Bonsai Seeds – Growing

A beginner when first buying a bonsai, will select a young tree, and over time learn the basics, and through that have a understanding of correctly looking after their tree. After a time they feel more confident and wanting to find more challenging aspects of bonsai, this may include growing bonsai seeds.

Seed Dormancy.

Before seeds even have a chance of growing into a tree, they have to pass through a phase that is called dormancy, whereby once a seed has fallen from a tree, it has to have a period of dormancy. There is no set time for seed dormancy, depending on the tree species dormancy of your bonsai seeds may only be from fall to spring, others may last a year to 18 months, as is the case with some pines..

Seed Germination.

Through the cold winter months, the seed sits in wet soil, along with the elements soil bacteria start to soften the outer shell of the seed, when this happens it encourages the seed to grow. With our bonsai seeds we can artificially do what nature does naturally, and that is entice early growth.

Using Cold Stratification.

When starting to plant your bonsai seeds in Autumn, you are doing what nature does in its own natural process, but we can quicken the process up of the over wintering period for our seeds. This we do indoors, and we call it cold stratification, this artificially prepares our bonsai seeds by placing the seeds into a container, then store the container in the refrigerator, which will imitate the winter period the bonsai seeds would go through. This method shortens the winter period and will assist the germination.

Seed Sowing.

Place your bonsai seeds into good soil within a container of good drainage, ensuring you space them 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart a little under the surface, check on them often during the months, making sure they are not drying out. All being well you should see signs of the first shoots showing up through the soil, your then on your way, but it will be several years before they develop in to bonsai trees.

Preparing Your Seeds.

As I mentioned earlier, it is very possible that this could take a year or more depending on the species you are trying to grow. You can help your bonsai seeds along by using the proper fertilization, but use in moderation. In early spring up to mid summer use 10 parts Nitrogen – 10 parts Phosphates and 10 parts Potassium, use this once a month, start using this when the soil starts to warm up. Its also important to keep the soil you have your bonsai seeds in moist, do not let it get overly wet or soggy, or your seeds will be lost.