Luke's Seed Obsession Progression =)

[Luke308]

hey Luke nice work .......I noticed you are a S.A. bonsai Society member. I went to my first S.A Bonsai Society last week and found it very interesting. Loving this thread too, i purchased some seed online a few weeks ago and after much research I'm planning on having a crack at propagating this weekend.

May be a stupid question but I was just wondering where you bought the charcoal from?

Might catch you at a few more meetings in the near future

I too will watch this space with great interest

Hi Treehugger,

You can buy charcoal from your local hardware store or even some supermarkets. It'll be with the BBQ stuff, but make sure you dont buy heat beads There is also a horticultural charcoal available at some hardware/gardening stores but it is nearly 3 times the price! If I were adding charcoal to the soil as a sweetener the I would probably spend the extra money, but for seed propagation I was told your everyday hardwood BBQ charcoal is suffice.

Good luck, and Welcome to the world of bonsai

[TreeHugger]

thanks mate, will have a look around..... the hard part will be zapping it in the microwave without the minister of war and finance seeing me do it

and thanks for the welcome

[Diane]

@ Luke
Thank you for the seed you sent to me. I will start them in the Spring.

I am the Minister for war and finance in my place and I didnt have a problem with microwaving it Got a strange look from hubby and a question though "errr that stuff in the microwave, thats not for tea is it? and a relieved look when I said no

[Luke308]

http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/garden- ... rees/acer/

I ordered -
2x BZ043: Tree Seed. Acer circinatum 15 seeds.
2x BZ164: Tree Seed. Acer ginnala Flame 20 seeds.
2x BZ089: Tree Seed. Acer pseudosieboldianum 20 seeds
3x BZ145: Tree Seed. Acer Japonicum 10 seeds.
1x BZ128: Tree Seed. Acer Cappadocicum 25 seeds.

Fingers crossed they dont take too long to arrive

Just received these in the mail today Each packed in a wax paper bag inside an air-tight sealed foil package -very professional looking
Have them in water soaking overnight, and I will begin the stratifying tomorrow

[Diane]

Question: Re the sterilization part of the seed planting.
I am currently reading Bonsai. Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy by Deborah Koreshoff, and in the section about Soil for the cultivation of Bonsai she mentions about sterilization destroying beneficial bacteria along with the disease causing bacteria. With charcoal being burnt wood, would there be a sufficient load of disease bearing bacteria present to warrant sterilization before planting the seed?
I have done some sterilization myself but after reading the section mentioned in the book it did give me something to think about.

[Hackimoto]

Hmmmmmm I understand the reason for sterilising the soil but how does the seed cope with it not being sterile in nature???

[Bretts]

I think there are two possible reasons we may sterilise the soil in cultivation.
First the soil we buy is no longer natural but has been processed/packaged and there is discussion that it harbours an unatural amount of bacteria.
Two, In cultivation we want to increase the chance and amount of germination so sterelising can/may help in this.

To end I never sterelize the soil but one day that might cost me

[Luke308]

Im also led to believe it will kill 99% of fungus spores that may (or may not) be present in the soil. When trying to grow things like Japanese White Pine, you want the best possible start

[Luke308]

I have Trident maple seeds coming out of my ears!!! I was got around 200 from Shibui (thanks again), then I found a large trident locally which had seeds on it and I grabbed around a handful which turned out to be 500 seeds! However after soaking them only half of them were viable. Then on Tuesday at my bonsai club meeting I was given more from one of the members who drove to the convention and found some tridents on the way and collected HEAPS of seeds. He gave me a handful which I soaked on Tuesday night, and majority of them were viable which I counted as 450 odd seeds. Plus then there is the 80-100 seeds I had previously bought on ebay. Anyone would think I am trying to compete with Alpineart's 2000 trident trainers I dont think I will have enough room if they all sprout, but I don't think I will have 100% success. I reckon I will have trays of seedlings at the sale table of the SA bonsai society annual show in October

Plus I have 300-400 seeds that aren't Trident maple

[Luke308]

Just a quick update.....

I was talking to someone from the club and they said they had planted their Trident seeds about 2 weeks ago (from the same source as me) and some have begun to sprout.

So I decided its time to start planting out in preparation for spring since I have literally thousands of seeds to sow. All of my trident seeds have been sown into seed trays some were done a week ago, and the last lot this morning. Approx 1000 trident seeds, and I shall be happy with 10% success rate.

As for the other seeds, I am pretty busy with re-potting and other things on weekends atm, so I may not get a chance until the last weekend of August. But I think that should be perfect timing if I can plant them all in the one weekend.

[billa]

Hi...

You seem a little all to professional in your approach to ''bagging up'' and executing propagation....

Sorry I may have to anonymously send this thread to the AFP...

looks nice...I hope to see your sedlings in the Buy Swap & Sell Forum soon

[Luke308]

Hi...

You seem a little all to professional in your approach to ''bagging up'' and executing propagation....

Sorry I may have to anonymously send this thread to the AFP...

looks nice...I hope to see your sedlings in the Buy Swap & Sell Forum soon

That is how they come when you buy them from online sources. I have only written the names on some that had separate labels.

But I like you sense of humour

[Luke308]

I have to say I'm excited!!! I just checked my seeds, and look what I found.......
acer pensylvanicum aka moosewood maple has been in the fridge since late April

acer pensylvanicum 9.8.12 002.jpg

I also found a Himalayan Cedar seed the has sprouted which has only been in the fridge since June.

[Luke308]

Well I am proud to say I have had some success

I have only planted my trident (approx 1000 seeds), Acer pensylvanicum (moosewood maple [6 seeds]), Acer Palmatum hogyoku and Himalayan Cedar seeds.

So far I have approx 10-12 tridents sprouted, 5 moosewood maple, 1x cedar and Im yet to see an Acer Palmatum hogyoku sprout.

I still have a heap of seeds to sow, but I have been busy re-potting trees which I have been trying to do before the buds burst. I should have all re-potting completed by the end of this weekend so I will then move on to sowing the rest of the seeds.

As you can see I have used a standard potting mix (Nuetrog organic mix which was $10 for an 80l bag), and I have also used my diatomite fines with a bit of pine bark added. It will be interesting to see how the seedlings develop in the different mixes.

seeds 29.8.12 009.jpg

seeds 29.8.12 005.jpg

seeds 29.8.12 007.jpg

seeds 29.8.12 011.jpg

seeds 29.8.12 015.jpg

seeds 29.8.12 014.jpg

seeds 29.8.12 013.jpg

seeds 29.8.12 012.jpg

[Andrew F]

Luke are you going to use any sorta garlic tea for your seedlings once sprouted???

Iv had my maples go from 50-60 to 30-40 down to about 15, and thats thru natural selection, extreme wind and rain for a week and then unusually warm days over mid 20's.

Iv been reading that homemade tea's can aid in a seedlings chance of survival, just wantedd to see if you had tried anything like that yet.