Here’s the truth: pine trees are slow growers. Your seedling might look like a sad tuft of grass for its first year. Don’t despair—it’s building a deep root system underground, which is way more important than looking fancy.
Pin on Plants
Water consistently but don’t drown it. And for the love of all that is green, keep it away from squirrels. I once lost a whole tray of seedlings to a single, smug squirrel who thought they were snacks. Spoiler: they weren’t.
Transplanting to the Great Outdoors
After about a year—or when your seedling is about six inches tall—you can move it outside. But don’t just plop it into the ground cold turkey. Harden it off by setting the pot outside for a few hours each day over a week. Think of it as a tree’s version of a slow morning coffee.
Choose a sunny spot with good drainage. Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball, and never plant it deeper than it was in the pot—buried stems rot faster than forgotten leftovers.
