Honestly, I have done my research and I know not to expect a whole lot from this $6 box, but it's for fun! I also understand that it takes many years to create the actual bonsai tree.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the kit, it contains an information/ instruction booklet, a tiny little pot, dehydrogenated soil, a really (really) crappy pair of scissors, 5 Jack Pine seeds and a little piece of paper claiming to replace the seeds if none sprout.
The instruction booklet says to soak the seeds for 24 hours. Wrap them in a damp paper towel put that into a plastic bag, seal and refrigerate for 7 days. (Then plant and etc. etc...)
Anyways, I wanted to do some research and found that Jack Pine seeds should stay in the fridge for closer to 3 months before planting and another person said to keep them in the fridge until you see a root sprout.... so I found this rather confusing.
I know not to plant until Spring but if I really should be keeping my seeds in the fridge for 3 months before planting, I need to get this cleared up soon! So I was wondering what you guys thought I should do.
Thank you for your time!
P.S. I know some of you will suggest buying a small tree and creating a Bonsai of it myself. Well, after all my research since I bought this kit, I have really became interested in this fascinating art. So I do plan on buying an indoor tree.
BUT! That does not mean I am giving up on this mini bonsai kit!
you've probably done more research on this than anyone else in here, so you should already have the information 
from what I can see, the web mentions anywhere between no stratification to months of it.
I am thinking anywhere between those 7 days and a couple of months would work fine... just make sure they don't freeze after you've soaked them. but I've never grown pines from seeds, so I could be wrong here...
maybe try the seed starting forum? - this really is about starting the seeds after all, you won't have to worry about bonsaiing it for a while yet
good luck
from what I can see, the web mentions anywhere between no stratification to months of it. I am thinking anywhere between those 7 days and a couple of months would work fine... just make sure they don't freeze after you've soaked them. but I've never grown pines from seeds, so I could be wrong here...
maybe try the seed starting forum? - this really is about starting the seeds after all, you won't have to worry about bonsaiing it for a while yet
good luck
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meriley8,
I checked my reference material (Dirr & Heuser) for you and found that Jack Pine requires little to no stratification. This book is considered to be equivalent to a propagators bible so I feel you can be pretty sure of their statements.
Norm
I checked my reference material (Dirr & Heuser) for you and found that Jack Pine requires little to no stratification. This book is considered to be equivalent to a propagators bible so I feel you can be pretty sure of their statements.
They also suggest an approx 70% germination rate so don't expect them all to germinate. I would definitely suggest that you time this to coincide with the weather in your area and that you do this outside exclusively."Fresh or stored seed require no pretreatment or at most one week of cold stratification."
Norm
