4 Plant Propagation Methods

The eastern white pine or Pinus strobus inhabits much of northeastern North America. It can be found as far north as Newfoundland, as far south as Georgia, and as far west as Minnesota. The eastern white pine can grow very tall, some reaching heights of 180 feet. In fact, the tallest accurately measured tree east of the Rocky Mountains is a an eastern white pine in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with a height of 188 feet. Trunk diameters for this tree, on average range from three to five feet. Bluish- green, finely serrated needles cover the tree, persisting for 18 months before abscission. Slender cones are produced, with peak production happening every three to five years. Seeds are wind dispersed from the cones, which can be self fertilized. However, self fertilization leads to stunted, malformed seedlings in many cases. Eastern white pines can live very long lives. Some trees have been found to be over 400 years old. People have used eastern white pines for many years in wood working due to its easy workability, beautiful grain patterns, and color. It is still widely grown in plantation forestry throughout its native area. Not only is this tree used for woodworking, it also has practical uses in medicine and food. Needles from the tree contain five times the amount of vitamin C produced by lemons, making an excellent herbal tea. The cambium is edible, though not very tasty. Native Americans were known to harvest this in times of hardship, drying it and pounding it to produce flour. Smaller specimens are popular Christmas trees, favorable because they hold their needles well and give off little to no aroma. Ornamentally the tree is favorable to many growers due to its low maintenance and rapid growth. With regular shearing it can even be used as a hedge.  

The easiest and cheapest way to propagate eastern white pines is through seed propagation, however there are other methods. Tissue culture is an option, though it requires the use of a lab and can be quite costly. Grafting is also a possibility, but skilled workers are needed, increasing the cost of this method. Cutting propagation is a very viable option and is used commercially, but again is still more time intesive and costly than seed propagation. Below the steps for propagating eastern white pine from seed are listed.

What you will need:

• Freezer bag
• Bucket
• Paper bag
• Perlite
• 5 inch square pots
• Sharp sand
• Sphagnum moss
• Loam
• 40 percent shade cloth
• Pine mulch
• Greenhouse or cold frame with insulated glass
• Propagation heating mat

 

Step 1.

Begin gathering eastern white pine cones in the late summer, choosing ones that are dried out to the point that the scales are beginning to lift. Now, place the cones in a paper bag and place them in a spot outdoors that is both warm and dry. Leave them in this spot until the cones drop their seeds, which usually takes about a week.

Step 2.

Fill a bucket with several inches of water and float the seeds overnight in it to determine which seeds are viable. Any seeds that float should be removed, as their embryo is probably dead. Remove the seeds that sank by draining off the water.

Step 3.

Fill a freezer bag with lightly moistened perlite and place the seeds into the perlite. They should now be stored in the refrigerator for two to three months. Check the perlite periodically and remoisten whenever it feels mostly dry.

Step 4.

Begin to prepare the containers the seeds will be grown in after the cold stratification period has ended. In each five inch square pot with half sharp sand and have sphagnum moss. Completely wet each mixture and allow the water to drain off.

Step 5.

Place one eastern white pine seed in each container by poking a ¾ inch hole in the media. Set each seed horizontally and cover with loose sphagnum moss. Put a ⅛ layer of sand on top of the sphagnum moss covering the seed.

Step 6.

Once all seeds have been planted, move the containers into either a greenhouse or cold frame with insulated glass. Place the pots on top of a heating mat that maintains a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.

Step 7.

Check the pots daily for adequate moisture levels. Water should be added whenever the top inch of the soil barely feels moist to the touch. Make sure to water slowly and only add water until a small amount can be see coming out of the bottom of the pot.
Step 8.

Germination should begin to occur between two to six weeks. Once a majority of seeds have germinated the heating mat should only be turned on at night to a temperature of 65 degrees fahrenheit. All this time continue to water the seedlings when the top inch of media feels barely moist to the touch.

Step 9.

Once seedlings reach a height of two inches begin transplanting them into five inch square pots filled with half loam and half sharp sand. The pots should now be placed outside under 40 percent shade cloth. Water each pot about one inch per week for the first summer.

Step 10.

When fall comes, it is time to begin planting the pines in a more permanent home. Make sure to select an area where the trees will have ample room to grow as they get quite large. I would recommend planting the young trees at least twenty feet apart. After planting, spread a two inch thick layer of pine mulch around each seedling to protect the roots. Remember to provide supplemental water during periods of dry weather.

Conclusion

Eastern white pines are beautiful, magnificent trees that would make a great addition to almost any area of property. These trees are so pleasing that both Michigan and Maine consider them their state tree. In Ontario, Canada it is the provincial tree for the province. They can provide homes to many varieties of wildlife and aesthetic value to an area from many generations. This tree also provides a touch of green year round, warming the dull, white landscape of winter.

 

References

Dickerson, J. (2002, February 5). Plant Fact Sheet: Eastern White Pine. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pist.pdf

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) – Information on Eastern White Pine – Encyclopedia of Life. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.eol.org/pages/1061748/overview

Hartmann and Kester’s Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices, Hartmann H. T., Kester D.E., Davies F.T., Geneve R.L., 8th Edition.