Need help with a seedling

11 years ago

Hi!

Last December my brother bought 'bonsai-seeds' at a flower expo. He planted the seeds in a plastic container and the seeds sprouted. He kept them in his room and out of the sun since repotting them.

However the seeds have not grown significantly since. He gave the young

trees to me to take care of since he can't anymore.

The annoying part is that he does not know what kind of tree he has, nor does ha have the packaging anymore. It is difficult to identify the tree because they are so young. My best guess is that it is a conifer.

My question is can somebody help identify the kind of tree it is and what should I do to grow a healthy tree?

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Comments (3)

User
11 years ago
WHY are they not in sun?? Whose idea was it to not let them have the one thing that makes them grow? Yes they look like conifers (likely pine) but it's impossible at this stage to say which kind. You need to plant them right into the ground for 3-5 yrs before they'll be anything remotely ready for bonsai training and having been deprived of sun, maybe longer. If you want to do bonsai, you'll have to look elsewhere for trees that have already outgrown the seedling stage. Decide first however, if you want outdoor trees or indoor (tropical) trees... it makes a very big difference to how you take care of them in many respects. Also, we can recommend some, but it's important to know about where you live in the country (tho' not for tropicals of course - they require a whole other set of conditions.
Semir Dahha
Original Author
11 years ago
The first thing I did was put them out in the sun. The package of the seeds said to not put them directly in the sun so that's why they were put inside. I take it these have to be put outside? Should they be put directly in the sun all day or just partially? Should I use fertilizer to keep them healthy?

I would like some outdoor bonsai. I live in the Netherlands, though. There is a temperate climate over here with winters that could drop to 14 degrees (usually doesn't) and summers that can go up to 77-86 degrees and regular rain fall (just think a little warmer and drier than Great Britain) My garden faces south, so there is a lot of sun all day. What species would be suitable?
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User
11 years ago
It would be a good idea if you can find a place to put them where they won't be in direct sun through the middle (hottest) part of the day, maybe getting sun filtered through other plants or trees. I wouldn't use fertilizer til they're a bit older and then only half strength for this year. And pine trees have to live outside for life! They need cold dormancy (as much as is available there) for the winter, though protected to some extent with mulch for the coming year at least. Cold isn't necessarily the enemy of trees where you live, depending on other things. Here's a good website to go by - http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/index.htm

What's important is for you to find local bonsai clubs to join because there you get to see how things are done, to ask questions from others who know your climate, etc. The more reading and learning you do, the better will be your trees. The oldest internet forum is http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/f7-bonsai-questions - which is much busier than this one (lots of experts there too).