Germinating from seed....failed miserably :( Trying for 2nd

[vcolmenar]

I bought some seeds off ebay (mishobonsai.com store/seller). I believe they were chinese buxus.

I must've screwed up somewhere, but I followed the instructions thoroughly.

1) I placed it in very hot water until the seeds sank. The empty shells still floating I threw out.
2) Left it out on a dry plate for 30 days.
3) Wrapped it in a wet paper towel and placed it in the fridge for 90 days.
4) Tried to germinate...no go (been almost two months now!)

I have no idea what happened, not even one seed germinated (I actually thought one germinated because a green thing sprouted out of the soil...turns out it was a piece of grass ..lol)

I bought more seeds off ebay (still waiting for them to come in) and I'm going to plant them outside in some small pots. I'll let nature do it this time.


Should I put some plastic saran wrap over each pot to prevent snow falling into the pot?

[Gnome]

vcolmenar,

A few thoughts regarding seeds in no particular order.

I have had mixed results with Maple seed that I have purchased, excellent results with seed that I collected myself. Once maple seed is dried germination rates go down or at least becomes erratic.

Seed that I collected from a flowering crab germinated well and put on good growth. I started a batch in 2005 and another this past Spring. But again I never let them dry out.

I have no experience with the other species, (from seed), but I do know that Buxus are slow growers and you will most likely be waiting a long time for anything of any size to work with. If you want a Boxwood a better route would be to buy one with the biggest trunk that you can afford. Don't give up on the ones that you have now they may still germinate. Seeds operate on their own schedule despite your best efforts.

Here is some information for you. [url]https://plantfacts.ohio-state.edu/mg/manual/prop.htm[/url]

Norm

EDIT: Here is a better one. [url]https://www.trees-seeds.com/seed.htm[/url]

[Gnome]

vcolmenar,

While searching another site for information regarding cuttings I just stumbled across a bit of information that you might find useful. It seems that growing Crab Apples from seed is not the best approach if you want to have flowers anytime in the next 20 years or so..

There is also the issue of the natural genetic variability inherent when growing seedlings. Cuttings, however, have the same characteristics as the parent and also seem to "inherit" the maturity of the parent tree. Furthermore the majority of nursery trees are grafted and therefore unsuitable for bonsai. So it seems that although Crabs make excellent bonsai if you want blossoms cuttings are the way to go.

Norm

[vcolmenar]

Got the seeds in today (I'll edit and resize later today, I'm in a rush )


[EDIT] no more big images
[img]https://www.gcide.net/pics/DSC00222small.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.gcide.net/pics/DSC00223small.jpg[/img]
Will look like
[img]https://www.mishobonsai.com/ebay/seeds/malus.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.gcide.net/pics/DSC00224small.jpg[/img]
Will look like
[img]https://www.mishobonsai.com/ebay/seeds/coton.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.gcide.net/pics/DSC00225small.jpg[/img]
Will look like
[img]https://www.mishobonsai.com/ebay/seeds/atro2.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.gcide.net/pics/DSC00226small.jpg[/img]
Will look like
[img]https://www.mishobonsai.com/ebay/seeds/buxus.jpg[/img]

vcolmenar,

While searching another site for information regarding cuttings I just stumbled across a bit of information that you might find useful. It seems that growing Crab Apples from seed is not the best approach if you want to have flowers anytime in the next 20 years or so..

There is also the issue of the natural genetic variability inherent when growing seedlings. Cuttings, however, have the same characteristics as the parent and also seem to "inherit" the maturity of the parent tree. Furthermore the majority of nursery trees are grafted and therefore unsuitable for bonsai. So it seems that although Crabs make excellent bonsai if you want blossoms cuttings are the way to go.

mmm, well I'll see how germinating these ones go. I'll look for cuttings early next spring and begin my work there (lol, so my journey begins for cuttings). Thank you for the information gnome, greatly appreciated.

[Gnome]

vcolmenar,

Here are some links that might help.

[url]https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/articles.htm[/url]

There is much valuable information to be gleaned here, in particular these links seem particularly relevant

[url]https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/crabappl.htm[/url]
[url]https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/japmaple.htm[/url]
[url]https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/cotonbon.htm[/url]
[url]https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/trunks.htm[/url]

Norm

[vcolmenar]

let's say I want to order cuttings from a website and it says gallon..... does that mean I'm going to get a bunch of cuttings weighted at 1 gallon?

[Gnome]

vcolmenar,

No, Brent is selling Crabs in several sizes.

Most 2 3/4 inch pots are whips with 1/4 inch caliper or larger and about ten inches tall. Older 2 3/4 inch pots and four inch pot plants have developed branching and 3/8+ inch trunks and many will have set fruit.

A one gallon plant is larger still and is a single plant sold in a one gallon nursery container. These are not simply cuttings but established plants grown FROM cuttings.

Norm

[vcolmenar]

vcolmenar,

No, Brent is selling Crabs in several sizes.

Most 2 3/4 inch pots are whips with 1/4 inch caliper or larger and about ten inches tall. Older 2 3/4 inch pots and four inch pot plants have developed branching and 3/8+ inch trunks and many will have set fruit.

A one gallon plant is larger still and is a single plant sold in a one gallon nursery container. These are not simply cuttings but established plants grown FROM cuttings.

Norm

Unfortunately, Brent doesn't ship to Canada. I'll go and find a buddy in the states and just have him come here to Toronto and drop off my cuttings

Anyways, I went to walmart to buy some plastic pots to germinate my seeds in.....wasn't expected, but I jumped the gun and bought a walsai. (lol =)

I took some pictures.

https://www.gcide.net/pics/111506/bonsai.htm

The last 4 pictures were scratch tests, so I know it's alive at least. I'm going to put it outside sometime later tomorrow to have it go into dormancy. I'll repot in spring.

At the same time I'm going to put all my seeds in pots and leave it out for the winter. Wish me luck guys

BTW, I have no idea what genus this tree is of.....but hey, walsai, what can you do.

[Gnome]

vcolmenar,

I hardly know where to begin. First sorry about the assumption I made above, I thought you were asking specifically about EGGW. But the answer remains the same.

Now,

I'm going to put it outside sometime later tomorrow to have it go into dormancy. I'll re pot in spring... BTW, I have no idea what genus this tree is

If you don't know the species how can you possibly make the decision to put it outside? Even if this is a temperate species, (sorry I can't tell what it is), dormancy is a gradual process that starts after Summer solstice with the shortening of day length. I fear that it may be too late in the season to put it outside even if it is an appropriate species.

Please remove the rocks and moss, they will only interfere with the watering process. Don't keep it too wet, with little foliage water requirements will be low.

In all honesty, this tree looks pretty bad and without an identification resurrection of this tree may be a long-shot.

Norm