Seed #1 - A Very Sad Sprout (But Getting Better)

About a week ago, I left my only dawn redwood seedling out on my deck... Just long enough for my dog to eat it. After a cooling off period, I put the tree back under the lights and hoped for the best. About half of the stem and one seed leaf seemed intact - a few secondary leaves were barely hanging on.

I guess I was too upset to snap a photo at the time, but after that week long rehab, this little guy is starting to grow a new shoot! The last remaining seed leaf is starting to wither, but it looks like the new shoot is already off to a good start. Once the dying part of the stem falls off, this shoot should take over, and all should be well.

Seed #1 - Transplant

This seedling was ready for transplanting, so I moved it into a six-inch pot with a well-drained soil mixture, consisting of:

• cheap potting soil
• vermiculite
• perlite
  
• sphagnum peat moss
• sand (just a bit)

Seed #1 - First Branches

Three weeks ago, I setup some grow lights for my seedlings. Since then, my only dawn redwood seedling has doubled in size, and has grown its first two branches. This is very good news - once seedlings make it this far, they have a much better chance of surviving.

Seed #1 - Sprout Opened, Secondary Leaves Showing

This is still my only dawn redwood, but it's doing very well. The sprout was quick to open, and is now showing off the start of its secondary leaves.

Seed #1 - Sprout

I still can't quite make out how many cotyledons there are. It looks like at least one of these two is a grouping of two, just waiting to separate.

Seed #1 - Sprout

This is still my only dawn redwood to sprout, so I'm still very excited to see it progress. The cotyledons are starting to show - it'll be interesting to see how many it has.

Seed #1 - Sprouting Up From Soil

I've had such poor luck with my one-hundred dawn redwood seeds. So far, (and it's still early), only one of my them has germinated. After less than a week in the soil, that seed found its way out. This is a very good day... I hope this little guy knows how much I'm counting on him!

Seed #1 - Radicle

Of my one hundred dawn redwood seeds, this is the first to germinate. These seeds are so tiny and fragile, I was surprised to see any sprout roots. This is very exciting - unfortunately, I'm not seeing anywhere near the immediate success that I've seen with my coast redwood seeds.