I just have to wait patiently

[@MaineMotman]

Its still hilarious to me that the biggest tree grows from something the size of a printed "0" oval. A testimont to efficiency and the vessel for DNA and gene progression

[@planterbanter]

It is truly mind-boggling, I have gone down a deep hole into species that grow into giants and I love it 😂 There are some insanely big eucalyptus down in Aus that would've rivaled giant sequoia/coastal redwoods in size. There are journals in the 1800's with recordings larger than any tree recorded today. Of course we chopped them down though

[@barrylarryharry7183]

I've just ordered 50 seeds and some potting mix, I can't wait to get these babies germinated 🙂

[@planterbanter]

So exciting Barry! I see from your other comment that you are in the UK. Giant sequoia grow extremely well there as you would know. They'll grow massive there!

[@barrylarryharry7183]

@@planterbanter Yeah I have 2 within 5mins walk and they're very impressive, they're the reason I actually wanted to start growing my own