Bonsai Seeds

kvnharv29

Anybody know any really reliable online sources for a wide variety of bonsai seeds. Such species as trident maple, japanese maple, chinese juniper, pyracantha, cotoneaster, japanese black/white pine, zelkova, korean hornbeam, etc..
I saw carterseeds.com sells thousands of seeds at a time but i dont think ill need that many, but they have a huge variety.
Any ideas?

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TreeBay

Seed itself isn't really reliable You can find lots of folks selling seeds of species popular for bonsai on places like eBay, but there really is no such thing as "bonsai seed." Most all the non-conifers are better propagated as cuttings from a parent plant with the characteristics you want, if you have access to it.

Regards,

Matt

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kvnharv29

Where do u get ur seeds from, if you use them.
Im really at a loss as to where i can obtain some good bonsai material like trees, seeds, tools, wire, etc.. other than online.
There are no bonsai nurseries that i know of in my area.
There are two local nurseries That sell a few trees like ficus and crappy junipers and thats it. i bought one of those junipers and it dies two months later.
Any help would be grateful.

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Jay

Hi, I understand your problem.... Did you understand Matts reply?

Seeds are generic, any seed is OK, there is no such thing as Bonsai Seeds. The results of planting seeds is a crap shoot. You may hit on nearly all your seeds or on only a few. Either way the ones that make it will take years... read many many years to be ready for Bonsai Training.

If the trees you purchased at the local nursery were not heathy when you purchased them that is a problem, but it is possible that your care of these trees or the training they may have been given may have caused their death. Non of us here has not killed several trees.... the ones who say they haven't have either just begun or...well... they have selective memories.

For an online site for trees you could try evergreengardenworks.com or mountainmaples.com these two sites are very well known an have young plants. Hope this is of some help.

Jay

Also.... I am not aware of Overland Park, perhaps if you were to tell us where it is we could direct you to a Bonsai Nursery near...or as near as possible... to you... just a thought!

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kvnharv29

I understand about bonsai seeds, the reason i asked is because i have no other way to obtain trees like korean hornbeam, trident maple, chineses juniper, etc... because of the lack of bonsai around here.
Overland Park is a suburb of Kansas City Missouri.
I also wanted to obtain alot of these species' seeds because im only 16! I know it takes many years before the trees are ready to be trained and then many more years after that to see results, but i(hopefully) have alot of years ahead me. Just think of the joy i could get from growing these trees from seeds! I know my uncle(who got me into bonsai) wished he started when he was sixteen.
As for the juniper i bought, i think it was the poor quality at the nursery i bought it from. i only had it for about 3 months and the only thing i did to it was water it when it got dry. I did notice that it was planted in a soil of all purpose/play sand and potting soil. But i could've killed it too.
Anyway I really appreciate your help on this.

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growermn

I grow a lot from seed, but only from what i cannot get around here. Growing from seed gives you a chance to train the roots from an early start , trimming the tap root than large grow-out boxes or in ground[better]. But remember it is a long wait till you see anything close to a bonsai. Stock from someplace is fast way to learn, and to practice,and learn what the tree can or cannot do. When i get a nursey tree, i just keep it alive for a year before i play with it. Others may disagree, but it works for me, keeping it alive, gives you time to learn what the tree needs. Than go from there with other areas of bonsai. Just my opinion , something to think about .
Stay with it ,its fun.
Jeff - growerman

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Jay

kvnharv29, very well put! It is a wonderful thing to have your whole life in front of you, and yes, at 16 you have many many years to work on your trees. The thought of starting from seed and bringing the tree to show (OK this is also many many years) is a great thought! But, do not rule out purchase of seedlings or trees. They are a few years old, or they would take a few years to be grown by you. Evergreengardenworks sells their young seedlings for $4 to $6 more or less. Yes there is shipping, but if you save up you can place an order in the spring for a few trees that have been grown for Bonsai. Also check the site, lots of good articles and info.

Also I did a web search and found http://www.bonsaikc.com/ this is Sashi-eda Bonsai 913-789-8060. I know nothing about them or if they are near enough to you for a visit.... but perhaps you could take a day trip there and check them out. At this time of year, many Bonsai Nurseries are having or are planning on having fall sales to reduce their inventories, could be a good place to get a tree or two. But remember, try and buy good bargains on HEALTHY trees not a tree in distress... why take a dying tree off their hands, and pay them to boot. Give them a call.

Just some thoughts...... Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

Jay

kvnharv29, Just had another thought.... ever think about collecting!

Yes you need permission of the land owner or from your park service for public land, but this is an option! This time of year is great to take a walk on 'Uncle Harry's' back woods or go along the fence line of 'Aunt Helen's' old farm, you can tag the trees for collection next spring.

Yes, you will probably not find Korean Hornbeams or Japanese Maples but you could find various Apple species Honeysuckle and other wonderful local Yamadori. The Best part is you already know these trees live in your climate, and... other than the effort involved, they are free.

Again just a thought!
Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

FredL

Hi K'

I understand your enthusiasm for seeds perfectly. I have a large number of seedlings that are a year or two years old that I'm really enjoying as well as a number of other starters from 3 years up that I started from collected seedlings. By the time the trees are 4 years old, they are definitely looking like something and, although they are not yet bonsai, by that time, you can start to see bonsai developing.

My advice is to collect seeds from the trees around you. In your area, there are many natives that make very fine bonsai. As well as the natives, many exotics are used for landscaping and will begin to produce seed after a few years in the ground. Almost any tree or shrub with reasonably small leaves is a good candidate and many will make superb bonsai. You may very well find species used for landscaping right in your neighborhood that are among the bonsai classics and many native species are relatives just as well suited for bonsai culture as the classic Asian species.

I'd suggest to you that you start carrying a few plastic sandwich bags with you where ever you go and pause to collect seeds when you see them. We are just now coming into the best season of the year for collecting.

Seeds you collect yourself will have some big advantages. First, you can be sure they are fresh. Second, you can be sure they are well suited to your climate. Third, you can gather as many or few as you want. Fourth (and this one is especially dear to MY heart), they are free. As compared to collecting live trees, even seedlings, there is no problem with getting permission to collect. I've yet to have anyone complain about a few seeds, or even a pocketful, being picked up from the sidewalk in front of his house.

I have a number of beautiful Amur Maples, Red Maples, Japanese Maples, Hackberries, Black Gums, Persimmons, Japanese Honeysuckle, Peach Hawthorne, Privet and other seedlings started in this way.

Incidentally, Musserforests.com is a good place for very inexpensive 2-3 year old seedlings with many species excellent for bonsai available.

Fred