Creating your Bonsai from seeds helps you to get a better understanding of the Bonsai cultivating method. Selecting seeds from your local area ensures that they will grow in their ideal climate.
How to Grow a Bonsai From Seed
Growing Bonsai from seed need some preparation at the text below we will show you in 3 steps how to prepare the best environment for your bonsai tree growth.
Content Table
1-Bonsai Soil Preparing
The soil requires several qualities for it to be considered a good soil mix for your bonsai. They are good water retention, good drainage, and good aeration.
Most using Bonsai soil mixtures are Akadama, Pumice, Lava rock, organic potting compost, and fine gravel also known as grit.
For conifer trees
One of the best bonsai soil recipes for conifer trees includes pumice, lava rock, and akadama at a 1:1:1 ratio. Another good recipe is a mixture of calcined clay, pine bark, lava rock, and limestone pea rock at a 3-1-3-3 ratio.
Suppose you don’t have access to akadama. You can get turface or calcined clay as an alternative. Likewise, you can use perlite as a substitute for pumice.
For deciduous trees
Since deciduous trees require more moisture, you’d have to have soil with good water retention qualities.
To do that, you can increase the number of akadama from the above’s recipe. So, for deciduous bonsai, aim for a 1:1:2 pumice, lava rock, and akadama mixture or equivalent.
2-Bonsai Pot Preparing
Bonsai pot preparation mainly focused on size, deep, number of drainage holes, and good-looking. First, you need to think about the size of your tree and select to best fit for it. Secondly, pot changing is an important process so we need a pot that doesn't age or crumble easily.
Good Looking
The orientation of the tree is another factor that affects the pot’s structure. With their sharp edges and angles, rectangular and square-shaped pots are better suited for masculine trees, whereas oval and rounded pots are preferred for feminine bonsai plants.
Size
The breadth of the container to the tree is referred to as its size. In contrast to popular belief, bonsai trees are not genetically altered; their growth is controlled by the small pots and constricting settings in which they are grown, making them dwarf trees. For mature trees, the diameter of the pots should be between one-third and two-thirds of the tree’s height.
Depth
To obtain the authentic bonsai tree form, restricting the depth is equally as crucial as limiting the width. As a general rule, the pot’s depth and trunk base’s diameter should be the same.
Drainage Holes
The bonsai tree pot must include holes on the base that allow extra water to flow through and guarantee root health and lifespan.
3-Growing Seed
Growing Bonsai from seeds will be a test of your patience, but it's a great way to style Bonsai trees without the need to prune thick branches, as you would when styling Yamadori or nursery stock.
Collect
You can collect seeds during autumn from local trees growing in your area. Chestnuts and acorns are easy seeds to find in the forest. Conifers seeds are found inside pine cones.
Prepare
Bonsai seeds will need to be "prepared" before sowing in the soil. Stratification is an important step! This is done by soaking the seeds in water, or placing them between layers of wet paper towel, and soaking them. Again, different seeds will have their own unique needs!
Plant
When your seedling is ready plant it in your pot and let it grow.
Related Terms
Bonsai tree
Bonsai tree germination
Bonsai tree mixing ratio
Bonsai tree price
How to start bonsai
How to start bonsai seeds
How to start bonsai tree seeds
How to start bonsai plant
How to start bonsai from sapling