Growing kauri part 1

[@sskuk1095]

I'm from Austria and the Kauri is by far my favourite tree!

[@grantoneill277]

Great to find your channel thanks Max. Did a cone harvest and seed recovery today - will get them planted in the weekend and see if I can get some germination. I'm over on the Kaipara - cones seem a bit smaller than yours, but could be the drought.

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Yes, I think the cones are smaller this year due to such dry conditions. Good luck!

[@annettepomare2329]

Thankyou for sharing your video , had no idea , but was beautiful how it opened up to Kauri seeds , amazing 💚🌱🌳🍃

[@redearthnativeplants165]

It is pretty special isn't it?

[@SpOoNzL]

Hi Max just wondering if you planning on collecting some more Kauri cones this March? If so would I please be able to buy 2-4 cones of you? Id love to try propagate them and have them grow down in Dunedin.

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Howdy. I'm not sure if I will be collecting much kauri seed this year. I have around 2000 kauri trees in my nursery right now at various stages and just don't have room for more. I will concentrate on other species. I may head out into the bushes and collect a few cones for you if I can. Send me an email if you like and I'll let you know if I do. Cheers Max

[@ElectroDrives]

Thank you for this video. What are the round furry things within the cones? I thought those were the seeds, so was surprised when the seeds are even smaller

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Howdy, I think the round thing you mention may just be the centre part of the cone where the seeds and other parts radiate.

[@kenhansen1776]

Love your posts. Do you have to climb the Kauri to get the cone? I visited some today & they were raining the chaf! Heaps of birds in the trees too. Seem to be excited about the event!! When do you plant the seeds? Thanks a lot!!

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Howdy Ken. Sorry for the late reply. To collect cones, I travel with 2-3 other people to a property of a friend who has mature kauri. He made a long extension for my pruner, (about 8m), attach guy ropes and between the 3 of us manage to guide the pole to the cones and chop them off one by one. Catching them as they fall is the fun part.. I plant the seed as soon as the cones separate and the seed is available as they lose viability quickly.

[@raewyngraham7250]

Thank you for sharing, great video:)

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Thanks Raewyn. I really enjoy growing NZ native trees and am happily planting out my property! one day a forest.Thanks for your interest

[@bengriffiths3155]

Hi Max, great informative video. Thanks! I saw these videos about 10 months ago and was too late with the seeds so I've patiently waited and now is the time! I live in Titirangi and we have some kauri down the back of our place and I thought it would be good to use the seeds from these to plant more around here. I had a look today and saw plenty of what looks like fresh chaff on the ground but to get the cones off the tree I reckon I'd need a pole of about 20 metres! I read your post in the comments about using an 8m pole extension thing with guide ropes. Perhaps they are so high here as the bush canopy is so high so not many lower branches. Just wondering if you think it's being a bit silly trying to use really local seeds or should I just try and find some seeds from further afield where the cones are a bit more reachable? I could also scour the ground for the seeds?

[@TheGchiu]

Can't you put out a tarp to collect any seeds? Otherwise you'll need a dedicated drone to get your cones! I was able to get cones from my tree with a 3m stick and ladder.

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Howdy Ben. sorry for the late reply. It is always best to collect from the local area you intend to plant but is not always possible. I don't beat myself up about it and most of the kauri I grow is from a friends place, on the Coromandel but some distance away. Collecting seed is pretty difficult unless you can climb well, (which I can't), or use ladders, poles and have helpers. I never bother with seed off the ground as it is so often unviable.

[@lncln]

Hi Max, I have a cone from an agathis robusta kauri tree that is now starting to crack/come apart. Should I wait for the seeds and innards to completely dry out before planting or should I put in soil ASAP? Thank you for this great video!

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Planting seed as soon as the cones break apart is best. Just check that the seed is plump and firm to ensure they are developed and mature. Sorry for the late reply.

[@lncln]

@@redearthnativeplants165 No problem! Unfortunately none of my seeds made it, I must have done something wrong... I put them in planting soil/peat moss, but nothing came up. I think I got the watering/moisture wrong as some of the planters had still water on the bottom. I'll try again next year!

[@chrisandanniethacker6457]

Thank you for your amazing videos! Would you be keen to sell some Kauri cones? Cheers, Annie.

[@starflash08]

Hi Max, I collected cones in early April and they burst open last week, what an amazing function of nature that was!, However all the seeds were thin and soft, no real seed at all. I collected in two separate areas. Is it a function of this year's growing conditions or did I just luck out. I've been out today looking but all cones are gone.

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Howdy, Not sure here unless the trees are still quite young and not mature yet. You'd expect some viable seed even in a difficult year. Were the cones small? Where abouts are the trees you collected from?

[@starflash08]

@@redearthnativeplants165 yes trees were smallish and cones looked smaller than the ones you had collected, collected Tairua area

[@stephenking4170]

young isolated kauri often have poor pollination and viability. Most fertile cones release seeds in March. Any cones still on the tree in April have a high probability of being sterile.

[@familyforrester3181]

wow love the music

[@TheCaesar32]

That was amazing had no idea

[@taipuakipa2855]

Kia ora, do you sow the the seeds strait away after harvesting (in autumn) or do you hold them until spring. If so do you keep them in the fridge or not. Thanks in advance.

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Howdy. I plant as soon as possible after collecting the fresh seed. The seed loses viability fairly quickly and I never hold until Spring. I have an area that I use for the kauri so I can grow through the winter.

[@rowansmith1843]

Once the seeds are planted in the seed raising mix how much water do you give them ? And how often ?

[@redearthnativeplants165]

I usually give them a good soak from a hose with a fine spray and try not to let them dry out too much until the seed germinates. Once the seedlings emerge I water enough to keep the mix moist but not too wet. Good luck!

[@jeffs2485]

Excellent advice. Thank you

[@TheGchiu]

Do the sizes of the cones relate to age, and seed viability? I managed to grab a couple of 5 cm diameter cones from my tree but the seeds feel soft. At the base they open up exposing an inner red seed material.

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Thats pretty small for a good mature kauri cone and I suspect it hasn't grown to its full potential. As you have done, the best thing is to check the firmness of the seed before planting

[@TheGchiu]

@@redearthnativeplants165 do cones appear yearly or do they mature over a number of years?

[@raphlvlogs271]

The scales on the seed cones are basically modified leaves. Just like paddles on flowering plants.

[@reinzrikihana2224]

❤❤ I have never seen this before ❤❤ thank you so much for sharing ❤️ 💜

[@redearthnativeplants165]

It's a pleasure.

[@johngy40]

i have a tree i planted 6 or 7 years ago it has a few cones on it and today i found a bunch of seeds scattered on the ground do you think they would be viable thanks john

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Howdy John That's great! If the seed is firm and plump it is worth planting to see. The seed doesn't stay viable for long so best to sow fresh.

[@johnno6183]

Hi, Its october here in Ch Ch and the cones are still quite hard. Will they still be good about March? PS The possums get them at this stage I think.

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Sorry it has taken so long to reply! Seed doesn't stay viable for long and have generally split before May! Try picking a cone and drying to see if the seed is any good but Early March is the time to collect and sow.

[@johnno6183]

Thanks will get into it. Its 17-3-19 and have about 20 cones.

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Excellent! Good luck with growing them

[@starflash08]

awesome man thank you

[@stopcogovernance]

You lost me when you were showing how to separate the seed from the chaff. We need a close up video (very close) which shows what you are actually doing. Can you do this please?

[@redearthnativeplants165]

Howdy, sorry about that. I will try to update that video but until then, the chaff are woody, roughly triangular and about 30mm long. The seed is smaller with a papery wing and sits between the woody bits. If you send me an email I can send some photos if you like.

[@Rosshopkins2006]

I DEMAND WOLLEMI IN USA

[@redearthnativeplants165]

I wouldn't mind a Wollemi pine tree too! There seems to be great success raising their numbers in Australia and the UK.