What is the next step ?

Marowak

Seedling
Messages
11
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2
Location
Slovakia, Bratislava
USDA Zone
7B
Hello,
I started growing vachellia tortillis from seed, and have been succesful with 6/10 of them. I have them in a 5:1 ratio of Riversand/compost. When should I replant them, what soil mix is best and any other advice are welcome. They are around 4-10 days old. (The one in the garden mix was the first try). IMG_2341.jpeg
 
there is rarely just one single way to develop bonsai so you may get different , and maybe contradictory advice. That just means there are many different possible ways.
At this stage soil mix is not critical.
Most of us use a mix with larger particles which helps avoid root problems if you water a bit too often but that can wait until they are bigger.

The pots look large enough for your trees for the first year so they can just be left and allowed to grow. If you manage to keep them alive until next spring we can look at next steps.
Another option is to transplant some of them into slightly larger pots. That is usually done when they have some first leaves like middle right but can be any time from germination through to several months old. I take that opportunity to reduce the 'tap' root to promote more lateral roots that will eventually form the nebari.

Not sure where you are keeping them but lots of light, especially some sunlight is required to maintain compact growth.
Seedlings do have a store of nutrients from the seed but regular fertiliser will give you better growth. Type and brand of fert is immaterial as the plants can't read the packets. All they require is nutrient and all decent fertiliser has nutrients that plants need.

Vachellia is not a species I am familiar with. I had to google to find it is an African 'Acacia' Some of the South African members may be able to give more specific advice on care and styling options.
Adding a location to your profile is really helpful as people will be able to offer advice suited to your specific climate.
 
Thank you so much! So I can put them into direct sunlight already
there is rarely just one single way to develop bonsai so you may get different , and maybe contradictory advice. That just means there are many different possible ways.
At this stage soil mix is not critical.
Most of us use a mix with larger particles which helps avoid root problems if you water a bit too often but that can wait until they are bigger.

The pots look large enough for your trees for the first year so they can just be left and allowed to grow. If you manage to keep them alive until next spring we can look at next steps.
Another option is to transplant some of them into slightly larger pots. That is usually done when they have some first leaves like middle right but can be any time from germination through to several months old. I take that opportunity to reduce the 'tap' root to promote more lateral roots that will eventually form the nebari.

Not sure where you are keeping them but lots of light, especially some sunlight is required to maintain compact growth.
Seedlings do have a store of nutrients from the seed but regular fertiliser will give you better growth. Type and brand of fert is immaterial as the plants can't read the packets. All they require is nutrient and all decent fertiliser has nutrients that plants need.

Vachellia is not a species I am familiar with. I had to google to find it is an African 'Acacia' Some of the South African members may be able to give more specific advice on care and styling options.
Adding a location to your profile is really helpful as people will be able to offer advice suited to your specific climate.
so I can already put them in direct sunlight? I have south facing balcony, two of them one is more enclosed and warm/humid and the other is fully open with all day sun
 
seedlings can have full sun right from the start, especially if they are a species that grows in sun - and what should be more sun hardy but a tree from the African savannah? These Vachellia seedlings will do far better if they get more sun than if they get less - provided you can water accordingly.

Think about where these would normally grow - warm, humid rainforest or dry open plains? Now you can probably answer your own questions.

If the seedlings have opened in shade the leaves may already be adjusted to shade and could be sunburnt by moving straight into direct sunlight. I would transition to full sun over a week or 2 to let them adjust and avoid sunburn.

Still no location? Can't advise on winter care or how much sun till we know how cold and how strong the sun is where you are.
 
seedlings can have full sun right from the start, especially if they are a species that grows in sun - and what should be more sun hardy but a tree from the African savannah? These Vachellia seedlings will do far better if they get more sun than if they get less - provided you can water accordingly.

Think about where these would normally grow - warm, humid rainforest or dry open plains? Now you can probably answer your own questions.

If the seedlings have opened in shade the leaves may already be adjusted to shade and could be sunburnt by moving straight into direct sunlight. I would transition to full sun over a week or 2 to let them adjust and avoid sunburn.

Still no location? Can't advise on winter care or how much sun till we know how cold and how strong the sun is where you are.
Okay got it, and I’m in Slovakia Bratislava so should be a 7b zone.
 
Fun stuff. I’m growing vachelia caven from seed. You could leave yours in the pots for a while as they have room to grow. I had mine in small containers to start and once they grew a bit I repotted into your size containers with bonsai soil and also pruned off the tap roots.
 
What’s the best way to feed them? Top them off with compost every couple of weeks or actual fertiliser, which is best for it if so?
 
I prefer fertiliser. Compost has very fine particles which will wash into the soil and clog the spaces. It is vital that soil in pots has good air spaces so that roots stay healthy and water can penetrate to the roots. Soil with limited air spaces can encourage root rot in plants.
Compost also has very low nutrient value compared to volume and no way of knowing what nutrient levels are in it. You need to add quite a lot to give enough nutrient for the trees. Fertiliser is much easier and controllable and should include all the trace elements as well as the major nutrients..
 
I prefer fertiliser. Compost has very fine particles which will wash into the soil and clog the spaces. It is vital that soil in pots has good air spaces so that roots stay healthy and water can penetrate to the roots. Soil with limited air spaces can encourage root rot in plants.
Compost also has very low nutrient value compared to volume and no way of knowing what nutrient levels are in it. You need to add quite a lot to give enough nutrient for the trees. Fertiliser is much easier and controllable and should include all the trace elements as well as the major nutrients..
I’m always tense around fertiliser cuz I’m always confused as which on to get or of overdoing it. Is there a specific NPK ratio for young trees?
 
You're gonna have to learn to overcome that barrier because once you put a tree in a pot you are responsible for providing everything it needs!

Use organic such as naruko if you're worried about burn!
 
I’m always tense around fertiliser cuz I’m always confused as which on to get or of overdoing it. Is there a specific NPK ratio for young trees?
Just get a commercial fertilizer and use as on the package and stop worrying.
 
Hello,
I started growing vachellia tortillis from seed, and have been succesful with 6/10 of them. I have them in a 5:1 ratio of Riversand/compost. When should I replant them, what soil mix is best and any other advice are welcome. They are around 4-10 days old. (The one in the garden mix was the first try). View attachment 558094
Two Months later they grow like crazy, what do you guys do with it during The winter here its 35 degrees everyday, minimal rain but winter we can get to minus -11 Celsius should i keep it under grow lights The whole winter ?
 

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