Starting from seeds

Jeyrsmith

Seedling
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Boston Massachusetts
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Hello everyone new to here and to bonsia i went to a class up here in new England Massachusetts and fell in love with bonsia i purchased a chinese elm likely 3-4 years old and a baby water jasmine but i already want more im completely hooked now or should i say rooted?
Puns aside ive been reading and watching lots of materials on bonsia i bought some seeds from an online retailer and also plan to go and attempt to collect seeds from around my area if the landlord of the grounds will allow my questions are more about the seeds that are on the way from what ive read some are going to need to germinate during the winter and some i may want to hold on to till spring but im wondering if anyone here has any experience and advice for growing these trees from seeds and any expert techniques that i may not have read from below are the tree seeds on the way and one of the articles ive read about them, i wont include all of the articles for the sake of a long post and redundancy but id atleast like to give anyone an idea of my graspe of what im plan to do with the seeds
Trees i own
Water jasmine {Wrightia Religiosa}

Chinese elm


Seeds
Japanese westeria. {wisteria floribunda }《spring early fall L55° H75°》 fall ( https://homeguides.sfgate.com/germinate-dried-wisteria-seeds-3 )

Japanese flowering cherry {prunus serrulata} stratification 《three to four months in fridge with damp cloth check moisture and sprouting》( https://www.deviantart.com/tomokuz/art/How-to-grow-Prunus-Serrulata-Japanese-cherry-seed-568260450 )

Japanese red maple kit { Acer palmatum }《 needs stratification cold germinate during winter》( http://japanesemaplelovers.com/growing-japanese-maples-from-seed/ )

Japanese black pine { pinus thunbergii } 《needs stratification cold temperatures during germination period 》 ( https://bonsaitonight.com/2016/08/17/grow-japanese-black-pine-seed/ )

Twisted pomegranate. {punica granatum nana}《tropical needs 70° heat during germination period》( https://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-pomegranate-houseplants-seed-48075.html )

Corkbark elm { ulmus parvifolia } aka chinese elm? still researching but need stratification

( https://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-ulmus-parvifolia-seeds-20459.html )
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
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Welcome to Crazy!

Sometimes you don't even have to do all the furrrrnnnnttt they say you gotta do.

If you have enough...throw a couple of each in some dirt under a light now!

Or this will be the LONGEST WINTER OF YOUR LIFE!

maybe get a ficus too!

S
 

Jeyrsmith

Seedling
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Well i only will recive 6 of most of the trees but ill have 20 of the maple and cherry so ill probably try to just plant a few right off the bat my other question is should i try the refrigerator method or just stick em in dirt in a sealed container with mild moisture and let em sit in the snow

Im going back to the bonsia nursery this weekend so im thinking of getting a few more trees like a juniper, maple and ficus so if i do fail withbthe seeds maybe i can grow from cuttings come spring
 

bonsaidave

Shohin
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Seeds can be a fun side project. You really can't play with them too much the first year.

Collect some local tree seeds. I collected and planted hackberry seeds last fall. Nature did all the freezing work. I just stuck them in planters and covered them. I now have tons of them growing in a couple planters.
 

Shinjuku

Mame
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Here’s a very interesting article on getting your first bonsai trees that I just happened to read today. It discusses the benefits of actually not buying bonsai trees in the beginning as you learn. It may or may not fit your situation. Different strokes for different folks!

https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/bonsaibe.htm
 

Jeyrsmith

Seedling
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Boston Massachusetts
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Yeah i thunk im better off with cuttingsand rooting compound but from what ive read watched and heard its very rewarding growing from seeds i dont have high hopes for their survival but atleast i can try and learn threw trail by fire, ive got many years to go but i figure why not start my little seedlings as soon as possible if they live ill hopefully have great trees 10-15 years from now that i can say i started on my own. Ill read that article more after work today but i appreciate the insight and advice And sorry my auto correct keeps changing bonsai ive fixed it now.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

The Professor
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Raising trees from seed to become pre-bonsai is an under appreciated nurseryman's occupation. It will take 5 or more years before any of these seedlings are big enough to use any ''bonsai techniques''. But if you are someone who enjoys starting trees from seed It does have its rewards.
The Evergreen Gardenworks article archive has all the information you need to raise nice seedlings for bonsai, rather than seedlings for the landscape trade. http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/articles.htm

I have many batches of seedlings, all in various stages of becoming. It is a pleasure of its own.
 
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