Things to know about this Black Pine kit
BLACK PINE (Pinus nigra)
It is a coniferous, it can have a height of up to 30 m and a diameter up to 1 m. It has permanently dark green long aciform leaves. The wood is rich in resin, with inferior technological qualities. It supports well sunny exposures. The cones are grouped by 2-4. Seed maturation is achieved in 2 years.
Regarding the seeds, approx. 1 kg equals about 50,000 peeled seeds. Cones are great for winter decorations.
- Cylindrical cardboard packaging, reusable in the household as a container for various objects, as a “piggy bank”, or as a support for writing instruments on the desk. Being made of cardboard, it is not resistant to moisture and can swell, therefore it can be damaged. The cylinder is recyclable, and by reuse you protect NATURE.
- Clay pot. Burnt clay is a brittle material. Be careful not to drop it, as it can break very easily. Although the kit encourages you to work with children, please be careful so they do no not get harmed with any shards resulting in the unfortunate event that the pot breaks. Don’t worry, if the pot is broken, you can continue the project with any other container, provided it is about the same size and has a small excess drain hole at the base.
- Sack with soil. The soil is a mixture of peat and compost. Both components are vegetal in nature. It does not contain additives or synthetic chemicals. It is not edible. The sack is reusable after a previous wash.
- Pipette. We considered it necessary for a controlled dosage of the amount of water. It is the only plastic object. Please reuse it after completing this project for other purposes. If you still decide to throw it away, please do it selectively, with plastic waste, to be recycled.
- Seed bottle. We chose to use the bottle as a container for the seeds because they are perishable. Like the clay pot, the bottle is brittle. It can break, and shards can cause cut wounds. You can reuse it or throw it away selectively.
- The Black Pine seeds come from cones collected from the Western Eastern Carpathians, in 2020, from an altitude of 630 m. The germination percentage is 25%, which means that statistically, one in four seeds is likely to germinate and give life to a tree. The seeds of this species are not edible, but their ingestion will not require any medical intervention. They are not treated with chemicals, touching them with your hand do not cause allergies. If are not used immediately upon purchase, the seeds are stored in the refrigerator between 3-10 ̊C. Thus, it can germinate for 1-2 years.
1. What happens if the seeds reach too deep into the soil?
If the seeds reach too deep, they risk not being able to penetrate the soil layer and will perish before sprouting.
2. What happens if the seeds become too shallow?
If the seeds become too shallow, they will germinate very quickly, the plant not having enough time to form a suitable root, so the seedlings will overturn.
3. Too little water?
If it receives too little water, it will wither. At this early age, a wilted plant can rarely be restored to its original state.
If it is considered that the water added according to the guide is too little, it is up to you to adjust the quantity. In these growth stages, the plants are very sensitive to deficit of water.
4. Too much water?
If it has too much water, it risks rotting.
If it is considered that the water added according to the guide is too little, it is up to you to adjust the quantity. In these growth stages, the plants are extremely sensitive to excess water.
5. What to do with the refrigerated seeds?
You can use any other container and flower soil to grow a new generation of seedlings. They will usually sprout more seeds, which will later become seedlings. It is not desirable to separate them at this early age. They will be able to separate at transplanting, but carefully, without shaking too much soil.
6. Should I use fertiliser?
You should not use fertiliser, artificial or natural fertilizers for as long as the seedlings are in the pot and in the soil in the kit.
What will you find in the Black Pine Kit
What will you find in the Black Pine Black Pine kit
Own your own pine
Buy and plant your own black pine now. Simple & easy!
So, .
Day zero
STEP 1
Put the pot on the small plate. Open the bag of soil and fill the pot up to the black mark inside. Level the soil. Open the cap of the seed bottle and sprinkle half of the seeds on the potting soil.
Close the remaining seed bottle and store it in the fridge. The stored seeds will be a backup in case of failure. Pine seeds can be stored for several years in the sealed bottle. The germination rate decreases by about 10% per year.
Put the remaining soil over the seeds. Level the soil and gently tap it with your thumb. Make sure that all the seeds are evenly covered.
Fill a glass with water and dose the water with a pipette until the excess water comes out through the pot’s spout into the dish. This is the only time we recommend using more than one dose of water. From here on, use two pints of water a day to water the seeds. If you try to water the pot with tap water or another container, you risk washing the soil of the seeds. If you forget to water, you can make up for it by giving several drops of water.
Put the pot in a bright place, but away from heat sources.
Day 10 to 60
STEP 2
From the second month the plant will grow in height.
After the second month you can stop watering with a pipette because the soil will become so textured that it is possible to water it from other sources.
From the third month onwards, you no longer need to water it daily, but check the soil and keep it moist at all times.
In the first year it will reach 5-10 cm in height.
In the second year, it is desirable to move the plant to a larger 2 litre pot. You can use commercial flower potting soil, or soil from your own garden. Black pine is not fussy about soil.
When transplanting, do not shake the soil off the roots.
From the second year onwards it can stand outdoors in a place out of the sun, but in winter it must be protected from frost. Continue to water the pot weekly.
In summer, the seedlings need water and shade.
Day 60 to 365
STEP 3
From the second month the plant will grow in height. Also, from the second month we can give up watering with a pipette because the soil will have a texture so bound that it is possible from other containers.
From the third month, it should not be watered daily, but the soil should be checked and kept permanently moist.
At 6 months it can be transplanted into a larger pot of 2 litres. You can use commercial flower soil, or soil from your own garden.
The black locust is not pretentious in this regard. Continue to water the pot weekly as many times as necessary to keep it from drying out. It does not tolerate excess water well. Protect the plant from frost.
Day 365 +
STEP 4
After one year, you can plant it in its final place.
Watch out for the procedure! The seedling needs to be planted without shaking the soil from the root.
Choose a place from where you will not have to move it later on.
The tree can reach 20-30 m. Choose the place so as not to endanger the safety of surrounding buildings and make sure there are no pipes under the planted seedling.
Not being demanding, it can be transplanted in any type of soil, even in poor or sandy soils.
The optimal transplant period is spring to April-May.