The Bonsai tree is native to Japan and grows like many other trees. it refers to the way in which the plant is grown and maintained, rather than the species itself. These can be grown in different styles and are shaped with wires and careful pruning. The main purpose of growing a Bonsai is to create a shortened but practical representation of nature in the form of a tree. A pine bonsai can add a lot to your gardening passion and satisfaction.
How to Grow a Pine Cone Bonsai?
If you want to grow a pine cone bonsai, you will first need to get a pine cone. Make sure the pine cone has not opened and look fresh and young. Once the pine cone is opened, the seeds will disappear or may not sprout properly. However, select a young pine cone that is not open and seeds are present in it. 
Always get a larger pine cone that has better and healthy seeds. Moreover, it is best to collect more than one pine cone and not just one. Make sure your pine cones are free from any pests and fungus.
After getting the pine cones, give them a bath in a highly diluted lime-sulfur solution to dispatch the pests and fungus that might be living inside the cones. After bathing, set the cones out to dry.
Place the pine cones in the prepared soil, if you want to grow seeds directly inside the pine cones. Make sure, only bury the bottom in the soil instead of the entire cone. Watering is necessary for ideal sprouting. Therefore, water it sparingly and wait for it to sprout. If you follow all the recommended directions, you should have a newly started bonsai tree in between 1 to 4 weeks. Regular repotting is not a requirement for pine bonsai trees. Pine bonsai usually only need repotting every 2-5 years.
How to grow bonsai from the seeds?
On the other hand, you can grow bonsai trees from the seeds. Make sure to choose darker seeds instead of green seeds to grow. Moreover, place the seeds in a dry spot and watch as they begin to dry out and open up. Good seeds will sink and poor seeds float on the water. When you separate good seeds from the bad, put them in a zip lock bag and place them in a fridge for a week. When you are ready to plant, shift the seeds to the prepared site and cover them with a thin layer of soil. Water them sparingly to avoid any fungus or mold growth. It takes time to sprout.
Pine bonsai care
- Pine bonsai is considered a more advanced type of bonsai that takes special care and attention to grow.
- An important part of growing and shaping a healthy tree is proper pruning or wiring. Pruning is the practice of wrapping a wire around the branches of the tree in order to bend the branches to achieve the desired shape.
- Bonsai trees require a fully sunny spot to grow. Placed them in a place where direct sunlight spread for several hours in a day.
- It requires well-draining soil to thrive. Mix soil with organic compost to increase its fertility and drainage property. Moreover, Pine bonsais appreciate a soil pH between 6 to 6.5.
- Wait at least a year before repotting the bonsai seedlings in individual containers. And then wait at least one more year before pruning or wiring.
Can bonsai trees grow indoors?
Pine bonsai are not suitable for growing indoors and should be planted outside. Pines are frost-tolerant and hardy trees. When they are planted in containers or pots, which placed in a sheltered location so they are protected from the worst of the winter climate.
Varieties of Pine Bonsai
There are hundred different species in the Pinus genus. The most popular varieties for bonsai plantation are given below
- Pinus mugo
- Pinus thunbergii
- P. parviflora
- P. sylvestris
Is pruning essential for pine bonsai?
Pruning is necessary to the beauty and health of a bonsai tree. It is essential to start shaping pine bonsai from an early age to build a strong branch structure.
Conclusion
Growing trees from bonsai cuttings take a lot of time, waiting at least three years before performing any wiring. Repotting the seedlings after the first year into the large container is recommended.
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