Brothers International LTD

"We specialize strictly in Paulownia, helping others who wish to start their own plantation"

Formally Early Bird Nursery

Tree shelters:
I have tried many things over the years for sheltering little seedlings (cups, bottles, tubes, plastics). Tubex just seems to work the best. They are corrugated like card board. It gives some insulation factor and makes them much stronger for pushing into the soil and weed eating. Try the bottles, they may work find. I will send you some used ones when you order the seed. If you get some from Tubex, order the standard ( http://www.tubex.com/index.php?page=43 ), a band saw works best to cut to 1 foot lengths. They do not sell the 1 foot lengths. Paulownia does not do will if they are past 1 foot. They need full sunlight after the first 4 to 6 weeks!

Lights:
I have use fluorescent lights (daylight & cool white), high pressure sodium, and metal halide. LED would be great, if they can put out the foot candles of energy. You need about 600 on the leaves for them to do well. They would be great, for heat is and electrical costs are the big negative factors. The hydroponics suppliers have not offer any I know of yet. So, I assume LED can not put out the energy needed for good plant growth.
This time of year you can start the seedlings outside. Just let them catch the morning sun and put them under shade the rest of the day. On cloudy, over cast days, shade is not necessary. Remember, you only need 600 foot candles to start Paulownia. Full sunlight can be over 10,000 foot candles! You only want full sunlight after germination and have been transfer into pots.

Remember, the most important elements for germination is: 1) light; 2) moisture & high humidity; 3) lose/light medium for root development; and 4) warmth.

1) The seeds are very tiny with little stored energy for the germination phenomenon. In short, the seed’s root has only one chance to make it! They are very fragile. If the root dries out before it gets into the medium, its dead. As soon as the root sprouts, the seedling must go to work & make its own food. This is part of the reason it needs to be on top of the medium, exposed to light for germination. It does not need a lot of food, so it does not need a lot of light energy. Remember, 600 foot candles; 16 to 24 hours of light each day. Less then 12, the seedlings will go dormant!

2) The easiest method of maintaining moisture & humidity is using germination flat with a clear plastic dome over the top. The flat should have holes in the bottom of it. Put the germination medium in the flat with holes. Take a second flat that has no holes in it and place water about 1/3 full. After the seed have been sown in the first flat, on top of the medium, cover the flat with the clear dome and place it onto the second flat with water. It may float. The water will soak up into the first flat. In other words, you are watering from the bottom up. You should water this way for the next 10 to 14 days, never let the medium dry out. After 14 days, remove the dome and use less water & start fertilizing an even blend at 350 to 500 ppm (parts per million) the water. I use Peters or Miracle Grow water soluble. At 21 days they should be developing their second set of leaves, be about 5 to 8 mm tall and ready to trans-plant into pots.

3) The medium needs to be a soil less type which is finely ground for easy root development.

4) The temperature best range is 75 to 85 degrees. This is easy to control indoors under lights, but outside the temperature can vary greatly inside the plastic doom in 24 hours. In full sun, it can get 100+ degrees easily under the dome. Think how your car is during the summer months with the windows rolled up. For sunlight, be careful and use common sense!

The other problem out doors is high winds, hard rains, hail and any thing else mother nature can throw at you to destroy your seedlings. If you are like me, I can not be there 24/7 watch over my seedlings for the next month, so I do mine indoors most times where I have full control of the indoor weather. I also do not have the problem of fungi infection or predation from rabbits & insects which can happen outside.

I was looking at two litter soda bottles. If you cut the top and bottom off it looks like they would make a perfect tree tube. They are clear which would also give them maximum light. Also have you tried using any of the led grow lights instead of the fluorescent ones? What are your feelings on these two things?

Taking Orders Paulownia Seed

Voice: 1-423-278-8891

Fax: 1-423-623-5465

DavidSutton@paulowniaseed.com

To contact us:

David Sutton

PO Box 100

Parrottsville, TN 37843

USA

Phone: 423-278-8891

Fax: 423-623-5465

E-mail: DavidSutton@paulowniaseed.com