Bonsai Seeds ????? About what we call bonsai seeds by Patrick Desnoyers

[KarenCharin0]

About What We Call Bonsai Seeds
By Patrick Desnoyers

The question we will answer in this article is: Do bonsai seeds exist? The answer is NO. There is no such thing as bonsai seeds. However, tree seeds exist. Let me explain.

You cannot plant a supposed “bonsai seed” and expect to grow a masterpiece bonsai. At most, you will get a tree in a pot, which is the equivalent of the literal translation of the Japanese term “bonsai”. Furthermore, a simple stick in a pot will not pay much homage to the long refined Japanese art that is bonsai. Like many art forms, rules of design exist. Those rules and the techniques to apply them will keep a dwarf tree and make it appear to be a miniature tree in all of his proportion resulting in what we call a Bonsai.

Therefore, if there are no bonsai seeds, which seeds should I purchase? The answer is: any tree seeds. In fact, all seeds advertised as “bonsai seeds” are only tree seeds. If you plant them, do not utilize proper techniques and give the tree the opportunity to reach maturity, it will become a tree similar to those found on your street or at the park. With a few exceptions, such as genetic deformation in the core of the seeds and malformation in the growing process, all seeds are tree seeds.

However, some seeds will produce dwarf trees even though they are of the same species. These seeds derive from a plant affected by a type of fungus called the “Apiosporina collinsii”, which will attack the genetics of the seed. This new genetic code will be reproduced in the seed. We must inform you that these genetically modified trees rarely produce seeds, so they are pretty rare. In English, they are referred to as “Witch broom” and “Yatsubusa” in Japanese. Yatsubusa, meaning eight ( buds, refers to the very compact growth habit of these plants. For the previously mentioned reason, the easiest method to obtain a Yatsubusa is to propagate with cuttings rather than seeds.

In conclusion, we can write of “bonsai seeds” being at most, tree seeds of species preferred by bonsai enthusiasts. Mishobonsai.com is all about providing tree seeds of the species you prefer to grow as bonsai. Should we be able to acquire seeds that produce very specific characteristics such as dwarfness, they will be sold in the Specialty buy section of the store.

Avid full time hobby bonsai grower. As been practicing bonsai and gardening for more then 8 years. Owner of www.mishobonsai.com, a website with ressource for Bonsai seeds and tree seeds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Desnoyers
 

[KarenCharin0]

The Secrets To Growing A Bonsai Tree From A Seed
By Robert Funge

The fascinating world of being a Bonsai enthusiast is certainly a worthwhile and enjoyable hobby. Patience, care and a little bit of knowledge are all that's needed in order to grow a Bonsai tree.

If you are considering venturing into the magical art of Bonsai you will do either one of two things. Either you will purchase an already established Bonsai tree. Or, the temptation to successfully grow your very own Bonsai from a seed will seem too attractive.

If you are considering growing your own Bonsai from a seed, here are a few pointers:

As we all know any tree must grow from a seed. You can therefore grow your Bonsai from a seedling, an off-cut or even a pruning from an already established tree. When choosing what type of Bonsai you would like to grow, initially consider a naturally growing small tree with small leaves. If you are successful, you can then move onto larger trees that are generally a little trickier to grow.

A recommended and artificial method of preparing your Bonsai seed is called ‘cold stratification', and basically is the process of preparing seeds artificially by storing them in a pot or small container somewhere cold like the refrigerator. This is will then closely replicate the Bonsai's natural living environment if left to grow unattended.

You could of course just plant the seed in your garden, which after all is probably the best place initially for your Bonsai tree to grow. To speed the germination process up consider planting your Bonsai seed in Spring when the seed will naturally break out of dormancy when the soil temperatures start to rise.

Using a fertilizer is also a good way to encourage your Bonsai seed to burst into life. Exercise caution here, but as a general rule you can fertilize using nitrogen phosphates and potassium once a month during early spring through to the summer.

Your Bonsai tree seed should be planted to a depth of about half to a quarter of an inch and watered frequently. It's extremely important to water your Bonsai seed correctly. Never let the soil dry out and never let the soil become waterlogged either. This could be disastrous and is likely to rot the fragile roots of your Bonsai is slowly growing.

Trying to find out how much water your Bonsai seed needs can be quite difficult. Therefore, it may be a good idea to invest in a moisture gauge, or any such device designed to accurately measure the water content of the soil.

All being well you should have the start of your Bonsai tree sticking its head above the ground level in a short time. However it's important to remember that developing a bonsai from a seed is just the start in this amazing and worthwhile hobby...

If you're really serious about growing a bonsai tree from a seed why not visit http://www.growing-a-bonsai-tree.co.uk today for essiential help and advice. You'll also discover top tips on pruning a Bonsai tree

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Funge