Growing Bonsai from Seeds


When it comes to growing bonsai, there are three choices. First,
you could grow bonsai from seeds, second from saplings, and third,
simply buy a mature bonsai tree. Interestingly, many people
believe that trying to grow bonsai from seeds is not only difficult
but a complete waste of time. The number one concern is the time
required to see any growth.

The truth is that growing from seed does take time but it also
means accomplishing something that many people cannot accomplish.
The bottom line is that while you wait, growing bonsai from a seed
is very rewarding. However, it is important to understand that for
the standard bonsai enthusiast, growing a tree from a seed cannot
be done with most trees. Because of this, specific trees must be
chosen.

The advantage to growing a bonsai from a seed is that you get to
grow and train the tree, as you want it from the very start,
something very exciting and fulfilling. Just keep in mind that
seeds must be sown in compost during sometime in the growing
process. Another very important factor is sunlight, which is
crucial.

Now, as far as germination, this will vary depending on the tree
chosen. For instance, if you were to grow a Zelkova, buying the
seeds in the mid summer months and then sowing them in the latter
part of the summer, you will see germination but chances are they
will die in the winter. The reason - the seeds were not given a
long enough growing season to survive. Now, if you took the same
seed but placed them where they would receive full inside light and
kept warm during the growing season, they would germinate and
survive just fine.

When growing bonsai seeds from fall to spring, you need to
understand that some seeds will germinate fine while others will
not survive. For instance, the Japanese maple, which is a popular
choice for bonsai will not germinate until the second spring after
the seeds have been sowed. Therefore, this particular tree takes a
tremendous amount of patience. Regardless of the tree chosen, the
key is to keep them protected from birds, mice, and other
scavengers during the year.

Of the three ways in which you can grow bonsai, growing from seeds
does take the longest and most amount of effort. In return, you
again gain control from start to finish over the growing of the
tree while also spending less money. Seeds can be purchased at any
gardening center or nursery or you could scout forest or land on
your own, picking seeds off the ground.

Take conifer trees as an example, which are great for bonsai. You
would gather the pinecones, storing them some place warm and then
remove the seeds from in between the scales. The seeds would then
be sowed in March. However, conifer seeds should be kept in water
overnight so you know which ones will germinate and which ones will
not. Those that will germinate will sink to the bottom of the
water while those floating on the top of the water are not worth
your time.

To plant your bonsai seeds, choose a pot that has good drainage
holes. Then, place a layer of earth mix, about one-quarter of the
container. On top of this layer, place the seeds about two inches
apart, further for larger seeds. The next layer should consist of
a mixture of clay called akadama and fine gravel, about 50/50. For
the top layer, mix akadama, fine gravel, and compost in a one-half,
one-quarter, and one-quarter ratio respectively.

Finally, use a fine mist nozzle to moisten the soil enough so it
drains through the hole. From there, you will need to place the
container in a sunny spot where it will be protected from any
drafts. The key is to keep the seeds moist but never soaked and
never dried out. In about one year, you will need to separate the
seedlings, repotting them where they will continue to grow so you
can train them into a beautiful bonsai style.