Pseudotsuga (menziesii)

John T. Harrington Professor New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center P. O. Box 359 Mora, New Mexico 87732-0359 575-387-2319 575-387-9012 (fax) joharrin@nmsu.edu www.arborday.org

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Family Scientific Name:	Pinaceae
Family Common Name:	Pine Family
Scientific Name:	Pseudotsuga menziesii glauca (Beissn.) Franco
Common Name:	Douglas-fir; Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir; red fir
Species Code:	PSME
General Distribution:	This variety of Douglas-fir is found throughout the Rocky Mountains. In New Mexico, Douglas-fir is found from the foothills, at elevations of 6,500 feet (1980 m) to nearly tree line (Carter 1997). It may be found associated with P. ponderosa in dry mixed-conifer forests, and with P. engelmannii and A. lasiocarpa in cooler, more mesic mixed-conifer forests.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	164 ml conetainer
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Height: 15 to 20 cm Caliper: 2 to 3 mm Root System: Firm root plug.
Propagule Collection:	Entire cones are harvested by hand from trees. Cones are harvested when they begin to turn brown, prior to scale opening. In New Mexico this is typically September through early October.
Propagule Processing:	Cones are placed in cone cages placed in a greenhouse. Greenhouse environmental controls are set to cool if temperatures exceed 27oC. Once opened, cones are removed and tumbled in a cone tumbler and the seed is collected. This process yields both seed and some cone detris. The seed left over in the cone cage during the cone opening process is collected and added to the seed and detris collected during cone tumbling. The seed/detris mix is rubbed gently in a rubbing box to separate wings from the seed. The seed is then cleaned by separation in an air column. This process has shown to be effective in separating nearly all of the detris from the seed. Cleaned seeds are refrigerated (2 - 4oC) until use if use is expected within 12 months. If the seed is not intended to be used until after 12 months, the seed is stored at -9 to - 12oC.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds are removed from storage and placed in water at room temperature for 12 - 18 hours. The moistened seed is then placed into self-sealing, polyethylene baggies and stratified for 21 - 28 days. Stratification temperatures range from 2 to 4oC
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation occurs in a greenhouse and outdoor nursery (shade house) facility. During establishment and the initial portion of the active growth period, seedlings are kept in the greenhouse. During the later portion of the active growth period through the storage period, seedlings are kept in the shade house. Seed is sown in early April and seedlingsare moved into the shade house throughout August when seedlings are between 15 and 20 cm tall. Growing media is a 2:1:1 (v:v:v) peat:perlite:vermiculite mixture. Controlled release fertilizer 14-14-14 (N-P-K) 3-4 month is incorporated into the media at the rate of 4 kg/m3. Greenhouse irrigation is provided via mini-sprinklers. Irrigation heads are spaced to provide head to head coverage. Shade house irrigation is provided via standard fixed-area turf irrigation nozzles, spaced to provide head to head coverage. Seedlings are fertilized using a fertigation system, which utilizes the irrigation system. Irrigation in the cold frame is done using sub-irrigation beds. Irrigation intervals are typically every 4 to 5 days while in the cold frame.
Establishment Phase:	(Greenhouse) Seed is placed on top of the media. A 2 to 5 mm layer of fine chicken grit is placed on top of the media/seed to serve as a gravel mulch. The containers are irrigated (misted) 4 to 8 times daily to keep the surface of the media moist. Greenhouse night and day temperatures range from 18 to 26øC and no supplemental light is provided. Thinning of germinants to one seedling per cell begins after 14 days. The container system used allows for the consolidation of germinants to separate containers, which are removed from daily misting. Consolidation begins after 14 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	28 days
Active Growth Phase:	Containers are irrigated as needed, which usually involves irrigation once every 4 to 5 days for the first several weeks then one every 2 to 3 days through the remainder of the active growth period, typically by week 18. Containers are allowed to dry down to a moderate state between irrigations. This irrigation regime is used to help minimize root disease problems. All irrigations are done early in the morning, which allows foliage to sufficiently dry before nightfall, minimizing foliar disease problems. During the active growth phase, seedlings are fertigated every other irrigation with a liquid based fertilizer (20-10-10; N-P-K). Fertilization rates applied progressively increase throughout the active growth phase. Applications rate begins at 25 ppm N for the first 2 weeks and progressively increases by 25 ppm every two weeks. By week thirteen, seedlings begin receiving 175 ppm N and this rate is held until the seedlings are moved to the shade house. Once in the shade house, seedlings are fertilized with 150 ppm N every third irrigation until the end of August. During the greenhouse portion of the active growth period greenhouse temperatures during the day are 21 to 26øC and during the night 18 to 22øC. Ambient photoperiod is supplemented with 5 min light interruptions every 2 hours throughout the night from 75 watt incandescent lights suspended 2 meters above greenhouse benches. Once transferred outside, ambient temperature and light regimes are utilized.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	14 to 18 weeks
Hardening Phase:	(Shade house) This phase begins in late summer (end of August typically) to early fall as soon as seedlings attain their target shoot height. Containers are leached with a heavy irrigation and a series of incrementally increasing water stresses is applied to restrict any further height growth. In Mora, NM, ambient day temperatures are still quite warm but nights begin cooling markedly. The interval between irrigations becomes progressively longer due to seedlings becoming acclimated to water deficits and the gradual cooling associated with the onset of fall. Seedlings are fertilized every third irrigation (fertigated) with a liquid based fertilizer (10-30-20; N-P-K) at a rate of 25 ppm N.
Length of Hardening Phase:	9 to 12 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	(Cold Frame) Seedlings are moved from the shade house into a cold frame (low-tech, twin-walled poly-topped greenhouse) in late October to early November. This step is necessary as the diurnal fluctuations in temperatures throughout the winter can result in daily freeze/thaw episodes which can damage the seedlings. The temperature in the cold frame ranges from 2 to 4oC day and night. Irrigation in the cold frame is done using sub-irrigation beds. Irrigation intervals are typically every 4 to 5 days while in the cold frame. No supplemental light is provided. Seedlings are kept in the cold frame until shipped which is typically in late February or early March.
Length of Storage:	3 - 4 months
References:	Carter, J.L. 1997. Trees and Shrubs of New Mexico. Johnson Books, Boulder, CO. 534 pp. Hermann RK and Lavender DP. 2004. Douglas-Fir. In: (R.M. Burns & B.H. Honkala Tech. Coords.) Silvics of North America. Volume 1. Conifers. URL: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/Spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/silvics_vol1.pdf (accessed 17 December 2008). [ITIS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2008. (On-line database). URL: http://www.itis.gov (accessed 17 December 2008).

Citation:

Loveall, Mark W.; Harrington, John T. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Pseudotsuga menziesii plants 164 ml conetainer; New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center Mora, New Mexico. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.