How Do I Grow A Bonsai Tree From Seed
It is best to gather your seeds when they are ripe typically in late summer or early autumn.
How do i grow a bonsai tree from seed. Collecting seeds if you want to grow a coniferous bonsai collect the cones from the tree making sure they are brown and closed green cones have not matured and open cones will most likely have lost their seeds already. You can collect these from trees in your surroundings or you can choose to buy them in an online shop. Choose cones that are closed because open cones mean that seeds were probably been released. There is technically no such thing as bonsai seeds since bonsai are created from normal trees.
Plant the seeds after sprouting into moist soil about two inches deep in a small planting pot. First of all seeds need to be obtained. You should have about one inch of top soil covering the seeds. If you collect seeds from trees growing in your local area planting the seeds in autumn will do just fine however if you want to plant seeds out of the season during springtime for example or if you purchase seeds online or if.
Soak them overnight before planting them in soil with good drainage and the right nutrient composition for your tree species. To sprout bonsai seed such as maple which requires cold stratification the seeds must be placed in a plastic bag filled with potting soil and kept moist in a refrigerator for few weeks ranging from 6 to 8. Gently pat the seeds into the surface of the soil before adding a top layer of standard bonsai soil. You will need a handful of at least 3 5 tree seeds to sow to ensure at least one germinates.
However if you prefer uncommon non local or traditional species for your bonsai tree you can purchase them from specialty stores or online. To grow a bonsai from seed take the following steps. Growing a bonsai tree from a single seed is an extremely long and slow process. Use a terra cotta pot with a diameter suitable to the desired growth of your bonsai tree.
Depending on the type of tree you grow it can take up to 4 5 years for the tree s trunk to become just 1 inch 2 5 cm in diameter. Once you have placed the top layer of soil on the seeds you need to gently use your fingers to compact the soil. After keeping the seeds in the fridge for few weeks take them out and plant them in a pot. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as special bonsai tree seeds as bonsai are created from normal trees.
Some seeds also require precisely controlled conditions for germination. Pine trees that have plenty of cones tend to have more viable seeds. To start growing a bonsai pine tree from seed you need to collect large slightly green or brown cones during fall. Just lay the pine cones in a room temperature in open box.
Of course the least expensive way to obtain bonsai seeds is to collect them yourself from plants growing in your area or from mature bonsai trees already in your collection. Place a plastic lining in the pot prior to adding the soil.