training from seed tips

Cordon

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to begin bonsai training from the point of germination.

I have read that once the seedling has it's first true leaves it is time to put the tree in a larger pot. You first gently ply the seedling up and once free of the soil trim off the tap root. You then spread the roots as best you can and let it grow.

Aside from the above does anyone have a more tips on cultivating bonsai from seeds. I already know it's going to be a long road, so i don't need to hear how long it's going to take.

how long do you wait to put it in the ground? what is the best way to begin introducing movement into the trunk? ect.

Cord

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midwestbonsai

Well, I would wait to introduce bends into the trunk until the trunk has a bit of mass to it. 2 or 3 years or so.
As long as it has a good root system I see nothing wrong with putting them in the ground the following spring.
I could be wrong.
-Paul

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TreeBay

Many of the issues of International Bonsai magazine are dedicated to particular species or styles and offer excellent advice for the development of seedlings, cuttings, grafts or layers. Techniques might vary depending on the species.

You could expect to see illustrated tips on propagation, sowing, field growing, early training, development and styling.

Which species are you interested in? We can probably point you to a particular issue that will address that specifically!

Regards,

Matt

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Cordon

The seeds I have recently sown are Mountain Mahogany, Cercocarpus montanus. To my knowledge hardly anyone is using it for bonsai. It's a western US deciduous shrub. It grows wild from Oklahoma to Catalina Island.

I followed what information I could find on the net to treat the seeds and help germinate them.

Basically I'm trying to develope a plan while I wait for them to take root.

Cord

zen

I have seen some nice trunk movement from trees or seedlings growing in a thick leaf cover. Just an idea.

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bonsainotwar

I have a beauty,I posted pictures of in a bonsai closeup section here.My trunk is almost as big around as an old silver dollar.I love it.It's great material,but why bother with seeds? Buy a five or ten gallon garden center plant,like I did.

Vance Wood

You are of course right, but growing things from seed is still an interesting process to follow and can be profitable in the end. Seed cultivation is also the only way one might get hold of some of the more exotic materials of interest due to import restrictions and the lack of presence of such material in the nursery trade. Matt was right Bonsai Today and International Bonsai have both had extensive articles on this subject.

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The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa