Beginner with Some Questions...

D

dwalk77

Seed
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Hello! I'm new here and this is my first post. I am completely new to the Bonsai world. I recently bought a Bonsai kit from Amazon, and that's brought about some questions, so here I am!
My goal is to develop bonsai from seeds. I know it'll be a quite a project, but I felt like giving it a shot. I live in the Dallas, TX area.

Here's the link to the kit I got: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JSPVYX6?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I started about 3 weeks ago and I've been able to get the Acacia's and Black Pine to germinate (pic below), but no luck on the others so far.

Here are some questions I have so far:
- Is there a preferable season to plant seeds? (I've already planted the ones from the kit, but this is for future reference)
- Are there any seeds you'd specifically recommend for my area, as well as any seeds you recommend for beginners that are easier to work with?
- For the plants already germinated (in picture below), when do I need to think about repotting?
- When it is time for me to repot, what size/type of pot should I use?
- I'm currently using some all-purpose potting soil from Black Gold. Could I use that for the duration of the trees or is there a different soil you would recommend?

Thank you for any info or tips you can provide!

bonsai 1.jpg
 
Normally seeds germinate in spring, for most species. Depending on whether they had had cold treatment or not, the early spring or ater winter is the time to start these.
Please tell me it only looks like these are ineside, and they are in fact outside..?
 
I implore you to consider alternatives.
Either buy prebonsai, find some good wild plants or airlayer something.

Also check which trees grow natively in your area, as a starting point, and evaluate for bonsai use
en.wikipedia.org

List of trees of Texas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
Seeds are always fun 🙂 ive had success with citrus seeds (lemon, tangerine,grapefruit etc.)

I would suggest to also research what makes an attractive bonsai, then go to a nursery and try and find some small trees or shrubs with potential so you can work on some plants right away and get to know how to style etc.

For trees growing from seeds, probably best to not prune them until they are 1 to 2 years old, maybe even longer depending on growth rate.

As for soil you will want to get to a point where you mix your own soil, trees like free draining soil, the problem with potting soil is when it dries out its very difficult to get wet again. This can cause roots to either always be to wet because your not letting your soil dry out enough, or to dry when you do let it dry out because water cant re-wet the soil.

I use 50% perlite 50% sifted safetysorb or oil dri and then add maybe 20% of potting soil, some earth worm castings, and maybe a bit a pine bark if I have it.

But best to take things slow, potting soil is doable just very difficult especially dealing with 10+ year old trees
 
Co
dwalk77 said:
Hello! I'm new here and this is my first post. I am completely new to the Bonsai world. I recently bought a Bonsai kit from Amazon, and that's brought about some questions, so here I am!
My goal is to develop bonsai from seeds. I know it'll be a quite a project, but I felt like giving it a shot. I live in the Dallas, TX area.

Here's the link to the kit I got: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JSPVYX6?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I started about 3 weeks ago and I've been able to get the Acacia's and Black Pine to germinate (pic below), but no luck on the others so far.

Here are some questions I have so far:
- Is there a preferable season to plant seeds? (I've already planted the ones from the kit, but this is for future reference)
- Are there any seeds you'd specifically recommend for my area, as well as any seeds you recommend for beginners that are easier to work with?
- For the plants already germinated (in picture below), when do I need to think about repotting?
- When it is time for me to repot, what size/type of pot should I use?
- I'm currently using some all-purpose potting soil from Black Gold. Could I use that for the duration of the trees or is there a different soil you would recommend?

Thank you for any info or tips you can provide!

View attachment 448667
Click to expand...
Congrats you have gotten your seeds to take. If it is / was the wrong season to plant, too late! You just need to get them through to next spring. Does it regularly freeze through all winter where you are? My understanding of Dallas Tx is you should be ok.

Either way, a great start getting them to germinate.

Most plants are outside plants at the end of the day, certainly acacia and the pins, and @Rivian's point about trying some pre-bonsai etc, is more because these will likely take some time to grow until you are starting to pull out the little scissors.

But don't let that put you off. I think there is something very satisfying about taking your own plant from seed.

I'd just do both. Get some other plants whilst you try and develop these.

As to your questions. My advice:

- When to plant seeds - Seeds generally don't get better with age. No point keeping them sitting around. So the closer to when they would normally fall from the tree. ie if the seed pod is ready in autumn, you plant in autumn, if ready in spring, you plant in spring, etc.
- Typically you repot when you get the first true leaves. I can't really tell if all the pots if that is the case, but it looks like you can. In this instance, those pots can put straight into the next pot up and they will degrade. Just a bit bigger, Not too much.
- For the moment, regular potting mix whilst they grow is fine. Later, you will need to reconsider the soil type. No need to worry now.
 
LemonBonsai said:
Lol i start with a base of 50/50 then add the rest. Its hard to explain the method!
Click to expand...
Nah, it makes sense. It is also part of effective working fylosophy. Do not start with the small stuff, letting it fill up your calender. Then you will never be able to fit the big things. However, if you first put the big things in place, the small stuff can be used to fill the gaps in your schedule. As such 50% + 50% +20% works to 100%
 
Bonsai is a very personal pursuit that runs the full gamut of only growing from seed to only working on award winning "finished" trees and everything in between. Many of us try to have trees in various stages of development so that the hobby is rewarding and gives us different projects to perform and things to learn.

For me, I have learned to choose material that allows me to develop a tree in the smallest timeframe possible. If I want a really large bonsai, I will now start with a really large tree. If I purchased a smaller caliper tree, I will likely develop this into a shohin as this would be the shortest line between the beginning of development and getting the tree in a pot.

That said, there is nothing wrong with growing from seed. Again its a personal preference. For me, stratifying and germinating seeds, keeping them alive for the first winter and then growing them for many years is simply too long a process for my taste. I would much prefer to start with a tree that will be much closer to an end goal in 5 or so years.
 
Wow, I didn't expect to get this many replies so quickly -- thank you guys! Some great info already

A few of you asked follow-up questions..
laufman said:
Does it regularly freeze through all winter where you are?
Click to expand...

Not regularly, but we do have some freezes. We usually have some days here or there that get down to 20 F or so, but not much below that.
Just for the full range, in the summer we get up to 110 F sometimes in July/August

leatherback said:
Please tell me it only looks like these are ineside, and they are in fact outside..?
Click to expand...

I just realized the picture is a little deceptive, but these are actually indoors right now. I haven't moved any of them outside yet.
 
My advice is to get in touch with the Bonsai Society of Dallas and put these seeds outside in the ground for five years. If you like growing seeds this is fine. Many people do. However, should be noted that you won't be doing much "bonsai stuff" or have an actual tree to work on for years...

The vast majority of bonsai here and in Japan are not specifically grown from seeds to become bonsai (although some trees are, but growing from seed is typically done by experienced bonsai folks because simple, but necessary tasks have to be done early in seedling's life to make it suitable for bonsai). Most bonsai are developed using already-established trees, from saplings to 400 year old collected trees.

Growing from seeds isn't really bonsai until a decade into the tree's lives, which is when they're big enough to work on.

FWIW, clubs like the Bonsai Society of Dallas probably has members or a club auction where you would probably have been able to get a really good starter tree for the price of this "kit." Clubs and club members often sell off excess trees, often at club auctions. Some members can also give trees away they don't have room for to beginners. I've done that and I'm not alone. The events page on the Dallas site shows a club auction coming up in Sept. 3...

bonsaisocietyofdallas.com

Home - Bonsai Society of Dallas

Share your passion for bonsai and other related plants by joining the Bonsai Society of Dallas. Contact us for info.
bonsaisocietyofdallas.com

Also you might be surprised to learn that Texas native tree species have long been used to create bonsai. Live oak, bald cypress, Texas persimmon and particularly Cedar Elm are all no "traditional U.S." native bonsai material. Cedar elm is among the easiest to collect and make into bonsai. I have several, as well as an old Live Oak bonsai. It's pictured below. It was dug up near Salado, cut back dramatically and adapted to a container.
 

Attachments

  • live oak.jpg
    live oak.jpg
    193.1 KB · Views: 13
Hi! I have recent experience with a similar kit, so here is my advice...

- Is there a preferable season to plant seeds? (I've already planted the ones from the kit, but this is for future reference)
Click to expand...
Spring. But... I planted my first seeds in September 2020 and they are still doing fine. They nearly died at around the same age as yours until I moved them outside. Once outside, they did much better.
When you are ready, move them to where they won't be totally shocked by sun and heat. Gradually move them into more shade as you go. It's very sunny here in CA, so I keep mine in partial shade all the time.

- Are there any seeds you'd specifically recommend for my area, as well as any seeds you recommend for beginners that are easier to work with?
Click to expand...
Native trees to your area are easiest. Looking for foreign trees that grow in similar conditions to yours works too. For example, southern CA can host Mediterranean trees quite well.

- For the plants already germinated (in picture below), when do I need to think about repotting?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't repot until early spring unless it's an emergency, and when you do, put them in better soil. I put mine in bonsai soil and they seem to love it.

- When it is time for me to repot, what size/type of pot should I use?
Click to expand...
I replanted some of mine into similarly sized pots (same size as your peat pots) and a few into larger pots. They are all growing at about the same rate still.

- I'm currently using some all-purpose potting soil from Black Gold. Could I use that for the duration of the trees or is there a different soil you would recommend?
Click to expand...
I would recommend bonsai soil. I have not had much luck trying to use Black Gold for tree seedlings.

Here is my similar post, where a lot of people walked me through getting mine to survive. It could be useful to you.
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/damping-off.46132/
Good luck!
 
Looks like the Fort Worth Bonsai Society has a club auction coming up in August...

fortworthbonsai.org

Home

Fort Worth Bonsai Societys mission is to promote knowledge of and interest in bonsai and to serve as a focal point for bonsai fanciers in and around the Fort Worth area. We provide a variety of educational and support services to the bonsai community. The Officers and Directors of FWBS are...
fortworthbonsai.org fortworthbonsai.org
 
Just going to say that it's actually a bit of an accomplishment to get these "kits" to work out on the first try. The vast majority are utter failures.
Nice work!

Welcome aboard, and enjoy the journey!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

invaderzim
Beginner with too many questions? Probably..
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Blksmth88
Blksmth88
Katie0317
A bunch of questions from a beginner
2 3
Replies
56
Views
4K
Wires_Guy_wires
W
J
Juniper beginner questions
Replies
5
Views
720
caffeinated
caffeinated
M
Root Stand Beginner questions
Replies
2
Views
796
ABCarve
ABCarve
T
(Several) Beginner Horticultural Questions
Replies
6
Views
1K
Anthony
Anthony
Back
Top Bottom