Bonsai seeds are a beautiful and rewarding plant that can be grown from seed. To grow a bonsai tree, you need to stratify or scarify the seeds before planting them, which involves placing them in the refrigerator for a few days. After sowing the seeds, ensure they are in a suitable container with proper drainage and nutrient-rich soil. Watering the seeds carefully and keeping the soil moist is crucial for germination.
To take care of the bonsai seedlings, it is essential to choose the best propagation methods and maintain them once they are strong enough. This guide will also introduce you to kits and other resources for growing bonsai trees.
To grow a bonsai tree, first obtain seeds from a local nursery, reputable online source, or by walking outside. Learn how to properly care for your bonsai tree, including watering, pruning, and feeding techniques for healthy bonsai trees.
Scarify seeds by placing them in the refrigerator for a few days before planting them. Place the seeds in a warm location with indirect sunlight to stimulate germination and healthy growth. Transfer the pre-bonsai sapling into an appropriate-sized bonsai pot and well-draining soil to control the soil temperature. Sow the tree seeds in 3-inch containers or pots, providing a bottom heat of around 60 degrees.
After germination, soak the seeds for 24 hours to soften the outer seed coat. Ideally, seeds should germinate in 10 to 12 days. Pot the seedlings into small pots about 2 weeks after germination, into a well-drained, hummus-rich soil.
In summary, choosing the right bonsai seed is crucial for the growth, style, and overall success of your bonsai tree.
📹 Growing Bonsai From Seeds: How to Sow
It’s very easy to sow seeds. I will show you the seeds of some trees and give you tips on how to plant them.
Should you put bonsai seeds in the fridge?
To grow a bonsai tree from seeds, follow these steps:
Get the seeds to germinate. Some kits recommend coking the seeds or keeping them in the fridge, but this is usually unnecessary.
Plant the seeds in a seed tray with compost at the bottom, mixed with perlite for better drainage. Water the compost and allow excess water to drain. Place the seeds on the surface, cover them with soil, and cover the tray in a sheltered place with natural sunlight.
How long do bonsai seeds take to germinate?
Ficus – Sow Sp. seeds should be sown in spring and mixed with fine sand. Place the trays in a well-ventilated, warm, and well-lit spot, keeping them moist. The seeds should germinate in 10 to 12 days. After germination, pot the seeds into small pots in well-drained, hummus-rich soil, and place them in full sun. Young plants grow rapidly, so they should be repotted as their roots appear. Proper germination requires moisture and warmth, so place the tray in a warm location but out of direct sunlight. Gradually increase sun exposure, but only morning sun or dappled shade is recommended.
Why put bonsai seeds in the fridge?
To increase germination rates for Bonsai seeds from different climates or out of season, it may be necessary to simulate a cold season. Most tree species require soaking their seeds in water and storing them in the refrigerator for one or two months. For beginners, collecting seeds from local tree species in your area is recommended. Seeds can be found during autumn from chestnuts and acorns in the forest, and conifers seeds are found inside pine-cones.
Store pine-cones warm to release their seeds, and seeds of various tree species can be purchased online. This process may be too advanced for beginners, so it’s recommended to collect seeds from local trees and plant them immediately.
Should bonsai seeds float or sink?
To cold stratify bonsai seeds, soak them in water for 24 hours, remove the ripe seeds, place them on a damp paper towel, seal them in a plastic bag, and place them in the refrigerator for 7 days. After removing the seeds, plant them in the autumn. This is because seeds typically germinate in early spring, and planting in the autumn ensures that the seeds are dormant during winter and germinate in early spring. If using fresh, ripe seeds, sowing in the fall also eliminates stratification concerns and allows young seedlings to grow and develop in preparation for winter.
Should I soak bonsai seeds before planting?
Bonsai seeds require preparation before sowing in soil, a crucial step known as stratification. This involves soaking the seeds in water or placing them between layers of wet paper towel. Different seeds have unique needs, and soaking them in warm water for 24-48 hours can help them sprout. Keep the water/seeds in an insulated mug for easier storage. After soaking, remove 1/8th of the pointy end of the seed with scissors or small pruners. This process ensures the seeds are ready for planting.
How to care for bonsai seeds?
After pre-treating seeds, sow them in seed trays with premium seed-raising soil. Space seeds evenly and note the number of seeds in the tray. Water the seeds gently to prevent flushing and maintain a moist soil for a few weeks. Different species take different time to sprout, so be patient. Once seeds are large enough, pot them into individual containers and gradually increase the amount of sun they receive daily. Keep the soil moist but not too wet, as different species may take different amounts of time to sprout.
How often should I water bonsai seeds?
It is recommended that Bonsai trees be watered when the soil has reached a slight degree of dryness, but that irrigation should be avoided in instances where the soil is still moist. It is imperative that the tree is not permitted to dry out, and that irrigation is not conducted on a routine basis. It is essential to monitor the condition of each tree individually in order to ascertain when irrigation is required. Furthermore, the specific soil mixture should be selected based on the tree’s needs.
What to do with bonsai tree seeds?
To plant seeds and germinate them, use a seed tray with compost at the bottom, water it, and cover it with soil. Bonsai enthusiasts may be familiar with bonsai growing kits, which typically contain seeds for various tree species. However, many bonsai enthusiasts believe that these kits falsely assume that the seedling will grow into a perfect bonsai. In reality, the seedling will grow into a normal tree that requires pruning and shaping to be turned into a bonsai. To grow your own bonsai, you can purchase a bonsai tree starter kit, which typically contains seeds for a few different tree species.
Is it OK to soak seeds overnight before planting?
To prepare seeds for germination, soak them in warm water for a period of 6-24 hours, depending on their size and the characteristics of their coating. It should be noted that some seeds may float, but they will swell with the absorption of water. It is recommended that the seeds be planted immediately after soaking, as this process can accelerate germination by a few days to up to a week.
Which seeds should not be soaked?
Seeds were designed to delay germination until the right time, so soaking them before planting boosts moisture, removes the protective coating, and softens the seed. The hard shell of seeds allows new growth to push through and grow. Seeds that benefit from soaking include corn, pumpkin, beans, chard, beets, and peas, while those not to soak include carrots, lettuce, radish, celery, turnips, and spinach. Listen to Cathy Isom’s This Land of Ours program for more information.
Can you over water bonsai seeds?
To ensure optimal plant growth, it is essential to only water seedlings when the soil appears dry. Overwatering can have a detrimental impact on the plant, potentially leading to its demise. Seedlings typically require no water for the first week. Subsequently, a fine spray should be used to facilitate optimal absorption.
📹 How To Grow Bonsai Trees From Seed
How To Grow Bonsai Trees From Seed. I have started growing Bonsai Trees from seedling using the Garden Republic Starter Kit …
I’m still hoping to visit the nursery on my first trip out of hospital, unfortunately I went down hill for a while this year but am getting better now, they said they may let me out for 2 days either before or after Christmas and I can’t think of a better way to use my first 2 days of freedom, in 3 years, than to visit the nursery. Peter was kind enough to invite me a while back so I’m hoping it won’t be too long. These articles have kept me sane all these years. I’ve even started a small bonsai club at the hospital as the ward has a small garden now else uses. I don’t have much as obviously money is an issues ha ha. One of the doctors stays late with me whenever Peter puts out a article and we watch it together like we are now. Thankyou Peter and hope to visit soon!
Thank you great tips….I took home 5 lemon seeds from my lemon slices from fish and chips dinner….3 grew….I also found 1 seed in a mandarin orange, they are usually seedless…..its now 5 inches tall…my avocado seeds popped up in my compost so I potted them up and braided 5 stems together to make a thicker trunk..also the cosmic crisp apples from the store sprouted easily 3 trees grew out of 5 seeds, it may be because the apples were kept cool at one point… so they went through the chill in the apple…..its very rewarding to grow trees from seeds. Love your articles….thank you.
The seeds from my Grandma’s Red Maple 70+ year old tree would send out seeds, fall the ground, and make new plants. I have saved two and now they are about maybe five years old and 4ft high. The dogwood is the same age but the squirrels always get the seeds before I do, however I might take some cuttings. Love all of your trees and thanks for sharing your info.
I bought one of those seed kits and I got tree seeds I can’t get easily in my rural area. Only one I could get was crepe myrtle but that wasn’t listed on the advertisement. They had a shortage of ficus religiosa so they substituted the crepe myrtle. So far most of my seeds have sprouted. The dawn redwood hasn’t yet though.
Peter I rec’d a box of lemons & oranges & apples for Christmas….one of those inexpensive grocery store boxes that you offer your $5 on to keep odds & ends from being thrown into the compost by stores. After making marmalade & baked apples I now have probably a hundred seeds, the citrus ones with the outer protective coat peeled off on at least one side. All of my houseplants of mostly begonias & geraniums all have baby citrus trees, avocado plants or even meter tall willows growing in the same pots. Outside in pots & 7 garden beds I have all kinds of things from planting seeds, forgetting. My pride & joy is the delicious peach tree that I had fruit on now 2 summers. And indoors, a 3 inch dragon fruit little plant next to an herb & avocado. My freind in Philli didn’t know how our local Christmas trees proliferate so I sent her seed from various cones & she is excited to grow Nova Scotia evergreens in her home once they are stratified. My area is the Christmas Tree capitol of Canada.
I have sprouted some kind of evergreen (I forget the exact type, I’d have to look through some papers). I planted it in late June, and today, first day of August, it is about 2 and a half inches tall. It is currently growing in some coco fiber soil mix. I got a bonsai kit from my sister for my birthday, and I have been using the materials from there. I have some concerns for the coming winter, because I had killed my first ever bonsai over the winter. It was a tropical tree, a species of Ficus I believe. It was somewhere around 15 years old, and I was heart broken. It was a middle school graduation gift from my grandmother. I’m very nervous because I don’t know how to care for the tree over the winter, like how often I should water, can I keep it right next to my window or somewhere warmer? How much can I expect it to grow over the winter, if at all? if anyone has advice, I would greatly appreciate it.
Second week of October, my Japanese maple seeds on the tree are still very red on the samara. I assume they need to start browning down to indicate they are ready to harvest? The seeds on my Dissectum, are ready, they are loosing the color on the samara, and turning brown. I collected all I could from the Dissectum, but cant decide to collect the seeds from the red maple I have. Can you collect the seeds now? Or wait until last week of October/first week of November? The seeds seem to disappear all of a sudden around Halloween.
Does anyone know why nobody grows apple trees by placing an apple in the soil, I had imagined that that way would be more natural, after all nature has provided the seeds with a nutritionally well packed “life pod” (the apple). I am a complete novice, so please bare that in mind. Thanks in advance for any advice.
I received the same kit as a gift. My kit has instructions on the back of the individual seed packets for germinating the seeds. They are different for each type of tree. I believe you need to keep the seeds soaking in consistently warm water for 24 to 48 hours (depending on the seed type). Then, there are instructions for each type of seed on how warm to keep the soil (ie 65°F to 85°F). They recommend using a heating mat for this step. Each seed type has a varied amount of time before it will actually germinate in the soil (ie 7 days to as much as 45 days!). The point is there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s also a slow grow process. I’m mentioning this info in case anyone else receives this kit or buys one.
Guess what? I did begin maple seeds with no kit. Then on May 15, I got the same kit. I soaked the seeds, about 4-5 I each dish, and let them soak 2 days. Then I planted them in the pellets they came in and in the bags. Being that the Brazilian Rosewood needed more warmth, after about a week or more later I transferred the pot outside in the sunlight, with a baggie around the soil bag and zipped up. And now, I have spouted 3 of the Brazilian Rosewood, and of the Black spruce (I believe ) two are growing. I just noticed it today. The warmth of the weather helps, along with the plastic baggie because it creates like a greenhouse for them. I am excited but being very careful. The water is kept moist from the baggies. The other one has not grown but I guess some take longer than others. We will see how big they get.
I am trying to do the same, with no kit, only seeds gotten from across the pond. I have red maple seeds. On the website there were instructions to soak the seeds for 24 hours in warm water (not hot). Then after this, it was written that you need to “stratify” the seeds, by putting them in the refrigerator for 3 months (in a baggie filled with some damp soil, not a lot). This process is supposed to get them ready for the winter. It’s May now, so I will take them out in August and see if any have sprouted. Once I take them out I will plant them in a lava soil ready for bonsai trees. But some even say you need to treat the seeds with a special solution to get rid of any fungus they might have. Meantime, I think getting the red maple seeds from trees in the fall as you can pick them off the trees, will work without stratification. I will try that too. It’s a long, steady process. But I’m patient!