| Author | Content |
Flutterbies
Devon
United Kingdom
June 17, 2009
08:07 AM Post #6699803
| Hey, i have just planted a bonsai seed and was wondering if anyone has any information that i need to know. I havnt grown bonsai seeds at all and im told it is a hard process so i thought id ask you guys for some help :) If any of you have any information big or small i would definatley appreciate it, I think im going to need all the help possible :) Thanks in advance for your help... |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 17, 2009
10:06 AM Post #6700223
| Bonsai isn't a specific type of plant, it's a technique for growing trees in small containers and there are tons and tons of different kinds of trees that can be grown that way--do you have any idea what kind of plant yours is? The details of the best way to get the seed to germinate and how to care for it once it sprouts are going to depend on what plant it is. |
Flutterbies
Devon
United Kingdom
June 17, 2009
10:20 AM Post #6700295
| No i dont know what type of plant it is - my friend got one of those 'grow your own bonsai kits' and gave me a seed, it doesnt say what type of plant it is - i just thought bonsai seeds were all the same! O no my poor little seed!! Im thinking its not going to do well with me if i didnt even know there were different types of seeds! LOL |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 17, 2009
10:26 AM Post #6700321
| Did your friend's kit come with instructions for how to germinate it? If so I'd follow those directions and once it's sprouted and grown up a little bit you can post it on the ID forum and someone can tell you what it is. I'm assuming that if they didn't include any instructions it's probably not something that needs nicking/soaking/stratification to germinate so you can just plant it and see what happens.
Also, if you are successful in getting it to germinate and grow a bit, most bonsai are happiest if they can live outdoors at least during the warmer months vs being a permanent houseplant--many people think because they are small that they are houseplants, but most of them are happiest outdoors. In your zone there are probably many types that could be left outdoors year-round, but if it's something more tender then you can bring it in for the winter. |
Flutterbies
Devon
United Kingdom
June 17, 2009
01:37 PM Post #6701168
| o i have already germinated it - i soaked it for 24 hours and then put it in the fridge for 1 week then tested to see if it had germinated (i was told good seeds sink bad seeds float - and mine sunk) and have now planted it, i was just wondering on things like how to keep the soil when its young - moist or dry etc
Thanks for your help ecrane3 ill definately put it outside in the warmer months but ill probs bring it in when it gets abit colder. Just to stay safe :) |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 17, 2009
03:39 PM Post #6701742
| With young seedlings, you don't want to let them dry out too much, but it is also very easy to overwater them (and I suspect more people kill them with too much water than too little). Once it gets a little bigger then you can post it for ID and figure out in the long run whether it's something that will want more or less water. |
Flutterbies
Devon
United Kingdom
June 17, 2009
07:05 PM Post #6702592
| Yeh i will definately post it for ID when/if it gets bigger. Im not sure if people be able to ID a young seedling though but ill definately give it a go :) thanks fo your help ecrane3, ill make sure i dont overwater it! |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 17, 2009
10:02 PM Post #6703312
| Once it's gotten a few sets of true leaves it might be able to be ID'd. Some things look different when young or are hard to tell apart when they're that small, but it would be worth trying at that point (the true leaves are the 2nd set of leaves that it will get--the first leaves are the seed leaves and those look very similar no matter what plant it is) |
Flutterbies
Devon
United Kingdom
June 18, 2009
10:37 AM Post #6705335
| Ok ecrane3 ill wait for it to grow its 2nd set of leaves then ill post a photo of it and see what people say, thats if it grows at all! LOL |
X_Butterflies_X
Devon
United Kingdom
June 21, 2009
07:16 AM Post #6718023
| You need to be careful when watering your bonsai seedling. Many bonsai seedlings die because they are either underwatered or overwatered. Just thought i would make you aware of that fact. Other then that i dont know too much about caring for bonsai seeds/trees. I have always wanted to know more about them, i do find them very appealing and would love to buy one but im worried to as i dont know how to care for them. Ill keep watching this thread to find out more about them then i ma just have to go out and buy one. Keep us informed with your seedling. And i hope more people comment on this thred with more info :) |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 21, 2009
10:20 AM Post #6718515
| If you're really interested in bonsai, there's a whole forum here devoted to them but you need to be a subscriber in order to participate in that one.
The pruning techniques are unique to bonsai, but the other types of care (how much water, sun, etc) is specific to the type of plant. And bonsai seedlings aren't any different than any other seedlings--all seedlings are easy to kill with too much or too little water, bonsai seedlings aren't any more sensitive than any other seedlings in that regard. |
X_Butterflies_X
Devon
United Kingdom
June 21, 2009
10:44 AM Post #6718601
| I know there is a whole forum devoted to them but i cant subscribe to D.G as i havnt the money - im currently unemployed! And i also dont trust my computer to put personal details on here, its not properly secure. Wish i could though sounds really informative :) Thanks for your inout ecrane, appreciate it :) |
dipsydoodle
Newcastle upon Tyne
United Kingdom
June 23, 2009
04:54 AM Post #6726477
| I got a mini bonsai kit with seemingly similar germination instructions and mine was a fir tree. Which variety I don't remember; it's been growing for at least 4 months now and it's still only an inch big (it's pretty cute though) |
Flutterbies
Devon
United Kingdom
June 23, 2009
05:05 AM Post #6726483
| Yeh i know it takes ages for them to grow, but i can wait! Just! How long did it take to come out of its seed and sprout a little? Mine has been planted for a week now :) |
dipsydoodle
Newcastle upon Tyne
United Kingdom
June 25, 2009
06:24 AM Post #6735718
| I don't remember; I had 10 seeds and only 3 germinated. One I accidentally killed, the other I think got too wet and died (it was in a propagator and didn't like all the moisture) the 3rd one is doing fine. I don't remember how long it took, maybe a week or 2, to pop through the soil; although I had them in a propagator which would speed that up. |
