Hey everyone, first post here and just want to say I’m happy to have found this community!
I’ve done my best to research things before coming here to post, but I’m essentially looking on guidance on how to proceed with my first time sowing JBP seeds.
I currently have a bag of Bonsai Soil, Akadama, red rock mix, and pumice from my local bonsai shop. I also have seed starting soil, as well as worm casing soil that I use for veggie seedlings. Which one (or mix of these) would work best for propagating tree seeds in 3inch pots? Also.. what extra advice can I get on sowing the seeds, as well as watering and sun exposure while trying to germinate them? I believe I am in zone 4 here in Ontario, Canada.
Thank you for any responses and advice! Looking forward to being a member here!
I have been using a mix of half potting soil and half fine (1-3 mm) pumice to start most of my seeds. I sometimes use my development mix half aged bark and half pumice (3-12 mm) in the bottom of the flats with a 1 cm or so layer of the finer mix on top. I start my seeds in a mesh bottom flat that is 5 cm or so deep and move them to pots with root work after either one or two growing seasons depending upon how they do. I find the flat takes up less room and is easier to plan than individual pots. It is also easier to dump and recycle if I have a poor germination rate.
Thank you for the reply!
Would a flat be something like seed starting cells in a tray? I have a few that i use for my veggie seeds, maybe i can use that?
Are you also saying that once the seedling starts growing and rooting, you would leave it in that cell to mature for 1-2 growing seasons?
Sorry for asking such beginner basic questions. I failed at germinating Chinese elm seeds and want to make sure any future germination is done correctly
I let them grow for 1 or 2 years before I transplant - normally into 4" square pots. I have used the cell trays, but like an open flat that allows the roots to run further than a cell. I feel the seedlings are bigger and stronger. Sometimes I do some pinching during their second year - particularly on pines - to encourage lower branches. I have attached a picture of the shallow grow boxes I make and use for seeds as well as developing flat root bases on trees in development. I often plant 200 - 300 seed in a flat that is 15 x 20 x 2.5".
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Ahh okay I see what you mean. Might be something that I will try to make or acquire in the future. Right now I only have around 10 JBP seeds to work with, so maybe 2inch pots might be okay.
I’m happy I got my substrate question answered though!
My last question would be (and this is in general for all tree seeds), should I water the substrate prior to sowing? And once sowed, should I keep the tree seeds in shade or full sun? How often do I water the seeds?
thank you again for all you advice thus far
Keep in mind that JBP and most seeds from trees that experience winter will need stratification (a period of moist cold) before they will sprout. You can do it in the refrigerator, but i like to plant them in the fall and put them out where they will experience cold, but not bitter cold temperatures. I tend to water after plant the seeds since I am normally planting at the kitchen table in December or January before I put them out in the cool greenhouse.
Welcome to the forum Spoon!
+1 to flats. Here’s a photo of mine with 50-50 organic/pumice. These were kishu cuttings I took early March.
The grain size on the pumice is a bit large in my flat. I’ll go smaller 3/16" Shohin sizes next time.
Another nice thing about flats is that it keeps seedlings on the ground where they get a little more radiant warmth. Some folks let their seeds and cuttings in flats grow into the ground through the mesh before moving into 4in round pots or water baskets.
I think I’ve settled on using my jiffy tray with some holes poked through the bottom at my makeshift “flat” the Japanese Black Pine seeds. Once I do my next few seeds, I might do something wooden with mesh like above
I will definitely need pest protection, so I was wondering if I can use the clear plastic jiffy tray cover as the protection? I would probably do a bunch of holes in the cover too so it doesn’t end up a green house
