watering seeds in bonsai soil

[yingyang]

Hello everyone

Once seeds have been planted in bonsai soil after the scarification process. How often should I water them. The bonsai soil I am using has lava rock, Haydite and conifer bark. I realize touching the soil to make sure its moist, and I have tried to abide by that rule but feel like I might be misjudging it somehow. (help needed) I have planted Jacaranda mimosifolia, picea mariana, pinus artista, and pinus thunbergii. This was 2 weeks ago and I have 2 picea mariana that have sprouted 2 days ago, although one is kind of leaning to the side now. I have looked around on the net but cant find anything that might shed some light onto this specific subject. I cant help but feel that I am doing something wrong. I would appreciate any help or guidance of some sort on this matter.

 

[Shibui]

Not sure I can offer any help. There is no way of scheduling water for any pots because conditions vary so much. You just have to keep an eye on the soil. A little drier is probably better than too soggy. Seeds are adapted to survive. They have storage and can go without water for a few hours, even days sometimes so you may be worrying about nothing.
Just keep caring and keep fingers crossed.
If nothing else grows you can always blame dud seeds and try again another time.

 

[penumbra]

Seeds can vary tremendously but I have a difficult time with many seeds, particularly small seeds, starting in a bonsai mix. I prefer to use a peat or coconut based product for most seeds.

 

[dtreesj]

I had probably the same kit and grew all the species successfully. I agree with growing them in peat or coir. I grew most of mine in peat pods. I watered mine when they started to get dry, some times this was every day, some times it was every two days. Some times some of them were more dry than others. It all depends on the conditions.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

It is generally better to start your seeds in something other than bonsai soil, and then transplant them into bonsai soil later. I use screened rough-cut peat because peat has natural anti-fungal properties.

 

[Bnana]

Coconut based alternatives work well too. These also hold moisture well and are environmentally a lot better than peat.
Seeds have enough nutrients to last a while so no need to fertilise them in the beginning.

 

[yingyang]

It is generally better to start your seeds in something other than bonsai soil, and then transplant them into bonsai soil later. I use screened rough-cut peat because peat has natural anti-fungal properties.

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What kind of time frame am I looking at before I would transplant them into bonsai soil?

 

[penumbra]

Depends on the kind of plant, time of year and local climate. Some seedlings I transplant when they have a couple sets of leaves. Some, like most of my conifers, will not be transplanted until next spring.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

What kind of time frame am I looking at before I would transplant them into bonsai soil?

In the photo I posted, they are all Japanese Black Pines that I was about to cut and transplant into a grow mix that was about 50% bonsai soil and 50% fine pine bark. It depends a lot upon the species and where you live.

 

[dtreesj]

In regards to potting up, that's one thing I like about peat pods. Since it's self contained you don't have to worry about disturbing the roots as much. The pod comes surrounded by a mesh that is supposed to degrade on its own but I feel it doesn't do that fast enough, so I carefully remove it when I see roots coming out. I pot up seedlings when I see a lot of roots coming out of the pod.