Return to the Bonsai Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
Posted by akingf5371 (My Page) on Sat, Oct 14, 06 at 17:57
| All, I am interested in starting a JM from seed. Any advice? When should I plant? In what? I know there are alot of "new" questions but I was curious where I can find out these answers without bothering you all. Thanks!!
Adam F. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| Where are you? It matters, esp. if you're in Australia or somewhere it's spring now vs fall, but your state (or province) would really help. You need to read up on 'cold stratification', which means keeping the seeds in a slightly damp (only) paper towel, in a sealed baggie for 90 days (approx!), then start the seeds (indoors) just below the surface of a 50/50 mix of peat and perlite - wet the mix in little dribs and drabs and stir a lot in between until it's all just barely moist throughout... no drips allowed. Then put the pot out of direct sun (but not in the dark) with another baggie propped up over it by a couple of inches at least, with 1-2 teeny holes cut into the top of it. Be patient - could take months to sprout and grow. Don't let the mix dry out or anything, but don't keep it 'wet' constantly at all. When the last frost of the spring has passed (? May) then you can transfer them to a bigger pot with a sandy, gritty bonsai mix and put them in light shade and don't let them dry out - which does not mean keep them sodden! Good luck. |
RE: Planting a Japanese Maple
| | |
| Well I am in NE Mississippi, the climate is warm but it approaching winter I was just curious if I could start these JM seeds now or if I would have to wait until Spring. I think you have answered all of my questions! You have been a great help! Thanks lucy! |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| I don't know if you can grow maples in Miss. or not. How cold does it get there in Jan/Feb? Maples need months of cold dormancy every year and if it doesn't get below 40 F. for any length of time, I don't see how you're going to manage. |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
aking
You can for sure grow Japanese Maples in Mississippi , I grow them in N Fla.
Put them in barely damp sand , like Lucey said. If you seal the bag and moisture condensates on the inside of the bag ,the sand is too wet. You want it allmost dry.
I've used plastic bags, but I prefer to use small glass jars with a screw down lid.
Put them in the frige,( not freezer ) , I take them out a couple of weeks before last frost, spray them with a weak fungicide ,plant them in whatever well draining soil you have.
I leave them in a shadey spot with good ventilation and indirect light, if it's going to freeze, I bring them in for the night.
This next spring I plan to try planting some in the ground , try to do away with some of the transplanting.
Good Luck |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| Thanks for the response all, during the winter months we do get temperature drops as low as the twenties/thiries, so I don't think dormancy is too much of a problem. I grew a large JM in my mother's yard a few years ago, and that is even farther south. I am slightly confused about the "baggie" part of the procedure. Lucy do I just prop a baggie over the seedling's pot? or raiun do I put them in the baggie? I was really confused about the fridge part, was that if the winters didn't get too cold? Thanks! |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| I personally stick a chopstick or pencil or something in the soil somewhere and plop the baggie over it and down around the pot (either lightly tied around ... if I know I'll be good about checking for condensation and mold, or unfastened, but still allowing a little 'greenhouse' effect vs. complete openness to the dry and probably slightly cooler room air). The fridge part is to allow seeds to simulate cold winters, and bringing them out of 'dormancy' (the fridge) in spring or after 90 days) stimulates and simulates spring growth auxins, hormones, whatever. Winters would be too cold for seedlings (not naturally started in the ground beside their 'mothers'), but that's why you grow them indoors til the last frost has passed. |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
aking
Sorry I confused you. As Lucy pointed out ,place the moistned seeds,( not seedlings ) with barely damp medium(take your choice), in the fridge for the winter . Take them out and plant them when your ready.
Technically, as cold as your winters get , you could probably plant the seed in the ground in the late fall, and overwinter them there, But, if you had a early warm spell, and the seedlings sprouted, then a late frost, most would probably die. So the fridge method gives you more control over sprouting.
Good Luck |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| I scanned through the previous responses - I didnt see anyone mention that, unless you have fresh japanese maple seeds (just harvested from a tree,)you need to soak the seed in warm water for 48 hours or so before starting the moist chill (60-120 days at 38-40 degrees farenheit) . Germination inhibitors will not break down if the seed is too dry. Viable seed should sink if it doesnt it probably wont germinate but pop those in the frig anyway. Also, once dried germination is more sporadic. In other words some will germinate in spring after the moist chill. some may germinate the next spring - could go on for years. So get more than you need. You can toss what doesnt germinate the first spring if you want - seed isnt all that expensive |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
tcharles26
Yep ,You're exactly right ,Thanks for pointing it out .
I sure forgot
R |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| Aking, If I were you I would scrap the idea of starting them indoors. Unless you have better conditions in your home than most, you will be better off waiting until spring and sowing the seed outdoors in a well prepared bed. You will, of course, still need to follow the proper stratification process. Low light and humidity levels will put the seedlings at a disadvantage right from the start. Waiting a few more months and sowing them outside will be better for the seedlings and far easier on you. When starting seeds I prefer to start them en masse, some won't sprout and of those that do some wont thrive or have good characteristics for bonsai. There can also be problems with insects, disease, etc, etc. This has more than a little bearing on my choice to grow outside as well. I don't really have room for 100 or more seedlings inside. Norm |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
aking,
In experience with stratification of maple seeds I had some seeds germinating while they are in the fridge. At first I didn't expect this to happen, so I didn't look at the seeds earlier until after 90 days. By then some seedlings are almost 4" long but still pretty white as the lighting is absent. I would advise to check on your seeds periodically and extract any that has germinated and grow them in pot and artificial light. |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
I was in NY last week and collected some Japanese Maple seeds. I put them in the fridge on Sunday when I got back to Miami, but didn't know about soaking them. Should I take them out, or just keep them in there?
What are the odds of the trees growing and surviving in Miami? Assuming the seeds germinate and grow, could I keep the trees in the fridge during the winter to simulate true winter?? |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| They won't survive in Miami, northern Fla. maybe, but that's all. |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| I have some questions as well :) I ordered some JM seeds from ebay, placed them in water for 2days, then (on NOV 3rd 2006) I put them in the wet paper towel, inside a ziplock bag, then in the fridge.. I have taken them out, to see if anything has changed, but there has been nothing, as far as I could tell.. so, its been 60 days, and when I opened the paper towel, it looked like there was a little "fuzz" on the seeds.. is this normal? or is that part of the paper towel?
Will I be able to tell when its ready to plant?? Also, I read in one of the responses "Viable seed should sink if it doesnt it probably wont germinate but pop those in the frig anyway." when I placed mine in the water, they didnt sink... have I just wasted two months waiting on duds?
I really wish I had read more information before starting this.. thank goodness for sites like this one :) |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| The fuzz is mold (too wet to begin with), and they normally should be left in there for 90 days - undisturbed. |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
- Posted by rjj1 Norman OK Zone7 (My Page) on
Mon, Jan 8, 07 at 9:26
| I don't use the fridge. Usually put seed in slightly moist sand inside a plastic coffe container with a lid on it and sit that on the north side of the house or greenhouse where it stays in the shade all winter. That way seed is protected from seed eaters and will usually germinate closer to the start of spring. When seed starts to germinate, I sow them in the soil or containers. randy |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| Thnaks Lucy and Randy for your responses... ok.. Im starting fresh with a new seed... It DID not sink when I placed in water for 2 days... any suggestions? Can anyone tell me how to determin HOW much water to put on the paper towel, I dont know how to judge the amount.. seeing as how I thought the last ones were in "damp" but turned into mold... :( Can you buy already germinated JM seeds? that would be so much better for me.. I want a tree now! :) |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| Catt, Put enough water to keep the towel barely damp. You are only trying to preserve the moisture already present in the seed. If you see mold rinse the seeds in a 10% bleach solution and continue with a drier situation. If the towel is stiff and dry add a little water. One or two sprays with a spray bottle. Last fall I collected several hundred J. Maple seeds and kept them moist for a while until the "wings" began to deteriorate at which time they were easily removed. As an experiment I then placed them in water and separated the ones that sank from the ones that floated. Perhaps 25%-30% floated. I cut each and every one apart and every one that floated was bad. I checked several of the sinkers and all but one was alive. I mention this because if the wings are still present on yours it may have some bearing on if they sink or not. If you have enough and want to check, cut a few open. You should see live green/white tissue. If it is dried out it is dead. Of course you can buy already germinated seeds, they are called seedlings. Norm |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
Thnaks Norm for the Info... I think my best bet, is to start with a seedling... Im pretty sure the seeds I have in the fridge now are not going to turn out, because they sat for 2 months, me being a lil slow, decided to save some of the seeds until I seen if the 1st one worked..., then after two months, I had a light bulb appear and reilized the 3 seeds I had let sit are probably dead and should have been started right away....
Im gonna try it out anyways... maybe it will work.. But Im also gonna order some seedlings.. any suggestions on where to buy some? Ive seen some on Ebay, but they only ship within the USA :( |
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| Catt, Maybe these people can help you. Norm |
Here is a link that might be useful: Great Canadian Bonsai
RE: Planting an Japanese Maple
| | |
| These people are very reputable and I have ordered good seed from them and they are in Canada. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Angelgrove
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Bonsai Forum
|
|
|
