Seedlings and winter

trent

I am a beginner to this bonsai thing. Have read a half a dozen books on the subject and have set my mind on starting from seed (more rewarding for me)

I have a few Osage Orange seedlings and Dwarf Pomegranite seedlings that are very healthy right now but I started them a little late in the growing season (ie. mid-June) With the approach of winter I was wondering if it would be safe to keep them outside with protection or should I keep them mostly inside for the first winter so they can harden an bit.

Also, I have a 7 month old Japanese Black Pine that is also healthy and was wondering what the best setting would bve for the winter.

Oh, by the way, I live in Toronto, Canada.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

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Aaron_K

Hi Trent and welcome to the forum.

With regard to starting bonsai from seed, I would advise against it, purely on the basis that you will be nothing but waiting for around 8 years before you can even begin the initial styling of a tree. Basically, you'd be starting your journey into bonsai in 2013.... which I would suspect would cause you to get a bit peeved off whilst waiting for something to do and disband it all together.

Growing trees from seed is fine. I do it, lots of people on the forum do it but, you also find that they have trees as well. Therefore, I would recommend that you purchase either a tree from a bonsai nursery and learn to care for it, or purchase some tree stock from a landscape company or even tree farm.

With regard to winter care of the seedlings you mentioned, all are going to need winter protection. I have no knowledge of Osage Orange, but the pomegranate will probably need to come inside into an unheated garage or better yet, a greenhouse if you have one.

Pines are very cold hardy trees, but seens as your zone is 4b and Japanese Black Pines are Zone 5-8 and its just a seedling, you would run the risk of killing it if left outside with no protection. Again, a greenhouse would be best, if not, locate in the most sheltered area of the garden you can find, out of the wind and hail. Fill a much bigger container with mulch to a depth or about 2 inches and then place the pot with the JBP inside. Back fill around the sides and cover the top too. bring the level of the mulch as close to the bottom needles as possible to protect the young trunk.

Hope that helps.

All the best,

Aaron