I know you said most people wouldn’t bother growing bonsai from seeds since it takes so long. But every bonsai has to start somewhere, no harm in adding to future populations plus it would be a cool lifelong process and a neat family heirloom of sorts.
Great video. I love how you put so much time and effort into this, I mean, you started in September 2022 and the seedlings are only coming up in March 2023. Growing Bonsai from seed is very satisfying, although a lot of people will tell you not to bother. I think if you're young enough, those trees will be beautiful in 20-30 years time.
Thanks! I just bought a kit from a defunct company from my local Goodwill, including azalea, japanese pine, wisteria, and japanese maple. Promptly lost the directions. This is super helpful! Like the stratification concept.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm very new to this adventure, and ended up purchasing seeds to experience this process from start to finish with my kiddos. The information that you supplied in this video was very helpful for an extremely NEW beginner to this.
What fun!! Your enthusiasum is so wonderful! And you have way more patience than I do! I would have dug that little over achiever seedling out when I saw it with 2 of it's real leaves all ready, and potted that baby up! I got a bonsai kit for Christmas a few years ago and it came with 4 different seed packs. They mostly sprouted but I didn't get far with them at all. I just pulled them out of the back of the fridge where the ultimately ended up, and potted the rest of them. I got nothing yet. But I did order weeping willow "seeds" (or so I thought) but what came were actually cuttings. One very thick and 4 or 5 thin cuttings. I got them in the mail and into a glass of water 6 days ago, and I already have a lot of roots on most of them but I also have buds growing on the thick one. This seems a little more promising than the seeds.
Very helpful. Lot of great tips - especially the bit about brushing them by hand to simulate wine. My father - a former farm boy - taught us to do the same thing. Maybe there's something to that! Thank you! :).
I think this is one of your best videos. I love germinating seeds! And I think, even at my age, it's worth the effort for the sheer joy and seeing a new plant develop.
Maples really aren’t that fussy, you don’t need to go to all that trouble to germinate them they will grow in anything. I scatter mine in plastic tubs with a free draining mixed medium and leave them outside over winter and let nature do its thing. I am lucky that my trees generate thousands of seeds so i have more than i can really manage. Thanks for your videos, great content.
I'm tempted to try putting a net over my Maple seedlings, it's what the Japanese do with young seedlings to put shape into the trunks without using wire. Normally done if you're looking to make Mame but any shape you put in now will not be a bad thing. Also a big fan of hardening seedlings off and exposing them to the weather, definitely helps make them stronger!
Thanks Adam! Great informative video, i started a mess of 100 paperbark maple seeds last winter, I've got 6 seedlings and I've been searching online for any and all information regarding the survival of maple seedlings, these are extremely rare and difficult to germinate so I'm pretty stoked! Thanks for all your hard work putting these videos together!
My Japanese maple has tons of seeds this year. I've gotta try this! I grow tomatoes plants and would never leave the plastic cover over them after germination. The reduced light makes the plant stretch and encourages fungus algae growth. Apparently maples are more resistant to that. Cool!
Great job on your video. I have a 10 year old maple in a large pot & it’s full of seeds. I will collect them & will try germinating just as you did. I love how excited you were to see the end result. And bless that little lone maple for jumping the gun. 👍
I have a 10 year old maple in my yard too! Im quite new to this though. Do you know how to collect them. And I heard you might have to dry them before planting.
Subscribed. I'm about to work up a game plan myself, and get my seeds germinated. I think I'm going to stratify them though, seeing as summer is upon me. Gonna transcribe this video into a set of directions and get to work! Thank you!
Hello again! On another site dedicated to the cultivation of Japanese maples, it was recommended that if your damp seeds get a bit moldy in the fridge, to soak them very briefly - no more than one minute - in a weak solution of bleach (1 part household bleach to 9 parts water), then to rinse them VERY thoroughly, several times, in water that has been boiled and allowed to cool to room temperature. (I put water to boil 10 minutes in my largest pot one evening, leaving it covered during and after; some 24 hours later it was cool enough.) My seeds had been kept in folded paper towels, and after two weeks or so there was a bit of mold on the paper towels. (Perhaps they were too damp.) The anti-mold instructions were simple enough, but I had five bundles to deal with - floaters and non-floaters, seeds from two different places and different varieties of Japanese maple, different times of collection (end of June and end of October - I didn't realize that June is way too soon, but we will see). I wanted to give them all a fighting chance at life. But I wanted to do the bleaching and rinsing of them all together, and found a good way to save time on this step without mixing the seeds all up again. Each group - which varied from 16 seeds to 50 or so - I enclosed in a plastic mesh bag, with a tiny label inside indicating the group. Of course it has to be a fine mesh, or the seeds will slip right out. Don't bother with the potato and onion bags. The best bags I found - I had them on hand - are from bags of garlic, with a mesh of no more than 2mm. I threw all my batches in the same pint jar (50cl), and after the bleaching, I rinsed them all simultaneously, maybe ten times, in the sterilized water, using a small pot (which I had sterilized along with the water) as a ladle, shaking well and letting stand a few minutes, then changing the rinse water again. Now the seeds are in bags of slightly damp vermiculite, in the fridge, and I'm hoping for the best. (Speaking of notions, many of you will know Leadbelly's immortal song, "Good Night, Irene", which goes in part "sometimes I take a great notion..." This is also the source of the title for Ken Kesey's fine novel, "Sometimes a Great Notion". Sorry for the digression, but everything is related!)
I collected hundreds of Japanese maple seeds from a tree in a local park. I just bunged them all into a couple seed trays with regular compost, and left them out over winter. So far about about 30 have germinated.
I collected Maple seeds from a local park last Autumn and stratified them in a ziplock bag in the fridge and planted them outside fairly recently. I reckon I’ve got going on for about 150 seedlings. I’ve got a lot of pricking out to do in the near future 😂. I agree with you, it’s fun to grow your own just for the experience.
Fantastic video Adam. I germinated a tray of Chinese Spruce, Engelmann Spruce and Field Maples last winter/spring. Very rewarding but slow progress as you say. The benefit is having full control of how the tree develops in its early stages.
Hey thanks Andrew! 😊 You are totally right! Getting nice bends in when the tree is nice and flexible is great! Don't have to have the wire on as long either 🤗
This is the first year I have tried seeds and so far I have three shoots - unfortunately I have forgotten what they are! Nothing from the Maples though. A great video Adam and you are right to encourage others to do this as a 'part' of their bonsai journeys. i wish I had started doing this back in 2002 :)
I’m very new to the hobby and want to start it right and accompany my potential Bonsai from day 1 of its life. Therefore I’m choosing to grow by seed! The information you’re giving and the way you’re explaining your experience and process is of great value for me! I’d like to sincerely thank you for this video :) Greeting from Germany and cheers!
Excellent video, thank you Adam. I'm getting up the nerve to try this for this first time. I'm new to Bonsai, and those that I have are all store-bought. This vid will help me get going creating my own from seed.
Hey thank you Paul! I'm glad you found the video helpful! Starting your own bonsai from seed can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. It allows you to witness and shape the entire growth process of the tree, from the very beginning. Remember to be patient as the seedlings establish themselves, and provide them with the appropriate care and attention. 🤗
Hey man, very cool video. Thank you. I am about to plant some seeds now, living in a country that doesn't really get a winter. A side tip for your vid, next time mix up your potting medium and the moss together in 1 bowl, then fill the little ones.😂 That was an awesome video, very helpful.
In the cannabis world we use fans to not only cool off the leafs but also to strengthen there stalk/trunk. It 100% works to let any plant or tree to move slightly to help. Silica also helps to strengthen the trunk
Hey Bob! Thanks for the compliment on my hoodie 🤗 I'm glad you like it! I totally understand your love for Japanese Maples, they are such beautiful trees! Do you have a favorite variety of Japanese maple? 🍁
A wonderful video. Your enthusiasm is infectious! I will get busy soon with a couple of varieties that I've collected here in northern Italy, and your tips will prove invaluable. (You are personally a very simpatico guy, too.)
I love growing from seed. I also know I've lost so many seedlings!! It's a cool idea to use the fines from your akadama. Yes, it's expensive, but it's still a cool idea.
Awesome video! Im getting my start in bonsai late but have my seeds in the post already! Cant wait to see them grow! Would love to know how these little sprouts have progressed! Thanks for sharing! 🧡
Great video! I'm about to stratify a bunch of seeds in the fridge for this spring. My local temperature gets warm then freezes too much to do it outside I think. To save space I'm thinking of layering the seeds in a larger container and transplanting them to the seedling trays when I take them out in spring. One thing you didn't mention is what you would have done if you found mold halfway through? I assume another spray of the anti-fungal? Another cool thing about growing from seed is the increased opportunity to create something unique by providing obstacles for the tree to adjust to. There's a lot we can do before they get big enough to wire.
Thank you for the lovely video I'm very new to bonsai and have decided to start from seed I already know we'll it will take a while but I'm excited nonetheless and appreciate the advice
Ohh nice Joe! Growing from seed is very rewarding! You should create some older starter ones along side your seed growing 😄 I have various videos on how to make Bonsai from garden center material 😄
You have imparted a lot of good and make sense ideas and tips. I just gathered some seedlings on the ground on our apartment complex yard. I want to save them before the summer season as kids will be playing around and might step on them and die. some of your tips, I can apply. Thank you so much.
Having tried literally hundreds of seeds over the last few years I think I now realise it was the soil was the problem. My seeds always rotted. I’m down south in cork so I might give your method a shot this year.
So, I've got about 20 seeds currently in the refrigerator. I've got them in exposed shale, watering with about 2 table spoons (~30ml) of water weekly. They are covered in little loaf tins with a tall lid. Should I stop watering them?
Thank you you explained some basics that help me understand why I should use that type of soils for seeds. I'm am stubborn unless I understand why. Lol thank you it was so helpful
I love your enthusiasm! I am brand new at bonsai and would like to know your ratios for your bonsai mix. My husband purchased a bonsai kit for me to start with. Thank you.
Nice video dude! I really like the patience in waiting till they've germinated to show us the results. So last year I made a mistake and stratified my maple seeds dry in the fridge. Apparently they need moisture and cold to break down the inhibiting enzyme so i had zero grow 😢 ill try again this winter (im in new zealand so its autumn now)
Great video Adam congratulations on those seedlings. Yes it’s true for all trees the movement from the wind will strengthen the trees. Sometimes I won’t be tying my trees in because I think the movement Will also give it a quicker nebari 👍👍👍👍
Well done Adam I've had no success with maples so far but have grown, lemons, almonds and a cherry from seed/pips/nut. So great to see your suggestions and methods. Keep growing xx
I hadn’t success so far too, but this year I did! Thank to Jason Harnahan (The Bonsai Garden), I’ve got fresh seeds and it made a difference. I’ve never had success with stratification in the fridge: this year I put a planter like Adam’s outside in the garden exposed to snow, rain, and wind and they are starting to come out right now! Keep trying!
Thanks Mandy! I hope you can get some to grow for you with these tips! Also make sure that the seeds you get come from a reliable source!! They may have been too old! Or even picked from the tree too early!
I sow a bunch every year but I just spread them into a seed tray and just leave them over winter. The only concern is birds, squirrels and others get into the soil to mess every thing up. I get fairly good results without any real effort; no fancy soil mix, incubation cover, etc... just let nature do it's thing. As a bonsai enthusiast you need to grow a few trees from seed and cuttings, it's all part of the process. Keep it up.
He way I do it is the more natural way, get your seeds put them in whatever compost you have, use a simular type of propagator, put them in a shelter spot for the winter, then move them into the greenhouse in the spring. When July, August comes it's back outside in a shelter spot till established, it's a more natural prosess. If they live they live if they die they die, my success rate is great,. I planted 25 very dry maple seeds off of ebay last year and got 23 Seedlings doing great!
I have a sprout like yours (7:13 during stratification) but I'm 13 days into propagation, what should i do with it? Carry on with the timetables?, it's a red leaf maple
Thanks so much Kenneth! I'll be using these seedlings for projects in future videos! You can also see updates on all of my trees on my Instagram @notionbonsai 🤗
Thanks Carlos! It is generally not necessary to dry the seeds before the water soak. In fact, for many tree species, including acer (maple), it is beneficial to start the germination process with fresh seeds. The water soak helps to hydrate the seeds and initiate the germination process. However, it's important to note that different tree species may have specific requirements for seed treatment, so it's always a good idea to research and follow the recommended guidelines for the particular species you are working with. Some seeds may require scarification (scratching the seed coat) or stratification (exposing to cold temperatures) to enhance germination. Hope this helps! 🤗
Thanks for the video. I started with a kit in november with 5 different seeds. After the stratification/germination I've planted them and I allready have 2 little seedling in 2 different pots. A spruce and a albizia. But what do i do now? Do I repot or do I keep them in the smal pot? Thanks for the help and looking forward to the net movie
It’s always worthwhile germinating and growing trees from seeds but do so along side having more mature trees to look after as otherwise you will have nothing to do while waiting for your seeds to grow and may well grow bored and disillusioned with the idea of bonsai. My advice: get yourself small bonsai trees from a garden centre or supermarket and also look at developing nursery plants into bonsai which is a lot of fun. Grow seeds in addition to that to give yourself future bonsai material to work on. 👍
Hi Jason! This is great advice! 😊 I completely agree with your advice of having a mix of both mature trees and newly germinated seeds. While growing trees from seeds can be a rewarding experience, it can take a long time for them to reach maturity and it can be disheartening to have nothing to work on in the meantime.
I tried stratifying japanese maple seeds in the fridge before but failed spectacularly! Dont know if the seeds were bad or if i did something wrong. I collected the seeds from a maple not far from my apartment at the time. I also find it very satisfying to grow trees from seed, and if youre not aiming to get a super big bonsai it dont have to take that much more time either befor you can start working on it :) thanks for the video! will try my luck with japanese maple seeds again soon!
@Notion Bonsai I have a question, where can I store Japanese Maple seeds before stratification? Where can I store them? I cannot store them in hot temperatures is because hot temperatures may kill all of the seeds, they will no longer be viable after storing them in hot temperatures. When hot temperatures kill seeds, it will not germinate at all. Please tell me where can I store Japanese Maple seeds before cold stratifying them. Please tell me. Please reply to this comment.
Hey Arifur. 🍁🍁🍁 Storing Japanese Maple seeds before cold stratification requires a cool and dry environment. You can store the seeds in a breathable container, such as a paper bag or a mesh bag, to allow air circulation. It's important to keep the seeds away from direct sunlight and avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. A cool and dark place, such as a refrigerator or a cool basement, can be suitable for seed storage. Just make sure the temperature remains stable and within the recommended range for storing seeds. It's also a good idea to label the container with the date of collection or any other relevant information. 🙂
@@notionbonsai Thanks! Refrigerator is the best place to store Japanese Maple seeds before stratification because it makes them become viable and live longer. I need to know what is the temperature for storing seeds for keeping them viable and live longer. Please make sure that you reply in this comment.
In this video you mentioned that you weren't stratifying your seeds because it was already Autumn when you were planting them, which makes sense. Is there an ideal time to be stratifying seeds? It's early July right now, if I were to take a month or two to stratify my maple seeds and then plant them in late August to early September, would that be too close to winter to have them as seedlings? I live in an area where it typically starts snowing in mid to late October. Thank you so much! All of your videos are super informative!
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you find the videos helpful. Stratifying seeds mimics natural winter conditions, so ideally, you'd start stratification in late winter to early spring. For maples, it's usually best to stratify the seeds for 1-3 months in the fridge, depending on the species. Starting stratification in early July and planting in late August to early September might not give the seedlings enough time to establish before winter, especially if snow begins in October. I recommend waiting until late winter to stratify your seeds and then planting them in early spring. This gives them a full growing season to establish before the next winter. Good luck with your maple seeds! 🌱🍁
I have a Japanese maple in the backyard. Is it possible to harvest seeds from it? And if so around what time can I do that and how long should I dry them before planting?
Hi Adam love your video on maple seeds I have a question? You did place them in your green house how did they get snow on them? Did you remove them from the green house part of the winter? Tku dj.
Hi . Could you let me know where i could buy that seed tray. I like the double skin and individual sections and lid i just cant find one the same . Thanks and love the vid
@@notionbonsai The working title of my thesis is "Ulex europaeus (gorse) as a potential subject for bonsai" which may change to "shows potential as a subject for bonsai" depending on the results of the primary experiment. The experiment with cuttings was to test the ease of clonal propagation for genetic preservation (e.g. good leaf types or AUX1 mutants or whatever). It actually went really badly due to a number of factors- only 4 of 72 had roots once taken out of the media, although only 2 actually died.
I have a maple tree that ive noticed a bunch of seeds on. could I pick them off and do this? or should I wait for them to develop more and naturally fall off before collecting? Appreciate the information
I know you said most people wouldn’t bother growing bonsai from seeds since it takes so long. But every bonsai has to start somewhere, no harm in adding to future populations plus it would be a cool lifelong process and a neat family heirloom of sorts.
I totally agree Nikki! 🍁🌱💖
@@notionbonsai😂🎉🎉🎉😂😂🎉😂🎉🎉
Same I’ve started them from babies 😂
How long exactly
Another bonus is they grow much stronger and healthier root systems from seed
Can we get an update?!?
It will be interesting to see the variation of the seedlings as they develop!! Awesome work getting them to germinate!!
Thank you Nigel! I'm looking forward to working on them in the future 😊
I love Nigel's work, and to see him honor you, warms my heart. You are on a road to great things!!❤
Nice work!👍
Could you put the link where can i buy the Sulphur?
Thanks bifore.
I love growing from seed, nice to see someone gets as excited as me when you see them pop through
🤗🌱🌳
Great video. I love how you put so much time and effort into this, I mean, you started in September 2022 and the seedlings are only coming up in March 2023.
Growing Bonsai from seed is very satisfying, although a lot of people will tell you not to bother. I think if you're young enough, those trees will be beautiful in 20-30 years time.
Thank you very much Daniel! This is very true!! I think even the journey of growing is also fun! Not just seeing the "finished" product!
@Notion Bonsai I completely agree! Isn't life about the journey, not the destination?
Thanks! I just bought a kit from a defunct company from my local Goodwill, including azalea, japanese pine, wisteria, and japanese maple. Promptly lost the directions. This is super helpful! Like the stratification concept.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm very new to this adventure, and ended up purchasing seeds to experience this process from start to finish with my kiddos. The information that you supplied in this video was very helpful for an extremely NEW beginner to this.
Can we get a 2024 update on these little guys?! Great videos, keep up the good work!
Hey! There will be an update on these tomorrow!
I love this video.. the time invested to show the stages over time. Very interesting
What fun!! Your enthusiasum is so wonderful! And you have way more patience than I do! I would have dug that little over achiever seedling out when I saw it with 2 of it's real leaves all ready, and potted that baby up! I got a bonsai kit for Christmas a few years ago and it came with 4 different seed packs. They mostly sprouted but I didn't get far with them at all. I just pulled them out of the back of the fridge where the ultimately ended up, and potted the rest of them. I got nothing yet. But I did order weeping willow "seeds" (or so I thought) but what came were actually cuttings. One very thick and 4 or 5 thin cuttings. I got them in the mail and into a glass of water 6 days ago, and I already have a lot of roots on most of them but I also have buds growing on the thick one. This seems a little more promising than the seeds.
I like the simulated wind idea.
It is very useful! I have found doing this and adding silica to the soil helps them thicken fast 😀
Very helpful. Lot of great tips - especially the bit about brushing them by hand to simulate wine. My father - a former farm boy - taught us to do the same thing. Maybe there's something to that! Thank you! :).
He is so kind, loved it! I did not know they were born green and not red. Thank you.
Thank you 🤗 Do you have any Bonsai?
@@notionbonsai I don’t, but found some seedlings in my yard and intend to take care of them
I think this is one of your best videos. I love germinating seeds! And I think, even at my age, it's worth the effort for the sheer joy and seeing a new plant develop.
Thanks very much Susan! Yeah for sure! Bonsai is about the Journey as well as the "finished" tree 😋
Maples really aren’t that fussy, you don’t need to go to all that trouble to germinate them they will grow in anything. I scatter mine in plastic tubs with a free draining mixed medium and leave them outside over winter and let nature do its thing. I am lucky that my trees generate thousands of seeds so i have more than i can really manage. Thanks for your videos, great content.
I've been waiting for a video about growing seedlings for bonsai. Helpful/thorough resources are few and far between. Thank you!
Hey no problem Hudcat! Thanks for watching! 😊
I'm tempted to try putting a net over my Maple seedlings, it's what the Japanese do with young seedlings to put shape into the trunks without using wire. Normally done if you're looking to make Mame but any shape you put in now will not be a bad thing. Also a big fan of hardening seedlings off and exposing them to the weather, definitely helps make them stronger!
Oh nice! That's a great idea Chris!
Thanks Adam! Great informative video, i started a mess of 100 paperbark maple seeds last winter, I've got 6 seedlings and I've been searching online for any and all information regarding the survival of maple seedlings, these are extremely rare and difficult to germinate so I'm pretty stoked! Thanks for all your hard work putting these videos together!
Great job Adam! You inspired me to give it a try.
Thank you Raymond! I wish you luck growing yours! 😄
Dude, that was really cool. Thanks
Hey thanks very much!
My Japanese maple has tons of seeds this year. I've gotta try this! I grow tomatoes plants and would never leave the plastic cover over them after germination. The reduced light makes the plant stretch and encourages fungus algae growth. Apparently maples are more resistant to that. Cool!
Just starting the journey and this is probably the most helpful straightforward video on the growing of multiple seeds subject so thankyou!
Aw nice! I wish you the best in your Bonsai journey Samuel 🤗
Great job on your video. I have a 10 year old maple in a large pot & it’s full of seeds. I will collect them & will try germinating just as you did. I love how excited you were to see the end result. And bless that little lone maple for jumping the gun. 👍
I have a 10 year old maple in my yard too! Im quite new to this though. Do you know how to collect them. And I heard you might have to dry them before planting.
I liked the way you gave the different stages from planting from seeds and it's growth. I found this to be good info. I love your accent... :)
Glad it was useful to you! Thanks so much for watching!
Subscribed. I'm about to work up a game plan myself, and get my seeds germinated. I think I'm going to stratify them though, seeing as summer is upon me. Gonna transcribe this video into a set of directions and get to work! Thank you!
Hello again! On another site dedicated to the cultivation of Japanese maples, it was recommended that if your damp seeds get a bit moldy in the fridge, to soak them very briefly - no more than one minute - in a weak solution of bleach (1 part household bleach to 9 parts water), then to rinse them VERY thoroughly, several times, in water that has been boiled and allowed to cool to room temperature. (I put water to boil 10 minutes in my largest pot one evening, leaving it covered during and after; some 24 hours later it was cool enough.) My seeds had been kept in folded paper towels, and after two weeks or so there was a bit of mold on the paper towels. (Perhaps they were too damp.) The anti-mold instructions were simple enough, but I had five bundles to deal with - floaters and non-floaters, seeds from two different places and different varieties of Japanese maple, different times of collection (end of June and end of October - I didn't realize that June is way too soon, but we will see).
I wanted to give them all a fighting chance at life. But I wanted to do the bleaching and rinsing of them all together, and found a good way to save time on this step without mixing the seeds all up again. Each group - which varied from 16 seeds to 50 or so - I enclosed in a plastic mesh bag, with a tiny label inside indicating the group. Of course it has to be a fine mesh, or the seeds will slip right out. Don't bother with the potato and onion bags. The best bags I found - I had them on hand - are from bags of garlic, with a mesh of no more than 2mm. I threw all my batches in the same pint jar (50cl), and after the bleaching, I rinsed them all simultaneously, maybe ten times, in the sterilized water, using a small pot (which I had sterilized along with the water) as a ladle, shaking well and letting stand a few minutes, then changing the rinse water again. Now the seeds are in bags of slightly damp vermiculite, in the fridge, and I'm hoping for the best.
(Speaking of notions, many of you will know Leadbelly's immortal song, "Good Night, Irene", which goes in part "sometimes I take a great notion..." This is also the source of the title for Ken Kesey's fine novel, "Sometimes a Great Notion". Sorry for the digression, but everything is related!)
I collected hundreds of Japanese maple seeds from a tree in a local park. I just bunged them all into a couple seed trays with regular compost, and left them out over winter. So far about about 30 have germinated.
Aw nice!! I'm sure you will be able to make great Bonsai with them!
I collected Maple seeds from a local park last Autumn and stratified them in a ziplock bag in the fridge and planted them outside fairly recently. I reckon I’ve got going on for about 150 seedlings. I’ve got a lot of pricking out to do in the near future 😂. I agree with you, it’s fun to grow your own just for the experience.
Aw nice thats awesome!! You definitely have your work cut out for you now!!
Fantastic video Adam. I germinated a tray of Chinese Spruce, Engelmann Spruce and Field Maples last winter/spring. Very rewarding but slow progress as you say. The benefit is having full control of how the tree develops in its early stages.
Hey thanks Andrew! 😊 You are totally right! Getting nice bends in when the tree is nice and flexible is great! Don't have to have the wire on as long either 🤗
This is the first year I have tried seeds and so far I have three shoots - unfortunately I have forgotten what they are! Nothing from the Maples though. A great video Adam and you are right to encourage others to do this as a 'part' of their bonsai journeys. i wish I had started doing this back in 2002 :)
Aw nice one Xavier! You never know the maples might stil pop up! It's never too late to grow from seed man!
I’m very new to the hobby and want to start it right and accompany my potential Bonsai from day 1 of its life. Therefore I’m choosing to grow by seed! The information you’re giving and the way you’re explaining your experience and process is of great value for me! I’d like to sincerely thank you for this video :)
Greeting from Germany and cheers!
You can do it!
Excellent video, thank you Adam. I'm getting up the nerve to try this for this first time. I'm new to Bonsai, and those that I have are all store-bought. This vid will help me get going creating my own from seed.
Hey thank you Paul! I'm glad you found the video helpful! Starting your own bonsai from seed can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. It allows you to witness and shape the entire growth process of the tree, from the very beginning. Remember to be patient as the seedlings establish themselves, and provide them with the appropriate care and attention. 🤗
Mine just sprouted from my Ojiichans tree... I'm excited to grow another generation. Thank you for your video 🥺💖
Aw nice one!!
Hey man, very cool video. Thank you. I am about to plant some seeds now, living in a country that doesn't really get a winter.
A side tip for your vid, next time mix up your potting medium and the moss together in 1 bowl, then fill the little ones.😂 That was an awesome video, very helpful.
In the cannabis world we use fans to not only cool off the leafs but also to strengthen there stalk/trunk. It 100% works to let any plant or tree to move slightly to help. Silica also helps to strengthen the trunk
Ahh nice Mat! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
I love Japanese Maples. But, I really just wanted to say that hoodie is AMAZING! 🔥🤙
Hey Bob! Thanks for the compliment on my hoodie 🤗 I'm glad you like it! I totally understand your love for Japanese Maples, they are such beautiful trees! Do you have a favorite variety of Japanese maple? 🍁
This is great! I just collected a number of seeds this morning on coastal Maine and will try this. Very excited so thank you!
Ohh nice!! Let me know how it goes for you!
A wonderful video. Your enthusiasm is infectious! I will get busy soon with a couple of varieties that I've collected here in northern Italy, and your tips will prove invaluable. (You are personally a very simpatico guy, too.)
Thanks for your kind words!!
Great information Adam, I'm currently statifying japanese quince seeds in my fridge, fingers crossed a few germinate.
Hey thanks Scott! I hope they germinate for you man!
I love growing from seed. I also know I've lost so many seedlings!!
It's a cool idea to use the fines from your akadama. Yes, it's expensive, but it's still a cool idea.
🪴😊
Cool video. Id like to see what they look like later
I can post an update next year on these trees! 😁
You are adorable, and you gave me exactly the information I needed. Thank you 🙏
Awe thanks so much!! Happy to help!! 😊🪴
Awesome video! Im getting my start in bonsai late but have my seeds in the post already! Cant wait to see them grow! Would love to know how these little sprouts have progressed! Thanks for sharing! 🧡
I will have an update on these seedlings in a video soon!
Great video! I'm about to stratify a bunch of seeds in the fridge for this spring. My local temperature gets warm then freezes too much to do it outside I think. To save space I'm thinking of layering the seeds in a larger container and transplanting them to the seedling trays when I take them out in spring.
One thing you didn't mention is what you would have done if you found mold halfway through? I assume another spray of the anti-fungal?
Another cool thing about growing from seed is the increased opportunity to create something unique by providing obstacles for the tree to adjust to. There's a lot we can do before they get big enough to wire.
Gracias por el video, muy interesante, saludos desde Colombia.
Gracias por ver! Saludos desde Irlanda!
Thank you for the lovely video I'm very new to bonsai and have decided to start from seed I already know we'll it will take a while but I'm excited nonetheless and appreciate the advice
Ohh nice Joe! Growing from seed is very rewarding! You should create some older starter ones along side your seed growing 😄 I have various videos on how to make Bonsai from garden center material 😄
You have imparted a lot of good and make sense ideas and tips. I just gathered some seedlings on the ground on our apartment complex yard. I want to save them before the summer season as kids will be playing around and might step on them and die. some of your tips, I can apply. Thank you so much.
Thanks very much! I wish you the best with your seeds and hope you can get them to germinate 🤗
Wonderful Video. I'm about to plant my own red and purple maple seeds this fall and I'm curious of the progress of yours
Very clear and enjoyable video as usual! Looking forward to see what you’ll be doing with these little guys!
Hey thanks Stefano! 🌱🍁
Having tried literally hundreds of seeds over the last few years I think I now realise it was the soil was the problem. My seeds always rotted. I’m down south in cork so I might give your method a shot this year.
So, I've got about 20 seeds currently in the refrigerator. I've got them in exposed shale, watering with about 2 table spoons (~30ml) of water weekly. They are covered in little loaf tins with a tall lid. Should I stop watering them?
Thursday brutha, thank you for the informative video as well!
Hey! Hope it helps you grow your own maples! 🙂
Thank you you explained some basics that help me understand why I should use that type of soils for seeds. I'm am stubborn unless I understand why. Lol thank you it was so helpful
Hey! Glad it was helpful for you! 😊
I love your enthusiasm! I am brand new at bonsai and would like to know your ratios for your bonsai mix. My husband purchased a bonsai kit for me to start with. Thank you.
Nice video dude! I really like the patience in waiting till they've germinated to show us the results. So last year I made a mistake and stratified my maple seeds dry in the fridge. Apparently they need moisture and cold to break down the inhibiting enzyme so i had zero grow 😢 ill try again this winter (im in new zealand so its autumn now)
Thank you Christopher!! Aw damn! Ohh ok!! I wish you luck in growing your seeds!! 😊Let me know if they grow for you!!
Beautiful plants grow
😊🌱
Great video Adam. I love growing from seed. Please keep us updated on how they get on.
Thank you Sam! I will do!!
When you say in hindsight you could have used a different substrate, what could you have used?
Maybe some horticultural sand with some perlite 😄 Would have been cheaper!
Great video, thanks! 👍👍👍
Great video Adam congratulations on those seedlings.
Yes it’s true for all trees the movement from the wind will strengthen the trees.
Sometimes I won’t be tying my trees in because I think the movement Will also give it a quicker nebari 👍👍👍👍
Thank you Andy! 😊Oh nice! I knew that there was some logic behind that haha! 🌱🌱🌱
Thanks from Canada. Learned a lot.
Well done Adam I've had no success with maples so far but have grown, lemons, almonds and a cherry from seed/pips/nut. So great to see your suggestions and methods. Keep growing xx
I hadn’t success so far too, but this year I did! Thank to Jason Harnahan (The Bonsai Garden), I’ve got fresh seeds and it made a difference. I’ve never had success with stratification in the fridge: this year I put a planter like Adam’s outside in the garden exposed to snow, rain, and wind and they are starting to come out right now! Keep trying!
@Stefano Bragaglia that's where mine are got some service trees in same tray. Keep hoping. Xx
Thanks Mandy! I hope you can get some to grow for you with these tips! Also make sure that the seeds you get come from a reliable source!! They may have been too old! Or even picked from the tree too early!
Great video. I am on the same journey so will be interesting to see how you get on 👍
Aw awesome! 🍁😊Maples still look so pretty even when they are seedlings!!
Great video! Thanks!❤
Thank you Sherry!
I sow a bunch every year but I just spread them into a seed tray and just leave them over winter. The only concern is birds, squirrels and others get into the soil to mess every thing up.
I get fairly good results without any real effort; no fancy soil mix, incubation cover, etc... just let nature do it's thing.
As a bonsai enthusiast you need to grow a few trees from seed and cuttings, it's all part of the process. Keep it up.
Aw nice William! 😊 Gotta find a way to keep them birds and squirrels away!!
@@notionbonsai Had some success this year with a skip find which was a large perspex sheet that I placed over a large growbag.
@@BillyBobJoeSnr Awesome!! If it works, It works!
Damn bro you smashed it really enjoyed this video
Hey thanks so much!
Nice info. Hope all of them live for ever. ❤
You didnt share how many seed were there and how many survived.
At what point do you clean the seeds in the solution? Can I use a solution of peroxide and water to clean them? Thank you for your very helpful video.
Thanks for sharing... As always I love your videos!
Thank you I see all plant growers in greenhouse pet the plants thank you for explaining why they do that
I wondered the same also!! 😄
Legend what a great video thank you 😊
Hi Adam, new fan here. Would you mind sharing the ratios for the seeding soil? I enjoyed watching, thanks for sharing.
Hi, I wondered whether seedlings could be grown as smaller groups of bonsai like shonin or mame?
Yes for sure!
He way I do it is the more natural way, get your seeds put them in whatever compost you have, use a simular type of propagator, put them in a shelter spot for the winter, then move them into the greenhouse in the spring. When July, August comes it's back outside in a shelter spot till established, it's a more natural prosess. If they live they live if they die they die, my success rate is great,. I planted 25 very dry maple seeds off of ebay last year and got 23 Seedlings doing great!
I have a sprout like yours (7:13 during stratification) but I'm 13 days into propagation, what should i do with it? Carry on with the timetables?, it's a red leaf maple
When do you add the cover over pots - when the colder weather arrives? Or can do it straight away? It's near September 🤔
Great video Adam how long would you stratify the seeds for before bringing them out if you were doing it in the warmer months?
So interesting and informative. Thanks
Thanks Wendy! 🙂
This was awesome and well put together. Thank you so much 😊 can we see an update as the saplings grow?
Thanks so much Kenneth! I'll be using these seedlings for projects in future videos! You can also see updates on all of my trees on my Instagram @notionbonsai 🤗
Great video!!! One of my favorite acer instructionals.
Question: Is it necessary to dry the seeds out prior to the water soak?
Thanks Carlos! It is generally not necessary to dry the seeds before the water soak. In fact, for many tree species, including acer (maple), it is beneficial to start the germination process with fresh seeds. The water soak helps to hydrate the seeds and initiate the germination process. However, it's important to note that different tree species may have specific requirements for seed treatment, so it's always a good idea to research and follow the recommended guidelines for the particular species you are working with. Some seeds may require scarification (scratching the seed coat) or stratification (exposing to cold temperatures) to enhance germination. Hope this helps! 🤗
Mantap sahabatku . salam satu hobi salam budidaya dari Indonesia
Terimakasih temanku! Salam dari Irlandia! 🤗🌳
@@notionbonsai siap sodaraku sukses selalu😊😊😊
I've just planted some oaks, looking forward to seeing how they come on
Awesome! Oaks grow everywhere over here! Do you know what kind of oak you planted?
Thanks for the video. I started with a kit in november with 5 different seeds. After the stratification/germination I've planted them and I allready have 2 little seedling in 2 different pots. A spruce and a albizia. But what do i do now? Do I repot or do I keep them in the smal pot? Thanks for the help and looking forward to the net movie
It’s always worthwhile germinating and growing trees from seeds but do so along side having more mature trees to look after as otherwise you will have nothing to do while waiting for your seeds to grow and may well grow bored and disillusioned with the idea of bonsai.
My advice: get yourself small bonsai trees from a garden centre or supermarket and also look at developing nursery plants into bonsai which is a lot of fun. Grow seeds in addition to that to give yourself future bonsai material to work on. 👍
Hi Jason! This is great advice! 😊 I completely agree with your advice of having a mix of both mature trees and newly germinated seeds. While growing trees from seeds can be a rewarding experience, it can take a long time for them to reach maturity and it can be disheartening to have nothing to work on in the meantime.
Good stuff. Is there a further video on these seedlings?
There will be one coming soon!!
I tried stratifying japanese maple seeds in the fridge before but failed spectacularly! Dont know if the seeds were bad or if i did something wrong. I collected the seeds from a maple not far from my apartment at the time.
I also find it very satisfying to grow trees from seed, and if youre not aiming to get a super big bonsai it dont have to take that much more time either befor you can start working on it :)
thanks for the video! will try my luck with japanese maple seeds again soon!
I hope you can get them to grow! Dont stop trying! 🙂
very good hope you have a nice day
Hey thanks Harry! You too!! 😊
❤ great passion very informative!
Thank you Geoffrey!
I’m definitely gonna try this!
Woo! Please let me know how you get on if you do!!
@@notionbonsai oki doki😁
Fabulous video
Hey thank you!
amazing video
Thank you very much!
@@notionbonsai Out of curiosity, have you had success with maple seeds purchased online?
@Notion Bonsai I have a question, where can I store Japanese Maple seeds before stratification? Where can I store them? I cannot store them in hot temperatures is because hot temperatures may kill all of the seeds, they will no longer be viable after storing them in hot temperatures. When hot temperatures kill seeds, it will not germinate at all. Please tell me where can I store Japanese Maple seeds before cold stratifying them. Please tell me. Please reply to this comment.
Hey Arifur. 🍁🍁🍁 Storing Japanese Maple seeds before cold stratification requires a cool and dry environment. You can store the seeds in a breathable container, such as a paper bag or a mesh bag, to allow air circulation. It's important to keep the seeds away from direct sunlight and avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. A cool and dark place, such as a refrigerator or a cool basement, can be suitable for seed storage. Just make sure the temperature remains stable and within the recommended range for storing seeds. It's also a good idea to label the container with the date of collection or any other relevant information. 🙂
@@notionbonsai Thanks! Refrigerator is the best place to store Japanese Maple seeds before stratification because it makes them become viable and live longer. I need to know what is the temperature for storing seeds for keeping them viable and live longer. Please make sure that you reply in this comment.
In this video you mentioned that you weren't stratifying your seeds because it was already Autumn when you were planting them, which makes sense. Is there an ideal time to be stratifying seeds?
It's early July right now, if I were to take a month or two to stratify my maple seeds and then plant them in late August to early September, would that be too close to winter to have them as seedlings? I live in an area where it typically starts snowing in mid to late October.
Thank you so much! All of your videos are super informative!
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you find the videos helpful. Stratifying seeds mimics natural winter conditions, so ideally, you'd start stratification in late winter to early spring. For maples, it's usually best to stratify the seeds for 1-3 months in the fridge, depending on the species.
Starting stratification in early July and planting in late August to early September might not give the seedlings enough time to establish before winter, especially if snow begins in October. I recommend waiting until late winter to stratify your seeds and then planting them in early spring. This gives them a full growing season to establish before the next winter. Good luck with your maple seeds! 🌱🍁
I have a Japanese maple in the backyard. Is it possible to harvest seeds from it? And if so around what time can I do that and how long should I dry them before planting?
I'm in Northern Nevada and it's winter here.
Hi Adam love your video on maple seeds I have a question? You did place them in your green house how did they get snow on them? Did you remove them from the green house part of the winter? Tku dj.
Well done great job
Would the process be the same for seeds that are purchased online ? Ie ; not fresh or stored seeds
Hi . Could you let me know where i could buy that seed tray. I like the double skin and individual sections and lid i just cant find one the same . Thanks and love the vid
I just finished up an experiment for my undergrad thesis where I had cuttings in the exact same brand of cell tray
Oh nice!! What was the experiment?
@@notionbonsai The working title of my thesis is "Ulex europaeus (gorse) as a potential subject for bonsai" which may change to "shows potential as a subject for bonsai" depending on the results of the primary experiment. The experiment with cuttings was to test the ease of clonal propagation for genetic preservation (e.g. good leaf types or AUX1 mutants or whatever). It actually went really badly due to a number of factors- only 4 of 72 had roots once taken out of the media, although only 2 actually died.
I have a maple tree that ive noticed a bunch of seeds on. could I pick them off and do this? or should I wait for them to develop more and naturally fall off before collecting?
Appreciate the information