bonsai tree growing from seed help please !?
this is my first time at growing a plant, let alone growing a bonsai tree. im growing japanese black pine.
anyway, the instructions said to leave the pot of seeds in a dark warm cupboard for 3-6 weeks until shoots appear, however my shoots have appeared after 1 week. then it says to put a propogating clear cover on it, so i have. and says that i should put it out into the sun (even tho they are meant to be indoor bonsai trees, but im guessing it just means put them on like a windowsill), once the seeds have opened up to have leaves. one problem tho is that my shoot are too tall to fit under the propgating cover in the cupboard, but they havent got leaves yet, so cant put them on the windowsill.
another problem is that only one of the shoots are too tall for the propogating cover, and the others are still growing, so they wouldnt benefit from being in the sun just yet.
i know its probably a little confusing, so iv added pictures:
these one was taken yesterday:
http://s933.photobucket.com/albums/ad180/darcyc121/?action=view¤t=SNC00827.jpg
and heres a photo taken today
http://s933.photobucket.com/albums/ad180/darcyc121/?action=view¤t=SNC00828.jpg
is it just me or is this seed growing really fast
the instruction also says to move the tree to another pot once it has reached 2 inches tall, and it is that tall, but you can only remove it by holding the leaves, and as there are no leaves, wha do i do?
thanks for the advice
also is it ok for japanese black pine to be kept indoors all year round?
Cut the bottom out of a milk jug or 2 litre bottle, and put that over the plant in the windowsill. Have a spary bottle of clean water and mist the plant daily. Keep the seedling warm and humid, lots of indirect light will stimulate growth.
When it grows a few adult leaves, take the lid off(milk jug or bottle). Gradually introduce it to direct sun, if the adult plant needs direct sun, and it will start to harden off.
Pinch off or transplant the the less healthy sprouts. To transplant, you need to remove the entire soil ball from the pot. And wholly remove the plant from the dirt. Don’t tug, these seedlings are extremely delicate. Wait till you have at least starter leaves to transplant.
Good luck
August 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 am
Please don’t torture this tree by following bonsai instructions. It involves depriving a tree of sun, water, enough soil, nutrition, and space to grow, stunting its growth by unnatural means. It’s against nature and it’s cruel. Your seed’s growing well - be kind, reward it, put it outdors.
References :
August 2nd, 2009 at 7:44 am
Your seed has germinated but it is suffering from a lack of light
( etiolation). Place it out in the open in a sheltered spot with no cold draughts and whatever you do dont place it in full sun —it will burn up.
Yes it is 2 inches tall but thats because it is suffering from lack of light. Follow the above instructions but be aware that etiolated plants are susceptible to disease. Leave your seedling out in the open until autumn and dont even think about moving it on until it is strong and healthy next spring at least
References :
August 2nd, 2009 at 8:09 am
Cut the bottom out of a milk jug or 2 litre bottle, and put that over the plant in the windowsill. Have a spary bottle of clean water and mist the plant daily. Keep the seedling warm and humid, lots of indirect light will stimulate growth.
When it grows a few adult leaves, take the lid off(milk jug or bottle). Gradually introduce it to direct sun, if the adult plant needs direct sun, and it will start to harden off.
Pinch off or transplant the the less healthy sprouts. To transplant, you need to remove the entire soil ball from the pot. And wholly remove the plant from the dirt. Don’t tug, these seedlings are extremely delicate. Wait till you have at least starter leaves to transplant.
Good luck
References :
I grow bonsai from ficus clippings and azalea stems. Easier than seed.
August 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 am
first cool the plant down a bit for a couple days,transplant it in a small pot and keep it in the light but not in direct sunlight, when it has grown to about four or five inches put it in a larger pot but preferably in a shallow dish , not to large to start with, when weather allows put it outside in dappled shade to harden it of, keep it in a sheltered place in the winter but not to warm. once it is a year old and about nine inches high it should be ok outdoors all year, Good luck, we have grown five pine trees from seed and they are all Beautiful and some are now thirty years old and very happy, about twenty inches high, in the spring when they make new growt take the scissors and trim the new growt back to the dark green. good Luck
References :
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 am
Growing bonsai from seed takes an extremely long time and a lot of experience. however you have to keep your seedling in bright light to stop it getting to leggy.
let your seedling develop one or two full sets of leaves then pinch out the the growing tip, this will cause two new leaders to form at the junction of the leaves. these can then slowly be trained one as a new leader and the other to form your first branch.
Its better to buy a starter tree from a proper bonsai nursery for very little money and get used to developing your tree from that. be very patient as it takes 20 years or more to get a tree as good as the ones shown on the seed packets.
Its best to keep them sheltered outside or in a greenhouse if the weather to cold for better growing conditions. its generally to hot and dry and not bright enough inside. just bring them Indore’s to show now and again
References :
experence and lot of different books over the years.