Question
Bismark pine
I have purchased 5 Bismarck pine nuts and want to know what are the optimum conditions for propagation. What time of year, propagation and potting medium, in or out of shade, etc.
AnswerHi Jennifer,
Thanx for your question. The picture you posted looks like a Bismark palm not pine. You can start the seeds any time but use a deep pot. I would first soak the seeds for 5 days, changing the water should it become fouled. Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep. Keep the pot in a warm environment. If you can bottom heat, that's even better. Seeds should begin sprouting in 2-3 weeks, sometimes longer but they're fairly easy to sprout. They will have long, thick, brittle, white roots. Be careful not to break the roots. Once they germinate they are rather slow-growing. As soon as you can get them outdoors, the better. They are only hardy to the warmer parts of Zone 9 and in the U.S. primarily grow in Florida from Orlando South, very South Texas, possibly the Phoenix area and coastal California to San Francisco. I've read that it has survived in parts of Oregon and warmer areas of zone 8 but I wouldn't bet any money on that. Use, potting soil mixed with peat, sand and perlite. If your climate is warm, they can be started outdoors. If not, start them indoors underneath 40-watt shop lights. When moving them outdoors, they should be placed in the shade for 10 days to harden off. After that, they'll need direct sunlight. I hope this helps.
Tom
