I'm new here and saw there was a Bonsai section and couldn't resist. I tried to grow some jack pine seeds I got in a little kit at Barnes and Noble and it failed badly. So anyway my friend and I both are interested in growing some bonsai so I am curious if anyone may have any Jack Pine seeds or knows where some can be had?
Thanks for the help and keep up the good work here.
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alexinoklahoma
- Senior Member
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:21 am
- Location: Central Oklahoma
*LOTS* of places sell seed - use Google 
However, a pine 'bonsai' from seed is likely not what you are thinking it will be anytime soon...do a bit of reading to see the time-frame(s) involved just to make sure. From seed, I'd guess at least 10 years before anything even remotely 'bonsai' appears (if I am assuming correctly anyways)... Certainly doable, to be sure.
I have heard of plenty of folks collecting/purchasing Jacks and starting from *that* point w/ little probs (w/ patience, too), so its not too hard w/ that species, I believe.
Alex
However, a pine 'bonsai' from seed is likely not what you are thinking it will be anytime soon...do a bit of reading to see the time-frame(s) involved just to make sure. From seed, I'd guess at least 10 years before anything even remotely 'bonsai' appears (if I am assuming correctly anyways)... Certainly doable, to be sure.I have heard of plenty of folks collecting/purchasing Jacks and starting from *that* point w/ little probs (w/ patience, too), so its not too hard w/ that species, I believe.
Alex
Just a ditto...
Year 1, clip the leader and let grow. Year 2, clip the new leader, trim the main branch if necessary, let grow. Year 3, clip leader, trim main branches 1 & 2 if necessary, and remove unwanted branches/branchlets. Year 4, repeat year 3, adding a third branch. Year 5, see year 4, adding a branch. Year 6, YAY! you have five branches, minimum bonsai material.
Now real training can begin, if younhaven't done more than clip yet. After a couple of years of training, it will START to look like something, so maybe not a decade, but close enough.
Year 1, clip the leader and let grow. Year 2, clip the new leader, trim the main branch if necessary, let grow. Year 3, clip leader, trim main branches 1 & 2 if necessary, and remove unwanted branches/branchlets. Year 4, repeat year 3, adding a third branch. Year 5, see year 4, adding a branch. Year 6, YAY! you have five branches, minimum bonsai material.
Now real training can begin, if younhaven't done more than clip yet. After a couple of years of training, it will START to look like something, so maybe not a decade, but close enough.