Seedlings 2021
Posted: October 24th, 2021, 7:53 pm
As seed is hard to come by now I planted a Japanese black pine in the paddock as a seed tree. Last autumn I harvested a few cones and extracted some seed.
Sowed the seed in winter and left the tray out in the open through winter.
Seedlings emerged a bit later than expected but germination rates are OK. Last week I pricked some out into individual pots. Everyone will have their own 'best' way to do this but I get good results with this method.
Lift the seedlings out gently. Some already have lateral roots starting to grow I cut the main root just below the best cluster of laterals so the plant puts all its energy into those side roots and into growing a few more that will form a good nebari in future. Some don't have any sign of lateral roots yet so I just cut the main root anywhere. Young seedlings can very quickly grow replacement roots. Chopping like this usually causes lots of lateral roots to form just above the cut.
Due to limited time and space I just potted 30 of the seedlings in that session. Still plenty more left. Timing is not critical for pricking out seedlings. I'll do more when I can make some space.
Also a tray of Japanese maple seedlings. These are from seed selected from the smaller growing cultivars in our garden and from some with smaller leaves to see if I can get some better forms for smaller bonsai.
I probably won't bother pricking these out into individual pots this season unless I spot some with special characteristics.
Sowed the seed in winter and left the tray out in the open through winter.
Seedlings emerged a bit later than expected but germination rates are OK. Last week I pricked some out into individual pots. Everyone will have their own 'best' way to do this but I get good results with this method.
Lift the seedlings out gently. Some already have lateral roots starting to grow I cut the main root just below the best cluster of laterals so the plant puts all its energy into those side roots and into growing a few more that will form a good nebari in future. Some don't have any sign of lateral roots yet so I just cut the main root anywhere. Young seedlings can very quickly grow replacement roots. Chopping like this usually causes lots of lateral roots to form just above the cut.
Due to limited time and space I just potted 30 of the seedlings in that session. Still plenty more left. Timing is not critical for pricking out seedlings. I'll do more when I can make some space.
Also a tray of Japanese maple seedlings. These are from seed selected from the smaller growing cultivars in our garden and from some with smaller leaves to see if I can get some better forms for smaller bonsai.
I probably won't bother pricking these out into individual pots this season unless I spot some with special characteristics.