When should I repot my little guys from their original little bag?

[Hank hill999]

I’m planting a new bonsai rn I’m just soaking the seeds haven’t even planted yet but I’m just curious when should I be repotting? Is it a time of year things a height thing like idk anything about it. Also I have one that’s I’ve had for a while like 6-8 months it’s decently tall but it almost died in the summer so it looks rough it’s getting better tho it has new lil limbs growing and idk if repotting would help it or if I need to wait until a different time of year?

 

[darzuo]

Some species / photos would help as I'm not sure what the "little bag" refers to. As far as repotting developing trees, it's only necessary if you would like to prune roots for structure or if the tree gets rootbound. The best time for this for most temperate species in temperate climates is generally accepted to be early spring, right as buds are swelling.

Also, just an obligatory beginner warning: There's no such thing as a bonsai species of tree, and growing trees from seed is a very long process, at least 5 years and up to several decades before you have a nice bonsai, assuming you're developing with bonsai techniques. Read around and get some information, this forum is a great place to start.

Oh and make sure they're outside.

 

[Wulfskaar]

When I first started in 2020, I sowed seeds in late summer/early fall. They survived and I still have many of them, but it's best to follow nature's schedule.

Seeds in nature generally fall to the ground in fall, where they get cold until spring, when they finally germinate and grow.

Some species require that cold "stratification" while others don't. That means putting them in a lightly damp paper towel or perlite or something and keeping them in the fridge for 2-3 months. Some species you can just soak in water for 24 hrs before sowing.

Once they grow their first set of real leaves, they can be gently potted up, but I usually wait a full year to repot in spring, which is when most species are best repotted. There are some exceptions, of course, like some tropicals you can repot in the middle of summer.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Repotting of young seedlings can be done basically at any time. But I prefer starting germination not before spring arrives because it messes with their (and my!) schedule a lot if I can't put them outside.

 

[Shibui]

Repotting seedlings is a combination of size and time but there's a very large time window. I often sow seed in community trays and transplant the seedlings to individual pots soon after they germinate in Spring. Sometimes, due to time or enthusiasm, I've left seedlings crowded together in the trays and then transplanted a year or 2 or more later. Both will work though I definitely get more growth from seedlings in individual pots because they do not have to fight for light, nutrients or water. Deaths in overcrowded and undersized pots can also be higher because those crowded pots dry out more and fungal infection can start and spread quick.
Different species grow and develop at very different rates so knowing what species you are planting might be important too.

Time of year will vary depending what part of the world you line - northern V Southern as well as cool V tropical. Makes it much easier for us to help you if you add a location to your personal profile.

 

[rockm]

I’m planting a new bonsai rn I’m just soaking the seeds haven’t even planted yet but I’m just curious when should I be repotting? Is it a time of year things a height thing like idk anything about it. Also I have one that’s I’ve had for a while like 6-8 months it’s decently tall but it almost died in the summer so it looks rough it’s getting better tho it has new lil limbs growing and idk if repotting would help it or if I need to wait until a different time of year?

Cant really tell you much without knowing species and your geographic location. We don’t know where you are. There are members here from all over the world from the tropics to the arctic and everywhere in between. Summer in Australia is winter in the U.S. some species require cold others not

It ALL depends on that info.