Start of something big?

Jeff · March 04, 2001, 07:26:36 AM

The wonder is not always in the finished product.

I can't wait to see the earth move as the seed sprouts, or see the first set of leaves open. We might not see the maturity of a tree we plant, but what a shame, the next generation didn't see the birth.

L. Wakefield · March 04, 2001, 04:27:49 PM

one source of potential concern- check out www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pato1.htm .
They seem to take the attitude that this is a very invasive species.

Jeff · March 04, 2001, 05:13:01 PM

I am not to concerned. I have read enough that the tree is already established in this country. I know of a couple specimens grown south of me as ornamentals. I would like to hear Hugh's take or some of the other southern guys what they think about the tree being an "alien pest".

Hugh Darty · March 04, 2001, 05:34:56 PM

Well, I'm not surprised by the government opinion. The government contact who wrote the opinion is located in the Great Smoky Mts. Park, and there are several of these trees scattered around Gatlinburg. If you gathered every Paulownia tree in the park up and figured the acreage they have "taken over" in the last 100 years there probably would be less than 20 acres total. If you figure that the park has mayby 1 million acres you can see the threat is enormous. Give the trees another million years and they will have the park taken over!

Hugh Darty · March 04, 2001, 06:10:42 PM

Correct that million years, calculator says fifty thousand years.

Don P · March 05, 2001, 09:52:48 AM

Multiflora, The Blight, there are some that claim these aren't mountains at all, merely hapless trucks that pulled over for a nap when the Kudzu covered them over. All introduced, the rule of thinking 7 generations down the line makes sense.
Gordon got me out the other morning, Thanks. Up the ridge over the cliff...There's a couple of Chestnuts still trying.

Ron Wenrich · March 05, 2001, 03:03:01 PM

Don: Add russian olive to that list.

Hugh: The place where we take our pawlownia is C D Miller. The last few we had were growing in with oak, so had nice, tight rings. But, the buyer that stops in that area hasn't come around lately. Japanese economy have anything to do with that? Or is there too much supply coming from the South?

Hugh Darty · March 05, 2001, 07:58:40 PM

Ron, I think the Japanese economy has something to do with it. I only know of one buyer working in the south right now. I have a few Japanese buyer friends that I haven't talked to in a year or two, I'll get the scoop and let yall know.

Don P · March 05, 2001, 08:24:41 PM

So do seeds develop to a zone or I guess acclimatize? Should Jeff be trying PA seeds also?

Jeff · March 06, 2001, 05:07:12 PM

I could not keep adequate track of the seed bed where it was in the skylight. So here is the new set up with a growlight.

Gordon · March 06, 2001, 05:57:24 PM

Jeff, the mirror on a ten foot stick got old quick.:D

Ron, I'll be looking for those flowers come spring. Now that I've got an idea what to look for. Quite an interesting tree. The down side to starting a large amout of them is an iffy market. But one never knows which way it will go.

How come this wood isn't used stateside for anything? Or are we looking at a major growth market in the future.
Gordon

Ron Wenrich · March 07, 2001, 03:02:05 PM

There just isn't any demand. It is too soft for most furniture, but it might be decent for the carving crowd.

I doubt if there will be any demand generated in this country. We go in cycles of ring porous and ring diffuse woods for our furniture, flooring, and trim. We are now ending the oak phase and going back to the maple phase. Pawlownia just doesn't seem to be in the cards.

European favorites have been mahogany for years. Since they are rain forest trees, they have fallen out of favor. They have switched over to cherry, and that is driving those markets.

If the European crowd doesn't want pawlownia, I doubt we would either. Just a gut feeling.

Jeff · March 07, 2001, 05:29:47 PM

03/07/2001
No sprouts yet...

Hugh Darty · March 07, 2001, 05:38:14 PM

Don, I really don't know if it would make any difference on where the seeds came from, but I doubt it. I'm sure our trees came here from the east coast, probably from seed from the same trees yours decended from.

RavioliKid · March 09, 2001, 07:04:13 PM

Jeff and Hugh, (and anyone else who is interested)

We planted our paulownia seeds today! The kids (my 17 third grade students) were absolutely amazed by the seeds. They couldn't believe how tiny they were. I put a few in small ziploc bags for them to pass around, and they were suitably impressed when I showed them pictures of the tree and the leaves on the internet. They were surprised about the small size of the seeds and the large size of the tree and leaves.

When I showed them the contents of the baggie Hugh had sent me, they just about flipped! I guess they didn't expect to see so many seeds - and that was just from a couple of pods. (I think - the pods got crushed in the mail, so it was hard to tell how many there were originally.)

I ended up going with a heated tray, which I got a Menards for less than $30. I put them in the sunniest spot I could. I might be getting a grow lamp next week.

I'll keep you posted.

Kim

Jeff · March 09, 2001, 07:24:43 PM

Aint it a hoot! Fun for not only third graders but thirty sumpthins too! Thanks Rav!

(I'm the thirty sumpthin, at least for a few months)

Jeff · March 10, 2001, 03:20:49 PM

Hey Sawtooth 11 days and no sign of life yet, when should I worry? I have them right where they can be easily checked. I have a spray bottle that if I go by and the top of the planting soil looks dry, I give it a mist. Any other specifics you can think of for success? The grow light I leave on for about 16 hours a day.

Hugh Darty · March 10, 2001, 04:45:39 PM

Give them another week. They are very succeptible to the smallest variance in their environment. Back in the early eighty's, when no one much had any info on growing Paulownia I was told by the Tenn. Forestry Commission that you could not grow them from seed. They reccommended root cuttings from larger trees.
I tried several different methods before having success. In the past I grew my seeds outdoors.
If yours fail and mine make it I'll send you some plants, even if I have to grow them another batch outside.

But don't give up, we'll try another approach if yours don't sprout. Michigan and Alabama are totally diferent climates, you are a month or more behind me, so you have plenty of time before transplant time.

Jeff · March 14, 2001, 03:50:05 PM

HEYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I got Sprouts!!!!!!!! 2 in fact, no digital camera tonight, Tammy has it at a volleyball game. I got sprow-owts! 8)(or weeds.. :'()

Hugh Darty · March 14, 2001, 04:49:19 PM

Great! I was beginning to wonder. I think mine have been contaiminated by a fungus, so I'll probably have to re-do them. I'll give them a few more days, mine are a week or two behind yours.

Jeff · March 16, 2001, 01:52:14 PM

I now have three tiny sprouts. I am sure now that they are paulonia, as the last tiny sprout has a seed husk stuck to it. Here is a pic of the first one, just barely big enough for my camera to see!

RavioliKid · March 17, 2001, 05:28:18 PM

Way to go, Sprout-man!

I'll check mine and get back to you next week.

Jeff · March 17, 2001, 07:11:39 PM

I hope to soon becomePLANT MAN!

With 73 planting compartments each having 4 to 6 seeds, I think I need more then 3 sprouts to have a chance at getting a plant to "outdoor size" I may have to take Hugh up on his over to send plants!

RavioliKid · March 19, 2001, 09:39:33 AM

We have sprouts!

Lots and lots of sprouts!

Not all the cells have sprouts, but there are a good number of them.

The must have sprouted over the weekend, as there wasn't anything there when I left school on Friday.

They look so tiny and insignificant!

I wish I knew how to post a picture!

Jeff · March 19, 2001, 01:14:09 PM

Hey, that aint fair! I still only have 4. Rav, please leave me a detailed discription of what you used for soil, watering, what ever , so I can start my other flat. Did you use potting soil? or a seed mix? Thanks!!! Do you have a scanner at school? If not send me some pics snail mail if you like and I will post them for your class.