Bonsai, Plant a Bonsai, Bonsai Seeds

Growing from seed is a long term project, but you can create Mame Bonsai more easily from seed.
All seeds must be dried; hard skinned seeds should be soaked by pouring hot water over them and leaving it overnight.

Mapel and Acer palmatum seed is notorious for germinating sporadically. Germination of Japanese maple seeds (Acer palmatum) is not difficult, but it can be a bit tricky if your wife or husband doesn't let you take over part of the refrigerator!

First of all we soak the seeds in lukewarm (not hot!) water for 48 hours. This softens the seed coat a little. Next we mix the seed with a little damp (not too wet) sphagnum moss or peat and put it in a plastic zipper bag. Leave the seeds in this humid atmosphere for 4-6 weeks at room temperature.

Now comes the tough part - leave the zipper bag in the refrigerator for 60 to 90 days. This is to mimic the natural action of seeds going through a winter season. Technically it is called 'stratification'.

After the 90 days sow in trays or pots filled with good seed compost. If you have a seed propagator use it or find a warm place to maintain a steady temperature of 18-20 degrees.

Cover the seeds to their own depth: ¼ Inch (6 mm) with seed compost.
Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 2-3 inch pots.
Seeds vary considerably in germination so do not be impatient.

A good medium for seeds is:

1. One part coarse washed river sand.
2. One part garden soil.
3. One part peat or compost.

Fill the seed trays to 10mm from the top with your seed mix. Make sure your mix is firmed down. Seeds grow and transplant better if spaced out.
Cover the seeds now to the top with washed out river sand this form a micro climate.

When your seeds germinated allow two weeks for the seeds to grow. Now remove the seedlings gently and cut the pap root. Replant the seeds again in the same seed trays. You can replant your seedlings after 90 days in bigger containers in your normal Bonsai mix.

Growing Bonsai we do not want trees with long big tap roots, thus the reason why the tap root is cut after two weeks.

Acknowledgment to Bonsai Primer.com

Growing Bonsais from Seeds.