Japanese Stewartia seedlings

[Greengramps]

I found these two guys under our mature Japanese Stewartia tree. I assume they are Stewartia seedlings and would like to make them my next bonsai project. Should I put them back in the ground and give them a few years or pot them now? Or maybe put one in the ground and pot the other? What things do I need to consider in either case?

 

[MrBonsai19]

I'd leave them alone until the start of spring of next year then repot them and cut the tap root. I'd let them grow in training pots slowly upsizing to match the needs of the tree until the tree is 3-5 years old and you have had an opportunity to set up the roots to grow out radially and wire in some basic movement (unless you want an upright form), then you can go into the ground and let it grow free.