Seedling Care

[The Seraph]

How would one care for Jacaranda mimosifolia, Picea abies and Pinus aristata seedlings? I live in Florida.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Have the seedlings sprouted? Or do you have seed still in packets? Or are you just thinking about ordering the seed?

In Florida the Jacaranda can be planted out after danger of frost has past. Put the pots in full sun. The seedlings should be fine. Keep the pots moist, not in standing water.

Picea abies, may or may not survive in Florida depends on where you are at. The Norway Spruce actually needs a cold winter rest and much of Florida is too warm for them. Chamaecyparis obtusa - Hinoki would be a better choice. Or one of the Cupressus species. Also Juniper is always a good choice, Shimpaku in particular.

Bristle cone pine - Pinus aristata - is famous for being difficult to keep happy long term. Very few people living east of the Mississippi have kept an aristata alive for more than 5 years. They are somewhat susceptible to various fungi that occur in the humid southeastern USA and usually perish from one disease or another before they make 5 years old. The only people I know who are successful with bristlecone pines live above 5000 feet elevation or in certain parts of California. Bristlecone pines need cold in winter, and are simply a bad choice for florida. Choose Japanese Black Pine instead Pnus thunbergii or Japanese Red Pine, JRP both are better adapted to Florida's climate.

 

[The Seraph]

Have the seedlings sprouted? Or do you have seed still in packets? Or are you just thinking about ordering the seed?

In Florida the Jacaranda can be planted out after danger of frost has past. Put the pots in full sun. The seedlings should be fine. Keep the pots moist, not in standing water.

Picea abies, may or may not survive in Florida depends on where you are at. The Norway Spruce actually needs a cold winter rest and much of Florida is too warm for them. Chamaecyparis obtusa - Hinoki would be a better choice. Or one of the Cupressus species. Also Juniper is always a good choice, Shimpaku in particular.

Bristle cone pine - Pinus aristata - is famous for being difficult to keep happy long term. Very few people living east of the Mississippi have kept an aristata alive for more than 5 years. They are somewhat susceptible to various fungi that occur in the humid southeastern USA and usually perish from one disease or another before they make 5 years old. The only people I know who are successful with bristlecone pines live above 5000 feet elevation or in certain parts of California. Bristlecone pines need cold in winter, and are simply a bad choice for florida. Choose Japanese Black Pine instead Pnus thunbergii or Japanese Red Pine, JRP both are better adapted to Florida's climate.

The Jacaranda has already sprouted. I was simply contemplating planting the spruce and pine as I felt they would not be suited to the climate. A roommate had given me a bonsai starter kit after learning I used to have a bonsai. Thank you for the help, I deeply appreciate it.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Glad you have not yet put yourself through the torture of trying to raise bristlecones from seed.

Juniper procumbens var prostrata - Prostrate juniper. And Juniper chinensis 'shimpaku' really are the best conifers for beginning to learn bonsai. Stop at a local landscape nursery and pick up one or two of these.

To ''learn bonsai'' it is easier if you have more project trees. For my self I need at least 25 to 50 to keep me happy. With a number of trees, there is always one that needs something done. This way you don't end up getting impatient waiting for something to grow so you can do ''the next bonsai technique'' on them. Get an assortment of species and an assortment of ages.

If you have no experience keeping plants in containers happy, start with inexpensive trees and shrub from you local landscape nursery. Key will be learning the horticulture needed to keep a tree in a container happy.

If you are already horticulturally competent, stop by a bonsai nursery and invest the fairly serious money for a more advanced bonsai tree. Wigert's Bonsai Nursery is near Fort Meyers, south of Sarasota. They are an excellent bonsai nursery. You will learn more bonsai techniques, more quickly starting with a tree that is already styled and on its way to being considered fully developed. Young material, seedlings, ''sticks in pots'' and material from landscape nurseries while being less expensive will only teach you the bonsai techniques needed for young, less developed trees, it will take years before these young trees are ready for the advanced techniques. Also the fear of accidentally killing an expensive tree will motivate you to put the effort into learning what needs to be done. But before going with an advanced tree, you need to feel horticulturally competent with either houseplants or container plants outdoors or vegetable gardening. If you have done none of those, start with less expensive seedlings and landscape trees.

In Florida there are many bonsai clubs and societies, nearly every city has one. Do think about attending a meeting or two to get the feel for what is involved. A call to Wigert's and they can tell you which society is near where you live. or post here your city or town name and someone from Florida will know which group is near you. Most important, take time to visit bonsai shows. Seeing other trees will teach you much.
Enjoy

 

[The Seraph]

Glad you have not yet put yourself through the torture of trying to raise bristlecones from seed.

Juniper procumbens var prostrata - Prostrate juniper. And Juniper chinensis 'shimpaku' really are the best conifers for beginning to learn bonsai. Stop at a local landscape nursery and pick up one or two of these.

To ''learn bonsai'' it is easier if you have more project trees. For my self I need at least 25 to 50 to keep me happy. With a number of trees, there is always one that needs something done. This way you don't end up getting impatient waiting for something to grow so you can do ''the next bonsai technique'' on them. Get an assortment of species and an assortment of ages.

If you have no experience keeping plants in containers happy, start with inexpensive trees and shrub from you local landscape nursery. Key will be learning the horticulture needed to keep a tree in a container happy.

If you are already horticulturally competent, stop by a bonsai nursery and invest the fairly serious money for a more advanced bonsai tree. Wigert's Bonsai Nursery is near Fort Meyers, south of Sarasota. They are an excellent bonsai nursery. You will learn more bonsai techniques, more quickly starting with a tree that is already styled and on its way to being considered fully developed. Young material, seedlings, ''sticks in pots'' and material from landscape nurseries while being less expensive will only teach you the bonsai techniques needed for young, less developed trees, it will take years before these young trees are ready for the advanced techniques. Also the fear of accidentally killing an expensive tree will motivate you to put the effort into learning what needs to be done. But before going with an advanced tree, you need to feel horticulturally competent with either houseplants or container plants outdoors or vegetable gardening. If you have done none of those, start with less expensive seedlings and landscape trees.

In Florida there are many bonsai clubs and societies, nearly every city has one. Do think about attending a meeting or two to get the feel for what is involved. A call to Wigert's and they can tell you which society is near where you live. or post here your city or town name and someone from Florida will know which group is near you. Most important, take time to visit bonsai shows. Seeing other trees will teach you much.
Enjoy

Thank you for your help! I am experienced with container plants, and while it would be wise to start with a mature bonsai I enjoy watching and caring for things as they take many, many years to grow. It is nice to see that bonsai has become bigger. When I was still practicing it was really just my oji suffocating me with tradition.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

No problem.
Just trying to help.

I try to have trees in all phases of development, that way I can learn all aspects of bonsai technique. I admit majority of my collection is younger seedlings and sticks in pots.

 

[BonsaiDawg]

The only people I know who are successful with bristlecone pines live above 5000 feet elevation or in certain parts of California.

Oh, Really?? Enlighten me.
Or perhaps, you don't know very many folks...?