Bonsai from seeds : Please Help

Hello, this is my first post and I do not how to navigate and use all of the functions, but bare with me.

I have recently started bonsai and have been looking at my options. I have bought several kinds of seeds. I have 25 each of Japanese Red Pine and Chinese Elm, 50 Coast Red Wood Sequoia, and 15 dwarf Pomegranate seeds. I realized that it would have been a lot easier to start with seedlings or full bonsai, however I have a limited budget and seeds are cheap. I will be getting a juniper bush soon to begin with and get some hands on experience from.
I was wondering if you could supply me with links, names of books, or tips and advice to give me an idea of what I am doing.

On another note, I have found on Ebay a 14 Piece Carbon Steel Bonsai Tools with Nylon Case for roughly $20. It is used, so I was wondering if I should get them. It is currently at $19.79. I would have to bid at least $20.29, but...

Thanks in advance!!
Briddell
javascript:emoticonp('')

briddell wrote:Hello, this is my first post and I do not how to navigate and use all of the functions, but bear with me.

I have recently started bonsai and have been looking at my options. I have bought several kinds of seeds. I have 25 each of Japanese Red Pine and Chinese Elm, 50 Coast Red Wood Sequoia, and 15 dwarf Pomegranate seeds. I realized that it would have been a lot easier to start with seedlings or full bonsai, however I have a limited budget and seeds are cheap. I will be getting a juniper bush soon to begin with and get some hands on experience from.
I was wondering if you could supply me with links, names of books, or tips and advice to give me an idea of what I am doing.

On another note, I have found on EBay a 14 Piece Carbon Steel Bonsai Tools with Nylon Case for roughly $20. It is used, so I was wondering if I should get them. It is currently at $19.79. I would have to bid at least $20.29, but...

Thanks in advance!!
Briddell
javascript:emoticonp('')

As to the tools, that seems like a very good price since a single carbon steel tool would cost twice that figure. Of course, condition matters and in really bad, rusty condition they might not be a goof buy.

As to seeds, a number of the older bonsai books deal with growing from seed, the book by Yushimura, "Miniature Trees and Landscapes" for example. This book is old and may be found at a good price.

I looked at EBAY, the deal seems to be good one. Probably Chinese tools but that is OK.

The book I mentioned can be had for as little as $0.49 at Amazon. I didn't see it on EBAY

Thank you!!

I have looked at that book and will probably buy it. I will see if I can win the auction on the tools. Thanks!!

Briddell

Where is Cynthiana?

You do realize that growing bonsai from seeds will be a long, drawn out process, I hope. Lots of us have done -- and still do it -- but it's always nice to have one or two adult potted plants to play with over the 5 years plus your seeds are growing.

It probably will be quite a while before you need bonsai tools for your seedlings, but if they're a decent buy . . . .

Cynthiana is in Kentucky. It is Harrison County. It is tiny.

I do realize that seeds will take a long time. That is why I am getting a 2 ft. Japanese Red Maple to turn into a bonsai, and either a Japanese Kingsville Boxwood bonsai or a Ginseng Ficus to get experience from. The tools were bought, so I am now looking for another set. I found a 34 piece set, carbon steel, for $129.99! But, I do not need that many tools currently. What tools should I get?
Briddell

JimLewis wrote:Where is Cynthiana?

You do realize that growing bonsai from seeds will be a long, drawn out process, I hope. Lots of us have done -- and still do it -- but it's always nice to have one or two adult potted plants to play with over the 5 years plus your seeds are growing.

It probably will be quite a while before you need bonsai tools for your seedlings, but if they're a decent buy . . . .

I quite agree with that.

But I can read in briddell's profile "Age: 12". So when she's in her twenties, her seedlings will have become interesting enough.

Or... do women lie on their age sometimes?

briddell wrote:Cynthiana is in Kentucky. It is Harrison County. It is tiny.

Briddell

Briddell,

I see your not too far from Louisville. There is a great bonsai club in Louisville with lots of good knowledgable folks that can give you face-to-face guidance at their meetings. The link to their website is below

http://www.louisvillebonsai.org/

Randy

Yes, I have been looking into that club. I will be joining that as soon as I have 35 dollars. Thanks for the link, though!

To AlainK : I am male. I am not a woman. Also, I am 12, just to make it clear that I am not lying about my age.

Oh my! Sorry.

I supposed Brid stood for "Bridget", and "dell", I didn't know, but that sounded like a computer trade mark

I can't believe you're 12 : capital letters, punctuation, syntax...

And yes, seeds will take a long time. I'm still sowing

If you'll excuse me for posting a link off-site, this is an excellent thread with pictures of pines grown from seed. It follows closely a method popular in Japan and recently published in Stone Lantern's _Pines_ book.

http://bonsaistudygroup.com/japanese-black-pine-discussion/growing-mikawa-japanese-black-pine-from-seed/

Thanks! Great link!

Briddell, welcome to the IBC! There was a recent thread re. tools...
https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t7091-tools?highlight=what+tools

The Search button above will be helpful to you.
John

On the $35 membership, they may have a young persons policy. Ask

Contact John Callaway of matsubonsai.com. He hosts a bonsai study group monthly. I'm not sure he works very much with seeds though.

I will contact him