Your pine seedling will grow into what I call the awkward teenager phase. It’s about two inches tall, with a single wisp of green on top. It looks like a bad comb-over. You’ll worry it’s dying, but it’s just being a jerk.
Water it once a week without drowning it. Pines hate wet feet—they’re like that friend who refuses to step in puddles. Move the pot outside for a few hours each day so it gets used to real wind. It’ll sway and look terrified, which is totally normal.
After about six months, you’ll repot it into a bigger container. I used a five-gallon bucket from the hardware store. My neighbor asked if I was making moonshine. I said, “Nope, just raising a tree.”
