Need advice about my first bonsai

firsttimebonsai

Hi everyone.

New guy here needing advice.
Ive wanted a Bonsai tree since i was 14. now im 23 ive finally got the chance.
A relative of a freind of mine who now lives in japan has kindly sent me some seeds to start my own bonsai tree.
problem is that i dont really know anything about growing a tree from scratch.

Can someone out there give me a few pointers on how to start my trees off.

Joan who sent me the seeds says i should have enough for around 7 saplings if they all take. the seeds she has sent me are Tasmanian Eucalyptus. Apparently it is a nice tree with lemon scented leaves and white flowers.
I should also be recieveing some japanese black pine seeds in the post soon.

i decided to grow them from seeds as i thought i would have a greater sense of pride in my trees than just caring for a full grown tree. hope that made sense.

so if anyone out there can help me grow my trees from scratch or give me advice on the tasmanian eucalyptus or japanese black pine i would be very gratefull

Stymie

The black pine (Pinus thunbergii) will need stratification of the seed. If it is fresh, soak it in water overnight, discard any seed which is floating on the following day and only use the sunken seed for sowing. Place it outside for the frost to get at it and cover it with a mesh tent to keep birds etc. from eating it. You will not have to wait for very long for seedlings to emerge.

I am not as well informed about the Eucalyptus, perhaps Dick or Jimothy can fill in my gap here.

You must be aware that it will take many years to grow trees to bonsai standards by this method and I would advise you to obtain some nursery stock with a few years behind it to be styling in the meantime or your enthusiasm may subside somewhat..

Carol · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 3:22 pm Post subject: Need advice about my first bonsai

Hello, and welcome to Bonsai Help. You'll find the people here very friendly and helpful, and also have some fun along the way! Laughing

I have some eucalypts in my bonsai collection, although not this particular one. The main requirements of those I have are a low phosphorus soil, water, and sun. I protect them, and indeed all my bonsai, from the very hot midday sun in summer, but I wouldn't think that would be a problem for you.

If your eucalypt is E. globulus, it's the Tasmanian blue gum, which is the state flower of Tasmania. It gets its name from its bark, which has a bluish tinge, and its leaves, which are silvery blue and rather square shaped in youth, but become a dark bluish green and sickle shaped in adulthood. The bark, in common with most, if not all, eucalypts is shed in strips and patches, usually in summer, which gives the trunk a mottled appearance. As far as I know, it only grows in the coastal belts of Tasmania and south-eastern Victoria. It needs full sun, a cool climate, and although it grows along the coast, it is reasonably tolerant of dry conditions, although it will grow better if given sufficient water, obviously. There are, however, many other species of eucalypts which grow in Tasmania, and their characteristics and growth requirements may be different. As a little bit of trivia, the honey from bees which feed on the blue gum is one of the stronger tasting honeys.

Your comment that the leaves are lemon-scented may also apply to the E. citriodora, which mainly grows in tropical North Queensland, although it is also quite happy in the more temperate climate in other parts of Australia. It also has white or cream flowers, but the bark in this case is white, grey and pink. Once established, it's also quite frost hardy, although young trees should be protected. Seeds from both are planted "down here" in autumn and late winter/early spring - I'm not sure if that would be the same "up there".

It may take 4 or 5 years for your trees to flower - when they do, they develop a gum nut, a little like an acorn, with a cap. The stamens are inside the nut, and as they develop, they push the cap off and unfold. The flowers are high in nectar, and both bees and birds love them!

While Dick or Jimothy will no doubt give you more information, can I also support Don's suggestion of buying some nursery stock while you wait for your seeds to grow. At the very least, you'll be much more confident in styling and caring for your "grown from scratch" trees because of the experience you've gained in styling and caring for the ones you've bought. You'll notice I've used the plural "ones" - this is an addictive hobby! Wink

I do hope you have good luck with your seeds - and feel free to ask for any advice. Someone with a lot more experience than I have will be sure to help you.

Cheers
Carol

Dick

Stymie's advice about the black pine seeds is right on the money... And what he said about getting a inexpensive nursery stock is also on the money., but it yields the reward of personal satisfaction as well.

I'm not familiar with the overall climatic requirements of the Eucalyptus. If the seeds are botanically known as "eucalyptus globulus" then the tree is hardy to -7C (+20F). In that case, I would simply do the same with a few seeds (not all) as with the black pine. The rest of the seeds, I would not freeze and plant then after soaking then in water in a growing medium such as vermiculite, cover them with a cardboard and check every day to see if there is any green appearing from the seeds. The seeds do not have to be planted deep, just lightly covered with the growing medium. The depth of the seeds need to be planted is only the diameter of the seeds themselves. Then once the green cotydil leaves begin to emerge, remove the cardboard covering and give them good light and even moisture and let them grow.

Stymie

Great stuff m8s. Carol's (you cally pet us) as we refer to them leave my singular E. gunnii far behind, although it's about 32 feet high. Thanks for participating. We all learned a lot about them. They all seem to be hardy to outside conditions in the UK.

firsttimebonsai

thank you for the adivice stymie, carol and dick.

Dick i am pretty