Start Your Own Japanese Red Maple Bonsai

The Japanese Red Maple is one the most popular of bonsai trees. This tree is native to
china and Japan. There are several different varieties including the red, green, lace-leaf,
and thread-leaf.

You can grow Japanese Red Maples from seed.Bonsai Seeds
To do this you would need to store your seeds in a cool dry place until you are ready to prepare the seeds or get them ready for planting. You can use a paper bag to store the seeds.

• Next you would need to pick a date you want to plant your seedlings outside. (these are outdoor trees). Select a date that is after the frost in the spring. Make sure you plan this 90 days before you plant the seedling.

• Once you decide when you want to plant the seedlings and it is 90 days before you plant them, you will need to trick the seeds into thinking that they have gone through the winter.

• Soak them in hot water for 24 hours. You can let the water cool.

• After 24 hours place the seeds in a plastic bag in damp soil, you can use sand or peat. Poke some holes in the bag and place in the refrigerator.

• Leave the seeds in the refrigerator for 90 days or until they sprout. Be sure to check on the seeds especially after 60 days. Check about once a week.

• Once sprouting starts plant the sprouts in well drained potting soil. When watering, the water should seep through the soil quickly. The sprouts should only be slightly covered by soil. Water thoroughly and let the soil almost dry before the next watering. Click here for fertilizer
  

• It's important to keep the soil warm like around 70 degrees. You can use a lamp to help keep the soil warm.

• If the seeds don't sprout after 90 days then take the seeds and plant them anyway covering slightly with soil as mentioned above. Treat the same as the sprouts.

• After the seedlings start to grow they need sunlight.

There, doesn't that sound easy? Just kidding. Starting your own Japanese Red Maple from seed takes alot of patience and planning.