Bonsai seeds have their fair share of enthusiasts, as do the other methods of propagating your bonsai plants.  While some people grow bonsai plants from cuttings, others opt for creating a forest from bonsai seeds. Which method is right for you?

This article will show you some of the pros and cons related to starting a bonsai plant from seed. The process is not impossible neither difficult, but there are some considerations you need to think about before you buy from a bonsai seed supplier.

Base of a Goshin bonsai forest photo credit: ragesoss

What are Bonsai Seeds?

To put it quite simply, a bonsai seed is any seed that will grow into a plant you can use for bonsai. Bonsai seeds are not special dwarf varieties of plants and shrubs. They are simply normal seeds for trees, bushes, shrubs and flowering plants.

You do not need to pay inflated prices for a seed that’s marketed as a special “bonsai seed.”  Instead, just plan a bit in advance, do your research, and buy seeds based on what you want from your bonsai plant. Maple seeds, crabapple seeds, cypress seeds – all these seeds can be bought for normal market prices. It’s your job as a bonsai grower to turn your Japanese maple tree into a bonsai tree through the use of a shallow tray, the right soil and light conditions.

While there is no need to buy special “bonsai seeds,” typically the ones that are labeled specifically for bonsai have been time-tested to thrive as miniature plants.

Foemina Juniper Bonsai Forest photo credit: ragesoss

The Pros of Bonsai Seeds

When you start a bonsai plant from a seed, you are involved from the beautiful process from the absolute beginning. You can nurture the seedling, watch it grow, and begin the process of shaping your bonsai immediately.  Many bonsai enthusiasts enjoy knowing that they are the originator of their own plant. It’s definitely a thrill to watch your seedling sprout and know that you are an integral part of this plant’s life!

Bonsai is the art of creating a plant that is beautiful, by pruning and shaping – and when you grow your own bonsai seeds, you can start to shape your plant to your own design immediately. Another consideration for buying bonsai seeds is that they are generally much cheaper than buying an established plant, and in fact, could be the most affordable method of obtaining a bonsai plant.

A beautifull Goshin bonsai forrest photo credit: ragesoss

The Cons of Bonsai Seeds

The biggest reason to not utilize bonsai seeds is because bonsai, like their full-sized counterparts, are still trees, and trees grow at a much slower rate than a typical houseplant.

If you want to grow a bonsai from seed, you must have a lot of patience and understand that it will take years, not weeks or months, before you start to see any results. For some bonsai enthusiasts, this is the biggest reason of all not to start your bonsai from seeds. After all, if the purpose of bonsai is to create and design, why wait around for years before you can begin, particularly when there are young plants that you can train and work with right away? Some leading bonsai experts recommend against starting your bonsai from seed for exactly this reason.

In the end, however, only you will be able to decide for yourself whether starting a bonsai from seed is the right way for you to cultivate your bonsai plant.  If you have patience, or a tight budget, bonsai seeds are perfect for growing your own mini-forest.

Posted under Bonsai Seeds