Does a seedling/cutting need to go dormant?

[Scooter9166 - 5a]

I'm new to here, and got suckered into buying seeds to start my bonsai journey. I have since acquired a number of nursery stock trees/bushes, which I'm preparing for dormancy (the weather here has been erratic). My question is what do I need to do about seedlings (six months old) and new cuttings (2 months old, with leaves and roots)? Should I try to get them to go dormant for a few months, or encourage them to keep growing?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FvOS9qhP1uFgdcUDdqL6KtxG55FXVGu2
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sbNDYn_n1B_EeCcuycYeaQBmFH5eW1Ev

Thanks for any help

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site!

Where do you live? What are those seedlings - I don't recognize them?

 

[Scooter9166 - 5a]

I live in the western suburbs of Chicago. I believe they are Jacaranda. I meant to say that in the post :/

 

[sorce]

I was at Luigi's in Aurora last night....

Kiddie Gambling!

I got a juniper cutting rooted that I brought inside.


Boxwood too....
And a tiny juniper..Probly dead.


Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Oh... the Lil juniper Probly dead, the box and other juniper are fine.

Next year outside for sure....

Sorce

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I live in the western suburbs of Chicago. I believe they are Jacaranda. I meant to say that in the post :/

I'm very familiar with the St. Charles / Geneva area though much has changed in the years since I lived there

Jacaranda is going to be a challenge for you. It is a deciduous tropical tree. Large trees may do ok with a little light frost (while they are dormant) but seedlings will die. Here in Southern Cal where jacaranda is quite common, they have already dropped their leaves. Personally, I would treat your seedling as if it were a full tropical like a ficus. Keep it indoors, in the brightest sun you can provide - like a south-facing window. I doubt it will drop leaves this year. Do not try to force dormancy, and whatever you do, keep it out of Chicago cold!

They are quite striking when they flower in early summer!

 

[Scooter9166 - 5a]

@Bonsai Nut - thanks for the info. I'm in Lombard, so warmer by a few degrees in the winter, but still plenty cold. I'll see what happens. I have plenty of southern exposure.

@ Sorce - Good to know. None of my cuttings are that developed, so I'll play it safe.

 

[GrimLore]

I live in the western suburbs of Chicago. I believe they are Jacaranda. I meant to say that in the post :/

They are considered Sub Tropical or Tropical and need to be inside for the Winter there.

Welcome aboard!

Grimmy

 

[Scooter9166 - 5a]

Thanks Grimmy!!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Seedlings and cuttings keep the same dormancy requirements that the source plant does. So your Jacaranda, it is sub-tropical, needs to be indoors for winter.

for @sorce - your juniper cuttings will be fine outside, next to where you winter your other junipers. I've even struck new cuttings in November, right into the pot with the parent juniper. Outside in Zion-Waukegan, IL winter, and they had roots by July. Winter your juniper cuttings too warm, and they may not grow normally in spring. Although juniper is so forgiving that there is a good chance they will be just fine.

I winter my maple and stewartia cuttings with their adult parent trees, cold.

 

[Scooter9166 - 5a]

Thanks Leo!
I work just down the road from you, in Northbrook.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Jacaranda trees in Australia...

 

[Tieball]

Jacaranda trees in Australia...

View attachment 170101

Wow! Colorful. And I imagine the local residents say “messy too”. Beautiful roadway.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Wow! Colorful. And I imagine the local residents say “messy too”. Beautiful roadway.

I have mixed emotions about the species. Reminds me of the tree version of wysteria. One month out of the year it is the most beautiful thing out there. The rest of the time, not so much. Here in Cali, it is the first deciduous to drop its leaves in the Fall, and the last to bud out in the Spring. It is touchy and has weak wood and is prone to die-back even in adult specimens. The fern-like foliage can be pretty in summer, but it tends to be patchy and sparse instead of thick and abundant.

However for that one month a year... nothing else can touch it for beauty

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Thanks Leo!
I work just down the road from you, in Northbrook.

Not too far, maybe 20 miles. You are very close to the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Midwest Bonsai Society meets there on Monday evenings. If possible you should drop in. I believe members of the Midwest Bonsai Society get free parking on meeting nights, ask at the gate. (a CBG membership is worth the money, if you visit more than twice a year. Their parking fees are getting ridiculous).

I'll pm you, we can talk about local resources.