Can we induce drought resistance in ponderosa pine seedlings in the greenhouse before outplanting them to the field? An amazing group of undergraduates (Meagan Owens, Alex Gibson, Jess Guzzo, Emily Luberto, Katrina Urrea, and Megan Wilkinson) worked hard in the greenhouse all year growing 2500 ponderosa pine seedlings and subjecting them to different propagation strategies. The motivation for this study was two-fold: there is a dire need to replant and restore ponderosa pine sites all over the southwest, but typical greenhouse propagation techniques produce seedlings that are unprepared to face the harsh/dry conditions in the field. The students tested alternative watering and fertilization strategies, which appeared to make the seedlings suffer: they grew smaller. However, they were actually more drought-resistant because they grew more roots! Stay tuned to see how they performed once we outplanted them in the field.