Bonsai I N ST RU C T I O N M AN UAL
Welcome to Nature’s Blossom Bonsai experience Growing plants from seed is a beautiful way to reconnect with your roots. You are about to embark on the exciting, rewarding journey of growing your own Bonsai trees from seed. Bonsai, by definition, is the art of growing regular trees inside containers, and artificially preventing them from reaching their normal size.
Did You Know? Bonsai is an ancient Japanese form of art, literally translated to “planted in a container.” The goal of growing a Bonsai is to create a miniaturized tree that mimics the shape and scale of full-size trees. The 1000 year old practice locks the roots inside the pot, preventing the tree from growing to its full size. Hypothetically, any tree can have a Bonsai version.
What’s in your kit 4 3 1 4 SEED PACKETS • Jacaranda Mimosifolia • Cassia Fistula • Pinus Thunbergii • Picea Mariana 2 4 BIODEGRADABLE GROWING POTS Ideal for growing from seed. Once your seeds have properly germinated, these pots can easily be transplanted into the ground. 3 4 P E AT S O I L D I S C S Made from a unique mixture of peat and coconut. The discs expand 6-7 times their original size when watered. This type of soil is ideal for maximizing germination rates.
Before We Start HERE ARE THE THREE CRUCIAL FACTORS OF SUCCESSFULLY GROWING BONSAI FROM SEED: 1 2 3 Keep the soil at the right temperature 70-80°F - Without the correct temperature, it is impossible to achieve germination. Carefully choose the correct placement for your plant First three days - no direct sunlight! After that, you need to carefully manage the amount of sunlight and airflow that the plant receives. Water balance Keep your soil moist at all times, but never saturated with water.
PREPARATION AND PLANTING
GET T ING S TA RT E D Can’t we just plant already? Let’s be patient and make sure we get this right. Each plant has specific instructions regarding water, sunlight, germination periods and soil temperature. To ensure that you obtain the desired results, please make sure that you carefully read each step before continuing. Not ready to plant yet? That’s fine. Simply store your seeds in the fridge and keep an eye on the expiry date on the seed packets.
PREPAR IN G T HE S E ED S I’m ready, the seeds are ready - let’s start planting? Not quite! The seeds need a day of preparation before we can sow them into the soil. Trust us - it’ll be worth it. Prior to sowing the seeds, we recommend delicately scratching the outer shell of the seed, and then soaking the seeds in water. • The purpose of the soaking period is for the seeds to absorb the water and swell, significantly decreasing the amount of time it takes for a seed to germinate.
• IMPORTANT! Do not soak the seeds for more than 24 hours. Soaking the seeds for more than 24 hours will harm the seeds, so set yourself an alarm and don’t forget! • Make sure that you soak the different types of seeds in separate cups, and label them so that you don’t forget which one is which. • You will only use 7 seeds in each pot. Store the remaining seeds in a small packet and do not expose the packet to sunlight or warmth. These seeds may come in handy in a few weeks.
PREPAR IN G T HE S OIL That doesn’t look like soil to me? Just wait and see - the magic is about to happen. • For this step, you will need a large mixing bowl and 1-2 litres of room-temperature water. • The amount of water and moisture in the soil is crucial for success. Be very careful and specific when pouring the water over the soil. • Keep in mind that each soil disc will expand 6-7 times their original size, so you should choose the bowl accordingly.
SOIL EXPANSION • Place the Soil Discs in the bowl and pour half a glass of water around the discs, but not directly on them. This should soften… (first sentence of first bullet point change, keep second sentence) • Slowly add small portions directly onto the soil discs and monitor the soil's expansion. You should notice the soil pellets expanding immediately. • Repeat this process until the soil expands to about 6-7 times its original size.
S OWING T H E S E E D S How hard can this be? Just mix the seeds and the soil together inside the pot, it’s not rocket science? Not so fast! Perhaps it’s not rocket science, but it is science. You have to be precise if you ever want to see those seeds turn into sprouts. • Use your index finger to gently create seven holes in the soil at the top of the surface of each pot. Make sure that these holes are evenly spread across the pot.
T H E S T E P BY S T E P P RO C E S S - G E R M I N AT I O N Germination rates are dependent on many factors soil temperature, outside temperature, water, humidity, depth of planting, air flow, just to name a few. As such, each seed can take a varying amount of time to germinate, depending on the growing conditions. As a general estimate, we believe that if you follow this manual carefully, you should begin to see seedlings within the first two weeks.
FI RST T HR EE IN ITI AL DAYS - GER M IN AT IO N Awesome, I’m finished planting - when do I get to see my Bonsai Tree? Slowly, slowly! This is just the beginning of the process. The hard (or fun) work is still ahead. • The most important factors in the first three days are moisture and heat. Airflow is crucial for the germination process and to avoid mold. • During germination, keep your growing pots in a warm space. The soil must be at 75-85F to allow the seeds to germinate.
AF TER LET THR EE THE R E BE DAYS - L IG H T ! Nothing has changed - what was the point of these first three days? The first stage is the growth of the roots inside the pot, so now is the time to support your plant with a lot of sunlight and airflow. • Place your pot on a windowsill, or outside in a partially shaded location, and make sure that it receives at least 4 hours of strong indirect sunlight per day - too much direct sunlight at this stage will burn the seeds.
SOI L TEMP ER AT UR E I thought the seeds just needed water + sunlight? What does the temperature of the soil have to do with anything? The temperature of the soil can make or break your plant. • During the germination phase, soil temperature is the most important factor in ensuring that your seeds turn into sprouts. • 78-85°F is the ideal temperature for the seeds. If the soil temperature is lower than that, the chances of germination are slim. • Keep your growing pots in a warm space.
KEEPING THE IN WINTER SOIL WARM Do you really expect me to leave the heating on 24/7? Definitely Not! Here are some creative ways to maintain the ideal soil temperature during the frost. H E AT I N G M AT S • As you should have learned by now, the germination period is much more about soil temperature than anything else. • Heating mats are an affordable solution to maintaining the soil at the ideal temperature during the colder months, and designed specifically for seed starting.
MORE W A Y S TO KEEP THE SOIL WARM M A K E S H I F T H E AT I N G M AT S • We can take the concept of the heating mat, and recreate it in the everyday home. • You can place your seeds on top of your fridge or any other appliances around the house that emits warmth and won’t be affected by moisture. Let us know if you have found a creative solution. • If you’re extra ambitious, there are plenty of DIY heating maps tutorials on YouTube that don’t require any expenses.
WATERIN G Wake up, brush my teeth, make the bed, water the plants….it’s all just routine. Not quite. Watering your soil is an art you always have to get the right balance. • The trick is keeping the soil moist at all times, without over-watering or letting it dry. Too little water and the soil will dry out; too much water will rotten the seeds and create mold. • Your plants need moderately moist soil, even slightly on the dry side. Only add water when the top surface of the soil begins to become dry.
MOLD Mold, eww...looks like I got a bad kit. Hang on a second, not too fast. Mold is natural! Your plant is going to live! • If mold appears - that’s ok. Mold is usually created in 100% natural moist environments. • In case you notice any signs of mold, gently remove any visible spots using a small spoon or your fingers. • Then, to avoid mold from being recreated in the future, make sure to follow these guidelines: 1 Keep your growing pots in a well-ventilated place. 2 Do not over water the soil.
A F T E R T W O W E E KS - G E R M I N AT I O N • Well done! By now, you should see anywhere between 1-7 sprouts. You should continue exactly as you are, as it’s clearly working for you. • At this stage, however, it is important to add fertilizer to the equation as the seedlings have exhausted the soil nutrients. Fertilizing your plants can promote healthy growth once you have passed the seedling stage, and allows the stem to grow thicker and stronger. We have more about fertilizer later in the manual.
The Step by Step Guide N E X T S T E P S A F T E R G E R M I N AT I O N Once your seeds germinate and you notice your first set of plant seedlings, it’s time to turn these seedlings into strong, healthy Bonsai Trees that will bring color and freshness to your life. At the moment, you should have several seedlings growing in a single biodegradable pot. As they get larger, they will start competing over sun, water and all the other necessary nutrients.
SU NLIGH T AF TER G ER M IN AT IO N • When the first seedlings emerge, you can expose your plant to more sunlight - slightly stronger, but still indirect. • As your seedlings begin to grow, about 1 inch tall, slowly increase the amount of direct sunlight you give your plants - start with a few hours on the first day. Within a week, you can permanently leave your pots on the windowsill. WATER AF TER G ER M IN AT IO N • Keep your soil moist at all times, but never saturated with water.
THI N N IN G Thinning is the process of cutting the weaker seedlings to allow the stronger ones to continue to grow. Wait a second? I just worked all this time to create seedlings, and now you’re telling me to cut them? Have you lost your mind? I see you’ve grown fond of your plant. That’s great! But trust us, this is a case of ‘less is more’. • When the seedlings reach a height of 2-3 inches, they will start competing with each other for space, water, sunlight and nutrients.
R E P L AN T IN G In case you don’t want to thin the weaker seedlings, you can replant a few of them in separate pots, but remember - 1 pot, 1 plant. Planting all over again? Seriously? Don’t worry! You’ve done the hard work. Replanting and planting are very different processes. • IMPORTANT! We do not recommend replanting young seedlings, only mature, strong seedlings. The replanting process can bring the young seedlings into a shock state and damage their growth.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT POTS FOR REPLANTING • Choosing a pot that fits your Bonsai, both in size as in style, is crucial for the composition. • If the pot is too small, it can stunt growth and damage the plant; too large and the plant might outgrow its desired size. • As a general rule, for oval or rectangle pots, the length of the pot should be ²⁄³ the height of the tree. For round pots, the diameter of the pot should be ¹⁄³ height of the tree.
FERTILI ZE R I thought you said beginners starter kit? You’re no longer a beginner! But don’t worry, fertilization is a simple process. • Fertilizing your plants can help promote healthy growth once they are at the seedling stage. Begin fertilizing about two weeks after planting, providing your seeds have germinated. • Think of fertilizer as a supplement - most soil cannot provide the essential nutrients for ideal growth.
TRANSP L AN T IN G YOU R BONSAI T R E ES OUT S I D E They’re Bonsai Trees, They’re Indoor Plants! Not necessarily - The beauty of Bonsai Trees is that you can keep them indoor or outdoors. • A common misconception about Bonsai Trees is that they should be kept indoors. Most trees should be placed outside, exposed to the four seasons with temperature changes and a relatively high humidity.
Amazing work on getting this far! We’d love to see photos of your trees as they grow! To learn how to shape, wire and trim your Bonsai Trees, please visit our website or contact us at support@natures-blossom.com We’d love to hear your feedback! Please review our kit on Amazon and support our small business.
Meet Your New Bonsai Trees P I N US T H U N BERGII JACARANDA M IM SIFOLIA Pinus Thunbergii, commonly known as Japanese black pine, is highly popular along the seacoast in Japan and South Korea. The interesting characteristics of this species are its silky white, candle-like buds which contrast nicely with the dark green foliage. Jacaranda Mimisifolia is a South American tree that has been widely planted elsewhere due to its attractive, long-lasting indigo flowers.
P I C E A M AR IAN A P INUS AR ISTATA Picea Mariana, also known as the Black Spruce, is a North American tree in the Pine family. The tree is widespread across Canada. A tea made from the inner bark of the Picea Mariana is a folk remedy for kidney stones and stomach problems. Pinus Aristata is a long-living pine tree native to the United States. It appears predominantly in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico. Pinus Aristata is one of the most popular Bonsai Trees.
What do you want to grow next? natures-blossom.com © 2019 Nature’s Blossom. All rights Reserved. Disclaimer of Liability: This kit contains seeds originated in the US. This kit was designed as a gift, and should be treated as such. Nature’s Blossom does not assume responsibility and disclaims liability for non‑germinated seeds arising from improper use of this product, or as a result of factors that are beyond the company’s control.
