Andy D
Full Member
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:26 pm
Location: Minnesota

Bonsai seeds from a package

I planted some bonsai seeds a bout 2 weeks ago and am keeping them in a mini covered heated terrarium. I keep each cell moist. How long should it take them to sprout?

User avatar
djlen
Green Thumb
Posts: 660
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:37 pm
Location: Just East of Zone 7a

This will vary by the type of tree. There is no way to tell without knowing the trees you're talking about.
Also, have you considered that some seeds need stratification in order to germinate?

Andy D
Full Member
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:26 pm
Location: Minnesota

My seeds are japanese maples, japanese red maples, japanese white pines, and trident maples. I soaked them in water as the instructions indicated to soften the hard outer shell. I have read that stratification increases chances of germination, but that store-bought seeds are still reliable, so I didn't stratify them. So, what do you think?

User avatar
Gnome
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 5122
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A

Andy,

Japanese Maples definitely need to be stratified. Also, I have had very spotty germination with purchased seeds. Better results were obtained by collecting seeds myself and never allowing them to actually dry.

I have never grown White Pines but my reference material (Dirr & Heuser) calls for a cold stratification of 3 months after a 2-3 month warm period.

Norm

Marsman
Green Thumb
Posts: 650
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:19 am
Location: Coventry, CT

Andy, you have way more patience than I do.

And when I hear the term 'bonsai seeds', I think of these:

[img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Fun%20Stuff/20091112-donutseeds.jpg[/img]



Return to “BONSAI FORUM”