Beginner here! Advice welcome!

[Annath]

Hello!

I purchased some Yoshino Cherry Tree Seeds (I couldn't afford a sapling), with the intent of attempting to get at least one to grow to try making a Bonsai tree.

I've never done this before, so I was wondering if there is anything specific to these plants/my situation I should know.

I bought 10 seeds, so I'm hoping at least one will germinate well. The only plants I've ever grown from seed are chili peppers.

I live in Virginia, which I believe is zone 7a.

The seeds are being stratified according to the instructions on from the nursery:

soaked in warm water for 30 minutes, patted dry, and placed in a container in the fridge for 10 weeks.

They are coming up on the time to take them out and plant them, so I wanted to make sure I know what I need to have ready for that.

I have not yet purchased any pots or tools, as I want to make sure I don't buy something I either don't need, or don't need *yet*.

Thanks for any tips and tricks!

 

[Colorado]

Welcome! Sounds like a fun project you have started.

My advice would be to keep an eye on your seeds, but also go out to a nursery and get a tree that you can start working on immediately to really get the full bonsai experience. With seeds, there isn’t really much bonsai work to do for the first few years besides just watering and fertilizing them.

Have fun!

 

[Gabler]

After the seedlings’ first year or two, do a bit of root work, and then put them in the ground to grow more quickly. Once the trunks are nice and fat, you’ll be ready to start training them as bonsai. In the meantime, head over to the resources section of this site and start reading.

 

[Cajunrider]

Welcome!
I agree with Colorado. Get a few trees and start working on them. Waiting for seeds to sprout is worse than watching paint dry.

 

[Annath]

Welcome! Sounds like a fun project you have started.

My advice would be to keep an eye on your seeds, but also go out to a nursery and get a tree that you can start working on immediately to really get the full bonsai experience. With seeds, there isn’t really much bonsai work to do for the first few years besides just watering and fertilizing them.

Have fun!

Thanks!

Any suggestions on a tree that will take well to Bonsai?

What age/size should I look for? (and what age/size should I look to start working with the cherry trees?)

Is there a "beginner's list" of what equipment I'll need to get started?

Edit: Gabler, when you say "put them in the ground", do you mean the actual ground? Or a larger pot? I live in an apartment, so I don't have a yard. That's why I was interested in Bonsai, since I have a balcony.

 

[jradics]

Welcome. You can go into nearly every wooded area in your state, and collect growing seedlings of the local trees. Of course, know what poison ivy is and avoid it, and dont dig up someones yard, but there are always young trees ready to collect

 

[jradics]

Thanks!

Any suggestions on a tree that will take well to Bonsai?

What age/size should I look for? (and what age/size should I look to start working with the cherry trees?)

Is there a "beginner's list" of what equipment I'll need to get started?

sweet gum, tulip poplar, maples...

 

[Gabler]

Welcome. You can go into nearly every wooded area in your state, and collect growing seedlings of the local trees. Of course, know what poison ivy is and avoid it, and dont dig up someones yard, but there are always young trees ready to collect

There’s a bit of a process involved in getting a permit if it’s public land. If it’s private, just ask the owner.

 

[Colorado]

Thanks!

Any suggestions on a tree that will take well to Bonsai?

What age/size should I look for? (and what age/size should I look to start working with the cherry trees?)

Is there a "beginner's list" of what equipment I'll need to get started?

The options of what types of trees we use for bonsai are endless! Conifers, deciduous, tropicals….it’s really just whatever catches your eye as something that interests you personally!

However, as a general recommendation you can’t go wrong with a juniper. They are widely available and tolerate bonsai work quite well.

To get started you really just need a watering can, wire, wire cutter, and shears. You’ll have plenty of time later to amass dozens of different tools

 

[Gabler]

sweet gum, tulip poplar, maples...

Mostly bad for bonsai, with the exception of a few specific maple species. I have them, but I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone else, except to experiment with them.

 

[Gabler]

Thanks!

Any suggestions on a tree that will take well to Bonsai?

What age/size should I look for? (and what age/size should I look to start working with the cherry trees?)

Is there a "beginner's list" of what equipment I'll need to get started?

Edit: Gabler, when you say "put them in the ground", do you mean the actual ground? Or a larger pot? I live in an apartment, so I don't have a yard. That's why I was interested in Bonsai, since I have a balcony.

For tools, pick up a pair of concave cutters, a pair of shears, and wound sealant.

As for the best beginner species, I recommend you start with mulberry. It’s very forgiving to poor husbandry, and it responds very predictably to bonsai techniques. White mulberry is invasive and very easy to find. It grows like a weed, because it is a weed.

I’ve never liked junipers, personally, but everyone recommends them to beginners, so you’ll probably enjoy them yourself and see some success. For a long time, I couldn’t figure out what the big deal was about Kimura. I didn’t like any of his trees.

 

[Wulfskaar]

You can grow trees in pots rather than the ground. It just might take longer to get a FAT trunk.

I started with a "bonsai seed kit" I got as a gift for Christmas 2019. I still have a bunch of the trees that came from that kit. It will take years before I can call them "bonsai" but they bring me a lot of joy. There's nothing wrong with growing from seeds, other than it takes MUCH longer to become bonsai.

Also, as others will say, it's good to get older trees, like at Lowe's or Home Depot or a local nursery because it will save years of growing and you'll get to do a lot more bonsai techniques.

As for tools, all I have is a cheap bonsai tool kit from Amazon that I've supplemented with a couple of items. You can get started on your bonsai journey very cheaply! Good luck!

 

[Carol 83]

Welcome and best of luck with your seeds. Get a cheap ficus and you can practice on it and get some cuttings as well.

 

[bonsaichile]

Welcome. You can go into nearly every wooded area in your state, and collect growing seedlings of the local trees. Of course, know what poison ivy is and avoid it, and dont dig up someones yard, but there are always young trees ready to collect

If you do this, dont forget to get a permit first

 

[rockm]

Hello!

I purchased some Yoshino Cherry Tree Seeds (I couldn't afford a sapling), with the intent of attempting to get at least one to grow to try making a Bonsai tree.

I've never done this before, so I was wondering if there is anything specific to these plants/my situation I should know.

I bought 10 seeds, so I'm hoping at least one will germinate well. The only plants I've ever grown from seed are chili peppers.

I live in Virginia, which I believe is zone 7a.

The seeds are being stratified according to the instructions on from the nursery:

soaked in warm water for 30 minutes, patted dry, and placed in a container in the fridge for 10 weeks.

They are coming up on the time to take them out and plant them, so I wanted to make sure I know what I need to have ready for that.

I have not yet purchased any pots or tools, as I want to make sure I don't buy something I either don't need, or don't need *yet*.

Thanks for any tips and tricks!

You won't need ANY bonsai-specific tools, soil, pots, etc for about five years, probably more. Seedlings need time to grow. Five years (in the ground--a pot will extend the time by several years) is about the time you can think about applying bonsai techniques to them if you're a beginner. There is something in growing your own seedlings. It can be quite satisfying, but you have to delay getting satisfaction from bonsai for a while.

It's a hard thing to accept, but that's mostly the way it is.

I would encourage you to join the Northern Virginia Bonsai Society--if you're in the area. If not, there are other clubs in the state as well. Richmond has a terrific club. Clubs offer extremely low cost trees, etc. if you join. Many members will have trees they may be looking to sell, or simply give away.

Some clubs, including the Northern Va. club, offer mentor programs that pair up beginners with more experienced members to work on trees--including the mentor's. Might be a way to get to understand repotting, care and other bonsai-specific stuff while your trees grow.

 

[Annath]

You won't need ANY bonsai-specific tools, soil, pots, etc for about five years, probably more. Seedlings need time to grow. Five years (in the ground--a pot will extend the time by several years) is about the time you can think about applying bonsai techniques to them if you're a beginner. There is something in growing your own seedlings. It can be quite satisfying, but you have to delay getting satisfaction from bonsai for a while.

It's a hard thing to accept, but that's mostly the way it is.

I would encourage you to join the Northern Virginia Bonsai Society--if you're in the area. If not, there are other clubs in the state as well. Richmond has a terrific club. Clubs offer extremely low cost trees, etc. if you join. Many members will have trees they may be looking to sell, or simply give away.

This is fantastic info!

The seeds are definitely a long term investment. I bought 10 seeds, so if more than 1 sprouts I'm going to give the extra(s) to my mom and brother, who have houses with yards.

I'm in Fredericksburg, so NoVa and Richmond are literally equidistant to me lol.

 

[rockm]

Welcome. You can go into nearly every wooded area in your state, and collect growing seedlings of the local trees. Of course, know what poison ivy is and avoid it, and dont dig up someones yard, but there are always young trees ready to collect

Nope. This is a very bad way to start.

Aside from getting the permission from landowners (if you don't, you're stealing and trespassing) and if you're on public land collecting everything you see, you're likely violating the law (and potentially screwing up collection for those of us who collect legally) You will also likely steepen your learning curve, as collected trees (if they're worth collecting) require care that is specialized on recovery for a couple of years.

Again, joining a club will allow you to get to know people who know where to collect and where to get permission.

 

[ShadyStump]

I second what @Carol 83 said. Ficus is about as safe as it gets for beginners, and can be brought in from your balcony in winter to brighten up the place. Ficus macrocarpa tiger bark is very popular and excellent for bonsai. Benjamina is considered be many to be unsuitable for bonsai, but I love 'em! So much fun! They'll take pretty much anything you throw at them, and respond as if they're playing back with you. Best part about ficus, they're FREE! Just look through the plants at Walmart and pinch a stem off.


@Gabler is right about the mulberries, too, and there's a good chance the maintenance folks in your complex will happily let you dig the on from sidewalk. Bonus points for fruit.

I'll also throw Siberian elm out there. They are fantastic for bonsai. They're invasive all over the country so no one will mind you digging one, grow fast, heal fast, and take a hell allot of punishment. The cockroaches will need something to eat after the nuclear apocalypse, so Siberian elms it is.

If you haven't caught on to the themes, best beginner trees are resilient, fast growers, have leaves that are small or will reduce in size easily, and that you can have fun with.
@rockm brings up a great point about the clubs. Not everyone has the time or else wise the wherewithal to be active in a club, but it's good to at least have some community.

 

[rockm]

This is fantastic info!

The seeds are definitely a long term investment. I bought 10 seeds, so if more than 1 sprouts I'm going to give the extra(s) to my mom and brother, who have houses with yards.

I'm in Fredericksburg, so NoVa and Richmond are literally equidistant to me lol.

Richmond may be your best bet. I95 traffic is something avoid in N. Va. As you know it gets really bad North of F'burg.

 

[Annath]

Richmond may be your best bet. I95 traffic is something avoid in N. Va. As you know it gets really bad North of F'burg.

Yeah, I avoid going north of Stafford if at all possible.