Growing from seeds.
- Bastet
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I recently decided to take up growing bonsai trees as a hobby. I have absolutely no gardening, plant and especially bonsai experience whatsoever.
I ordered
and decided to try one sachet of seeds as a test. With the weather being up and down in the UK, I opted for doing it all indoors.
The instructions said to plant the seeds and leave them somewhere warm but out of direct sunlight. I followed the sowing instructions and placed the potted seeds in a small vegetable bag from the supermarket and left it on the windowsill, behind closed, thick blinds - so they would get some light and warmth but not be in direct light.
It then said after 2-3 weeks to place the potted seeds into the fridge for a further 3-6 weeks.
However, by about day 9 of the first step, shoots have already come up. I'm not sure what they are because each sachet was mixed (Cedrus Atlantica, Cryptomeria Japonica, Pinus Excelsa, Pinus Roxburghii, Thuja Orientalis and Abies).
Now that they've sprouted, due I forgo the refridgerator stage (I thought that was to encourage the seeds to start shooting, but they already have) and remove them from the bag and leave them in the same location?
I figured, following the instructions, I would have 9 weeks to research the next steps and ordered a number of books. However, the little tikes have already started growing, before even finishing the first stage.
I just realised, whilst typing this, that the windowsill is above a radiator, which I totally forgot about, so they would have been receiving some heat on a morning when my parents had their heating on for a few hours.
Are these shoots salvageable or should I start again away from that location?
Thank you in advance.
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- bob
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- leatherback
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Looking at the plants.. These are not seedlings from the plants you said were in the package, as far as I can tell. The plants ytou mentioned all have needles, and not tiny round leaves, even in the erarliest stages.
Putting the seeds in the fridge is to reduce the dormancy hormones in the seeds.
Best you put the container outside, keep moist, protect from swmapy-wet, protect from animals. Then come spring, they should germinate right in time for spring (Isn't nature great!?)
Just be aware that bonsai are not typically grown from seed. You have just started on a 25 year journey. Most people thake the 10 years shortcut, and buy 5-20 year old plants.
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- Bastet
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I wanted something I could grow from scratch and look after for the years to come rather than buying one already shaped etc.
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- leatherback
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Bastet wrote: I wanted something I could grow from scratch and look after for the years to come rather than buying one already shaped etc.
Maybe I was not clear. When I say they buy a plant of 10-15 years old, this is what I am talking about:
Growing trees frmo seed is not complex, but it is dificult if you do not know what you are doing, and it will take several years before you can 'do' something. But if you enjoy that, go ahead. Just consider gettiong some more mature trees to get experience in watering, repotting, wiring, winter-care, disease treatment etcetc.
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- Bastet
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In the meantime, you think the ones in the pic might not be legit tree seeds? If so I'll be getting in touch with Amazon .
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- leatherback
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It COULD be Birch seed that I see hanging from the green leaves. But you should wait for the next set of leaves to be able to tell what it is.
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- Bastet
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They do look like tiny little
maybe my camera is just pants
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- leatherback
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Bastet wrote: They do look like tiny little
No they really do not. But as I said: Fait for the next leaves. As the first leaves are based on the seed, and do not have many characteristics of the species. Only needle vss non-needle is fairly clear at this stage.
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- bob
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It would be good to know your county or state. This would help us to help you with your specific climate. Dont be worried to post any questions
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