Patent ID: 7117634

Claim:
A method of forming a coniferous tree seedling plug for use in re-planting coniferous forests comprising: i) filling a hollow cell of a tray of hollow cells with a growing medium wherein said growing medium comprises a plurality of thermal-sensitive fibres; ii) heat-treating said thermal-sensitive fibres to form an interconnected fibrous network within said growing medium by dipping said tray in a bath of hot water at a temperature of approximately 89 degrees Celsius, and then dipping said tray in a bath of water at tap water temperature, 5 to 10 degrees Celsius; iii) planting a coniferous tree seed in said hollow cell; iv) germinating said coniferous free seed into a seedling and nurturing said seedling to provide root development; v) after less than 7 months and sufficient root development of said seedling has occurred, ejecting said seedling and growing medium from said hollow cell to form said coniferous tree seedling plug; and vi) packing said coniferous tree seedling plug for use in re-planting coniferous forests.