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I have grown several (small) trees, native to western Europe, from seed. (Oak, Pine, Chestnut, Walnut, Plum, Maple, Beech, etc). I have had the fortune of having some space in the garden where I could grow them and let them "overwinter" outside; however soon I will be moving to an apartment, and I won't have any outside space anymore.

While doing some research I read, that plants from this region, need a cold period in winter to grow successfully.

Would it be sufficient to leave them in a separate room with the windows open, to allow them to experience some colder temperatures. Or will I have to resort to more extreme measures?

Also, I have already determined that I will probably need grow lights and will have to control the humidity, because I have read that I will have to keep the humidity at around 50-60%. Are there other factors that I need to consider?

Another thing I was considering was getting a grow-tent and using that to circulate outside air around the plants.

Any tips or feedback would be much appreciated!

Jurp
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Pieter-Jan Cassiman
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1 Answers1

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According to this site woody trees in the Northern Hemisphere need

Not all hours above freezing are equal. Temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 10 degrees Celsius) are most effective

It seems unlikely you would keep a room at that temperature as pipes could freeze. What I can't tell you is what are the effects of not getting enough cold days.

The other thing to consider is that requirements for cold dormancy can vary within a species. An oak grown in a warmer climate has less need for cold days than one grown in Norway. You could restart your collection with the same species but ones that were grown in warmer temperatures.

kevinskio
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