How to dye pine needles?

[Diana]

I would like to dye pine needles black. How do I do that?

[Olga]

To dye pine needles I use a square Pyrex baking dish 14” long. I like to use Rit liquid dye. To prepare pine needles for absorbing the dye soak them for 45 minutes in warm water. After that pour 4 cups of boiling water into the Pyrex dish, add 3oz of liquid dye (black, purple, green or blue) and 1/3 cup of salt. Mix the solution until salt dissolves. Put 4oz of pine needles into the solution and simmer for 40-60 minutes, stir the needles from time to time. When you are satisfied with color intensity wash your needles in cold running water.

[Olga]

Dye sold here: Beverly's http://www.beverlys.com/soquel-fabric-crafts-santa-cruz.html

[Olga]

I have never tried to propagate a pine tree. But I noticed that a lot of baby pine trees grow under the bigger pine trees. They grow from pine seeds. You know when you get a ripe pine cone and bring it into a warm environment the pine cone opens and you can see the seeds inside. Plant those seeds into soil.

[Olga]

I have heard that the pine needles have a PH on the acid side. That is good in our area because we have high ph soils. Somehow the needles create an acid soil over time that the pine trees like. I have a neighbor that has some large pine trees. I have used some of the needles from them to mulch my little seedling trees. It works good for that.

Good to know, thank you! I have noticed that not that many other plants can grow under pine trees. That might explain this.

[KambinlY]

Old, old thread here in BCUK:

How To "Purify" Pine Resin.

Maybe later this summer, I'll harvest what all I can reach on my big spruce trees just for experiments.

[Augustcoisa]

I am a new at growing bamboo.
I have a 80 foot pine tree on our property.
Would its needles..soon to fall..........make good mulch for bamboo.
Or would it be too acid.
Your guidance will be appreciated....by this amateur.
Thank you
Dick