How To Grow A Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree From Seed
Repotting japanese maple bonsai.
How to grow a japanese maple bonsai tree from seed. You can use air layering to propagate a japanese red maple or you can purchase it as a starter plant from a nursery. The cotyledons will not look at all like japanese maple leaves. Repot this species every other year to replace the soil that has had all nutrients washed away. A fun experiment seeing the genetic variation in japanese maple seed.
Growing japanese maples from seed is a slow but highly rewarding process. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as special bonsai tree seeds as bonsai are created from normal trees. By sowing seeds in the autumn you are following nature s own natural time schedule and the seedling can take advantage of a full summer to grow in after germination in early spring. Harvest japanese red maple seeds from the tree in fall when they turn brown.
Theoretically you can grow bonsai seeds all year round if growing indoors however the best time to start germination is in the autumn. Cut back up to one third on the roots to ensure the tree does not become rootbound. When planting japanese maple seeds it s important to pretreat them before sowing them in the ground. 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 you like to grow seedlings from trees not growing in your local climate a process called stratification might be necessary.
If you are going to plant from seeds you will want to place the seeds in the refrigerator for 100 days. If you re a first time horticulturist you need to stay away from tree species such as needle juniper white pine or hornbeam because they re more difficult to germinate. Known for its distinct red bark on young twigs. The parent tree was a senkaki also known as sango kaku or coral bark maple.
This will allow stratification to occur which breaks down the tough seed coating and prepares the seeds for germination. Then store the seeds in a paper bag at room temperature. If you plan on planting your seeds outdoors in the spring place them in a paper bag and store them in a cool dark place through the winter. Maple prefer a soil with good drainage.
In two to three weeks if the weather is warm you should see seedlings start to pop up. Fertilizing japanese maple bonsai.