Germinate seeds on top of each other

[jorge.reto]

I decided to collect a bunch of seeds this fall and will try to start new bonsai trees from seeds (I am a patient guy!).
What if I planted a bunch of seeds really close to each other and never separate them? Eventually they would fuse right? Ficus seeds are so small that I could germinate like 10 very close to each other. Could it become an interesting fusing or clump project?
Is there an obvious reason why I can't find anyone doing this method?

 

[_#1_]

It's like walking 10 miles when you have a car to drive.

Certain plants, definitely ficus, roots super easy from cuttings. And the cuttings can be arraigned to fuse as they grow. Can save a year or a couple.

 

[Colorado]

Yes, I am doing this with some little pines. Ficus should be even easier to fuse. Good luck!

 

[leatherback]

Is there an obvious reason why I can't find anyone doing this method?

Growing from seed means that you get a range of colours and growing rates etcetc. Variation. For a clump it is not desired. That being said, I am going to proove your premise partially wrong.

Sowed and germinated with space but after 6 months planted together:

 

[penumbra]

You are getting the right advice but I am curious about 2 things. Where are you finding fertile ficus seeds. And where do you live .... your climate?

 

[sorce]

I reckon there will be inevitable competition, which will have some grow long internodes and some short.
This will leave it so that your tall trees can never achieve the taper of the small close noded ones, which will forever look wierd.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[leatherback]

This will leave it so that your tall trees can never achieve the taper of the small close noded ones, which will forever look wierd.

Mabbe. I think it can also look pretty cool.

 

[Colorado]

Mabbe. I think it can also look pretty cool.

View attachment 405413

Looks great! I have a few similar Amur projects that are a few years behind!

 

[Forsoothe!]

Having more than one apically-dominate leader is a form of insanity. Every time you cut off one of Hydra's heads...

 

[Shibui]

I germinate ficus seed regularly and often leave the seedlings growing together for a year or 2.
Long ago I left a tray of seedlings to fuse together. The result ended up as a mess with no focal points, few complimentary lines or shapes.
Definitely better to grow seedlings on for a couple of years then place some back together purposely to get much better design but if you want to try please feel free to go ahead. law of averages says sooner or later one random clump will be a winner.