Very helpful...thank you for the full set of videos as it is so much easier when you are a complete beginner to see the whole process. Fingers crossed....our first crop of seeds are in the fridge. 😊
Hi there. I absolutely love your videos! I brought various maple seeds from Japan in late November 2017. I collected most of them from the ground, some of them I collected from the trees. I put them in the fridge for about 3-4 months and planted them (individually so that I can identify them later since I collected them from quite meaningful locations and it would be nice to know their parent trees.) Anyway, I planted them in two batches - first batch of seeds I planted directly to small pots and covered them with some plastic to keep it moist. The second batch of seeds I soaked in water for 24hrs, then kept them in a zipper bag in a moist towel for a about a week or so and then I planted them into a different kind of soil into a miniature greenhouse with a lid. So total of 38 seeds and it has been 1 month exactly and I have only 1 sprout which is quite disappointing. The temperature has been warm (77-86F). Am I being too impatient or do you think there's no hope for them to germinate since it has been too long? The only thing that might have gone wrong is keeping them too soaked...
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together these videos. Hope you get some new shoes! :) I’m going to try and get a bunch of trees to grow from a Japanese maple I have that has a ton of seeds right now. I’m here in the Puget Sound, too so I appreciate the local advise. Thanks again!
@@letsbfriends19 tree seed online dot com I've heard people buying seeds online and none germinating so I know they definitely are alive but certainly not the *best* quality. I've put them all in sandwich bags with either just water, kitchen roll and water, just soil, and soil and perlite mix. All seem to germinate but the latter seems to have yielded best results.
Muchas gracias Mike!!! This is one of my favorite tree, I going recollect some seeds this year and follow your directions, I hope I can lucky as you with all those beautiful trees,
Hey man! I'm astounded with how well this method worked, though I'm curious about one thing. I have about 90 to 100 little sproutlings and I'm not sure whether I should take the lid off my tote or keep it on for now. What say you?
Mike, thanks for these videos. My JM put out seedlings in the fall and I have 4 babies that have come up. My soil is mostly all clay. Is it safe to dig around these and put them in something better so they have a better chance at living? I found them Easter Sunday, I can't tell you how excited we are! Any particular potting mix?
If they're just small seedlings then it should be very safe to dig them up and transplant, just try to keep the roots intact. Any good draining potting soil will work.
Mike, I don't know if you view/reply to all the comments that come your way, but I'll give it a shot. First, thanks for this particular series. I collected seed pods from my Bloodgood (I'm in central Cali), plus collected seeds from my sister's tree in Olympia and her neighbor's Laceleaf. Followed the instructions and have 18 seedlings from my tree - some of which are really doing well. No such luck with the others, though. Kinda bummed about the Laceleaf - I thought those look pretty cool. I've got my hands pretty full now - I rescued almost 90 seedlings that grew up under a green JM that we've had for six years or so. Having a freaking blast doing it, though! Okay, a question. My Bloodgood is fully leafed out and is dropping seeds. Can I go ahead and immediately try to germinate them, or are they too fresh? If they're too fresh, how long should I do the refrigeration thing before trying to germinate? Thanks much!
If it's dropping the seeds that are just starting to grow for the season then they aren't mature enough and won't germinate. Some varieties of maples can be germinated in summer but Japanese maples have to fully mature through the summer on the tree and then you can pick them in the fall and will have success. They need a long stratification period in the fridge, about 3 months but you can go longer if needed. In Cali, you probably won't need to wait any longer than 3 months. By the way, I'm pretty sure that laceleaf maples are sterile and the seeds won't ever germinate. You multiply them by grafting onto a standard rootstock.
Once the seedlings start popping through the surface I pull the lid off. You really don't want a lid for more than a week or so, just long enough to keep the surface of the soil moist until they germinate. You may need to protect from birds with a wire cage around them. I've learned the hard way.
Hey Mike, just started following and I’m loving your channel! I have a question that you have likely answered a million times but what is a good source for the for bark that you use? Size pieces and what not? I live in Southern Oregon but have never inquired about fir bark for germination or cutting propagation purposes. Thanks buddy!
Glad you love the channel! Not sure if you've seen it yet but here's a video about the bark I use: ruclips.net/video/_9k0gV-KrSk/видео.html I pick it up from a local landscape supply store by the dump truck load. You should have no problem finding the fine fir bark in Oregon since our logging industry is pretty much all the same in this part of the country.
I have mine started in 10x20 seed trays with a cover. So far they are looking good. Do you think they can grow in that environment until next year before I replant them? Only a few inches of depth with the soil. I should have used a tote like yours. Will I have to move them sooner?
In a years time the roots will grow up to a foot long. Those seed trays will work fine as long as the seeds aren't planted in individual cells in the trays, but an open tray should be ok.
Hi Mike. Thanks for all the great videos. I'm planning to start germinating my maple seeds today so wish me luck. Just one question do you need to water these seedlings once they germinate and how much and how often. Thanks
Yes, keep the soil moist. You don't want the seedlings to dry out. That's very important when they first germinate, until they get enough size on them to be able to withstand a tougher environment.
Hey Mike, really like your videos. I am from the pacific north west as well and have collected a bunch of Japanese maple seeds from trees around town. I have accumulated a few different varieties, what I am wondering is if this method of germinating seeds applies to different Japanese trees with the same seed structure, but different species. Also, how often/how much water are you watering the seedlings?
It applies to all maples, in fact, there is a guy in our Facebook group who collected a whole bunch of different varieties of maple seeds last year and they all germinated. I water the seedlings as often as I water my rhododendrons in the hoop house which ends up being about once a month in winter and once a week to daily in the summer, depending on how hot it is.
Hi Mike! I haven't seen you and Shelly in years, but thought you looked familiar. My husband and I would see you and Shelly at the bird show in Oregon. I saw your video on starting Japanese Maples from seeds. I have red and green ones and they get many seeds every year. Your videos will be very helpful to get some trees started. Do you have any idea how I can start Southern Magnolias from seeds or is it possible to start them from cuttings? By the way, Henry is a very handsome 🐓 rooster! Good luck to you and your family for your early retirement!
Yeah, I totally remember you guys! It's been a long time. Are you still into cockatiels? I no longer have the birds but would love to build a bird room and get back into it eventually. Our 2 girls (9 and 11) are always asking me to get back into birds again. So glad you found the channel! I have an obsession with plants and love everything associated with them. Shellie and I have been building this small nursery and landscaping our place for the past 14 years now. Anyway, to answer your question, yes, Southern Magnolia can be propagated by cuttings. They are taken as semi-hardwood cuttings starting in the next week or so and into September. I've been meaning to do a video on these and haven't gotten to it yet but maybe it's time to get my butt in gear and get it done, haha. Hope you guys are doing well and glad to hear from you.
Hi Mike! It was really great hearing from you after so many years! Yes, we still have our cocktails and ringneck parakeets. I am no longer using them for breeding purposes because my husband has been battling cancer and I just done have time. Plus, I am getting ready to have my first knee surgery next week. Hopefully, the other knee will be replaced in about 4 weeks. It's been a difficult time. So sorry to hear about your accident. We share the same interests. I love plants and experimenting with them. We have 5 acres, which at least 3 acres is lawn and flowerbeds. I can hardly wait till I can get back to work. One thing you may be interested in is our native dogwoods. They bloom 3 times a year with huge creamy white flowers. I throw the clusters of seeds into my flowerbed and they have started. You could do wonders with your knowledge of plants. Please, tell Shellie hi and I hope you and your family have been well and happy! Take care and have fun with your nursery!
I forgot to tell you that your videos are great! Your humor is great! Your personality adds to your videos. You made me laugh many times! I'm glad i found your video about Japanese Maples too! You're better off without Johnny! Its nice you are protective of your family and now you have Henry. He is gorgeous! Patches would have been a great name for him! 💚
Oh ok. So this just for Seeds I can buy or find? Maybe if you had time you could do a video on how to run a nursery business or if you know a good book or web site. Thank you for your help.
Every nursery is different and started under different circumstances but the best advice I can give is to just start and learn as you go. I am planning a 3rd video that will be for sale that will explain everything I know about making money selling plants from home.
Hi Mike! At what point, if any, while in the totes do you fertilize them? I have not seen that addressed in any of your videos up until they are moved to 1 gal. pots. Thank you!
Thanks for these videos, Mike! After the first fall, can these stay inside for the winter or do they need to be in a colder environment like an overwintering situation as is done with bonsai? Thanks. My seeds have just germinated and looking forward to eventually using these as bonsai.
Hi Mike Writing from Denmark. Thanks for the fantastic videos on Japanese maples. I have followed your recommendations and I am now one year behind - with seeds in the fridge😄. When did you remove the lid of the plastic container? And did you supply water, fertilizer or something else before the removal (apart from the watering you showed in the video during the planting of the seeds)? And do you fertilize the plants until autumn? My son is going to Tokyo in a few weeks, and immediately his selfish dad was thinking of Japanese maple seeds😬 Would you happen to know where to send him to get some?
I've never been to Japan so not sure where to find seeds. As far as the seedlings I have, I removed the lid slowly (over a few days) after the first set of true leaves opened up. I fertilized about a week later with a slow release fertilizer that lasts all Summer. I watered regularly through the Summer, about once a week.
So I got japanese maples coming in currently, since its going to be 90 days before I can do anything should I wait until next year? Or should I grow inside with my 600w full spec grow light set up for the first winter?
Hi there was a JM tree and there where seedlings all ready growing so I took one do I need to do all the things you need to when they are seeds or do I just let it grow
so once they sprout up they no longer need to be kept covered then right? and have you watered it again since that initial germination watering? Wonderful videos thank you so much! :)
They actually don't need a covering at all. Seeds have everything they need to germinate and grow. The cover just keeps the surface of the soil moist until they germinate and also holds a little warmth in there. Yes, get the cover off as soon as they start germinating.
Mike, Thanks for the videos. Very helpful! So once you take the Japanese red maples out of the tote does it matter if you put them in one or two gallon pots? I'd like to be able to sell them so I want them to look nice and be healthy. Also, do I need to worry about critters getting to them if I leave them outside? Thank you for your time.
I pot them up in 1 gallon pots but any size will work. Eventually you'll have to repot them to bigger pots if you don't sell them right away. They will look great and be healthy in a 1 or 2 gallon pot but after about 3 years you'll want to replant or you'll have a bonsai. I've never had any problems with animals bothering the maples. Mine are outside and they are doing just fine.
If I collect the seed pods in late July, will it still work. They are completely dry. Should I add a little dampened fine bark to the ziplock bag in the refrigerator?
Hi sir are you from Massachusetts? I was looking for a Japanese maple tree but they are all pretty expensive I’m trying to find where can i get seeding that already germinate do you have a farm here in Massachusetts can i buy some that thank you
Well I hit something that I think posted my comment. But I didn't get my questions asked. What is the best time to pick these pods? What size is that container that you used to start the seeds in? Thanks for all your videos and all the information.
Hey Kitty, I pick the seeds in the fall around the end of November when the leaves are starting to fall from the tree. The container size isn't that important but mine is about 2 feet long by 8 inches wide and about 6 inches deep. Hope that helps!
Thank you for your help. So do you recommend urinating on the seeds in the tote? And do you know where I could get some inexpensive 1-2 gallon pots? Any books or videos you recommend to get started growing trees? Thank you
The one book I recommend is 'Teaming with Microbes'. It's a great book for soil knowledge and will help you understand what makes plants thrive. I usually find nursery pots on Craig's List pretty cheap. Sometimes people have them on offer up or Facebook in buy and sell sections. You can usually find 1 gallon pots for 10 cents and 2 gallon for 20 cents.
The possible reason why some of it are green is because the parent tree was possibly a grafted tree mixed with the Japanese green maple variety which is extremely valuable in the bonsai world!!!
Its June here and I noticed my Japanese maple tree had pinwheels on it. My question is, I cut a few pinwheel off the tree and they appeared to be ready to fall off the tree. Can I germinate these seeds? they look green and burnished red and healthy and of course it's not November like you suggested. I do live in on the East Coast. Please advise
You can germinate them in the winter after about a 3 to 4 month stratification period. I'm always skeptical when people advertise them as "bonsai seeds". There is no such thing. Any plant can be made into a bonsai through proper training but no tree will grow into a bonsai on its own. If you don't train the seedlings, they'll eventually grow to 20 feet tall.
Mine sprouted really nice. Nice all of them with pair of real leaves. Stems are arround 2 inches. But what concerns me is the fact they may become LEGGY if they are not now. They are inside next towindow. I started to put them outside few hours then bring them back. Temperatures these days here arround 10-15 celsius. Not much sun these days. Any advices and is that legginess problem at all?
Not as long as the tree looks healthy. It's just an indication that you've got plenty of fungus throughout your soil which will help build the soil and support the tree. Things can take a turn for the worse if the tree is unhealthy and then the fungus will decompose the tree but I don't try to use pesticides and herbicides to rectify the situation. I just figure that's the way nature intended it and plant another tree.
Mike Kincaid okay Im about 3 months into planting them in a similar pot as you did and have over 100 growing of all different varieties! They look pretty healthy from what I can see. Do you have any ideas of where I could reach out to to sell them the coming spring? Websites or groups I may be unaware of?
hello, thanks for these videos, how about dry seeds? is the process similar? i can't find anywhere fresh seeds.. and i was thinking on buying dry ones..
Hi Mike, I've had some maple seeds (20+ bags of different varieties) in the fridge since January. In March one lot started shooting and I now have about 20 Kyushu Maple seedlings which I'm very proud of (first ones I've ever grown!) But nothing doing with the other bags of seeds. What should I do with them? Leave them and wait, put in seed trays or just throw away now?
I would plant them now in a plastic tote and place in some sun to warm the planting medium, if they sprout, move them to about 50% shade. Congratulations on your success with the Kyushu seeds!
Hey Mike, how much sun do these japanese maples need when developing the first true leaves? Do I put them in direct sun light? Greetings from Argentina.
Im guessing me pulling off the wings and just shoving ghem into some dirt wont produce anything lol. When is the best time to first plant them after keeoing in frige?
Thanks Jay! I water these every time I water my other plants in the hoop house which is about once every other day in the summer but tapers off to about once every 2 weeks in the winter while they're dormant.
Thank you for that important information. I live here in Sacramento, CA. Recently bought a house with a what seems to be an dwarf Japanese maple, right out in the open front lawn. Did some research and found out that it should have been planted around or near the house or other plants. Being that its the summer and it gets over 100 degrees Fahrenheit here, I tried watering it more often but it doesn't seem to help much. The leaves are drying out and turning red orange color, sun dried is you will. I really love this tree its one of my favorites, is there any way I can save this little guy? Any recommendations would highly be appreciate.
You might need even more water. Over 100 degrees is pretty hot for Japanese maples and they need cool moist soil. You can also try putting down a 6 inch layer of mulch around the tree to keep the roots cool and moist.
Hi mike love your videos,find them a great help to me just becoming green fingerd.can you help me i have an acer palmatum which is growing nicely,but i have a couple of thick brances where the leaves are completely different to what they should be they only seem to have 4 points and there green with white border,i havent a clue why or whats going on,look forward to your reply.gary
I'm not an expert on all the different Acer problems. You might get a better answer by asking your question in a group that is specifically about Japanese maples. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Whenever they need it. I water on the same schedule as my rhododendrons, about once a week in the beginning but eventually every day when the weather is hot.
@@MikeKincaid79 Hey Mike, hi from Toronto Canada, so trying to germinate Japanese Maples from seeds again this year, and they got to about 2" and now dry off :(, i do water them once a week , i do not know what i'm wrong die off please help thank you from Nelson
I've shipped rhododendrons but never trees, however, I've had a lot of request for the red maple trees so this winter I will be shipping them. I haven't decided a price yet and the customer will pay shipping. In my experience with shipping plants, it will probably be around 10 dollars but I may be a little off on that. Do you have any suggestion for price of the little trees?
Hello! New to the channel! My mother and I recently noticed her tree had seedlings. We did pull the dirt with the new growth and put it in it's own little pot. Do you suggest we keep it indoors untill it gets bigger near a window or should we keep the little guy outside morning sun and evening shade. Or should we out them in a plastic container like u did in this video untill it's gets established? She has the green thumb. I however can just look at a plant and it could possibly die. Lol so she is taking care of them. We are located in Northern California, so our summers can get up to triple digit's. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance
I would keep them in the same environment they were originally in but maybe give a little more shade. Plants always do better outdoors in natural light and I try to get mine outside as soon as possible every spring.
Thanks Bro. Here is hard. Like 90 at the day or 80 and at the night 69 or 70. Well I will try aniway. I got a lot of seed that I buy from omcseeds.com them looks cool but the temperature is a problem 4 me. Lets see. Thak u men. Bless
Mike Kincaid I doit jeje but I what maples and all those beautiful trees. lets change positions for a year jajjaaj. well u have all that I whant and maybe I have a lot of tropical trees that u whant. so its weird but is like that. thanks men. appreciate and sorry about my English couse I speak better in spanish. but still. I try. I love Bonsai World and everything that looks exotics like the maples, think about it. if u send me some trees I send u some of these species. . God bless u and keep it 100. :)
Hey. Im trying to get my japanse maple seeds to germitate in my fridge. But right now we're having a really hot spring here in Norway where it's upwards of 80f during the day, and 55f at night. Do you think the seeds will survive this heat? :)
Yes, but when you plant them, make sure it's in a shady location with no direct sun and they should be fine. They'll probably love the warm weather. Also, you don't need to wait for them to germinate in the fridge. It's late enough in the spring now to just plant them out and the warm weather will wake them up.
Do you have to leave them in the container for a year meaning let’s say u put them in the container right before spring in 2019 and take them out in right before spring in 2020 do u have to leave them in the container that long
Once the seedlings get tall enough to almost hit the top and they start getting their second set of true leaves. The lid really isn't necessary for seedlings and can be removed at any time. The purpose of it was to just help slightly boost the warmth around the seeds and help them germinate a little faster and more assuredly.
Hi, my daughter bought seeds on the internet and now I have plants in this size, how should I keep them in the winter....I live in Sweden, so it's pretty cold some days. Can I have them in flowerpots all the year? So I can bring them inside?
Maples grow in cold climates so I don't think you'll have any problem leaving them outside. Mine sit in pots outside and freeze hard as a rock in the winter but look just great every spring.
Was just in the northwest in Oregon and collected some japanese red maple tree seeds this month of June. Are they mature seed at this time? Do I have to wait for November to collect those seeds? I live in the Southwest and wanted to germinate from seeds for Bonsai specimen.
Thanks, I will try to do that I have a brother in Auburn & have a real tiny skinny japanese red maple tree I will see if I can get him to gather seeds in November for me. Thanks for the information, appreciate it much.
Mike, I just stumbled onto your videos, and I'm freaking pumped! I live in central California and have a green Japanese Maple and a Bloodgood Maple. This spring I pulled up about 25 seedlings that sprouted underneath the green maple and transplanted them into a few large pots. I've got 14 left (I think). A few of them are growing like crazy. I love that you say, pretty much, that we shouldn't take this too seriously - all we're trying to do is mimic nature. So my next project is to try harvesting seeds from my Bloodgood. I started collecting them last week, and will continue to do so over the next couple of months. I can't wait to see how this turns out! Thanks for putting these videos together. I think I subscribe to just one other guy - you're gonna be the second. Cheers.
Mike, what medium can I use for this? I have never seen fine fir bark for sale anywhere here in TN. What is another good mix or medium, homemade or purchased? If homemade, could you suggest relative parts? Thanks!
@@MikeKincaid79 Thanks, Mike. I'm watching Part 5 now. What is the potting soil you use? What I can find here has too much peat in it and thus tends to do poorly with maples and plants needing well-drained soil.
I live in the pacific northwest where logging is a big industry and fir tree bark is a byproduct so I have access to massive amounts of fir bark mulch. I use finely ground fir tree bark for potting soil.
At what point did you take the lid off? I have some in individual cups in a tote and some are coming up faster than others. I would like to remove them to make room for other plants I want to propagate, but am not sure how tall they should be before I do that. TIA
You actually don't need the lid once the seedlings germinate because they are already growing on their own roots. If you have the lid on now and there is a lot of humidity then you'll want to slowly acclimate them to less humidity over a couple days.
@@MikeKincaid79 thank you! Just as I was reading your comment, I remembered you saying to acclimate, on multiple occasions. 😆🙃 Thank you for taking the time to respond, I really do appreciate it.
I kept the lid on just until the majority of them started sprouting. 1.) to make sure the surface of the medium and seeds didn't dry out before they germinated, and 2.) to keep a more even warm temperature at the surface where the seeds were so that they would germinate more quickly and reliably. I probably only had the lid on for a couple weeks.
Thanks dude! Awesome information. I get access to my glass greenhouse this weekend. I have about 50 Redbud tree seeds germinating, and some other projects planned, so excited. Appreciate the info!
That's pretty cool about the redbud seeds. I've been looking for redbud trees for awhile now. Nobody seems to have them in my area. What state do you live in?
I think they prefer a certain number of cold months through the winter but give them a try. Also, if you're in a hotter climate there are some really cool plants you can grow that I can't such as plumeria, palms, etc.
They grow best in well draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Plant them in whatever soil you have and then lay down a 6 inch layer of compost or mulch and the worms will do the rest.
Aren't you going to run out of headroom in the tote over the time that you plan to leave them in the tote? What about heat in the tote over the summer?
You're right, I didn't answer that question in the video. After the seedlings all sprouted, I just took the lid off and left it off for good so no worries about headroom. The only reason the lid was there at all was to keep the surface moist and help warm the soil long enough for the seeds to sprout. Now that they're all growing I will just leave them in the tote and water once a week or so through the summer. They'll probably get about a foot tall this summer. Then in the winter after they harden off, I'll pull them out and pot them up into 1 gallon containers. Updates to follow. Thanks for the question and I'm glad you asked!
I have mine in the hoop house which is covered with 50% shade plastic. If you don't have that, the best place to set the tote is on the north side of a building where it will get as much sky light as possible but no direct sun. You could also place it under a tree that provides around 50% shade.
I would sell the little trees for around $10 to $12 for a 2 year old seeding. That's the price I've come across most often. So if I want a Japanese Red maple I have to graft a branch from one and let it grow two years before I sell it? Could I take several grafts from one tree? Maybe buy a few Japanese red maples and propagate from those trees? I really have no idea what I'm doing. I just want to be my own boss and I love being outside so trees seem like a great idea for me.
Trees are a fantastic idea! I just did some research on pricing and found prices pretty close to what you're suggesting, from $6 to $15 for a 2 year old seedling but what I found was interesting. The prices aren't for grafted plants, they are just seedlings which is what I have. You get a lot of deep red but you also get some lighter reds as well due to genetic variation. If you had a grafted red maple like a bloodgood and grew it for 2 more years, I'll bet you could get close to $50 for it.
Ok man, I got some "true red maple seeds" in the mail a few days ago and today Nov 1st- 17 I am putting them in water for a short time (2Hrs) and then put them in p-bag then frig till April , then we will see.
I'm curious to see how well they sprout. If you haven't seen yet, I just started a Facebook group where we can all come together and share our plant propagation experiments. Check it out: facebook.com/groups/346884795717132/
I live in a very hot country and I want to order and germinate Japanese maple seeds. Any advice? Because I can’t let them in a green house or a container because as I said before it’s very hot. The only way I can keep them cold is by putting them in a refrigerator but there isn’t any light for them, can you please help me
There are holes in the bottom of this tote so I just water them every time I water the rest of the plants in the hoop house which ends up being about every other day.
Keep them out of the rain. You want to be able to control the amount of water they get. The rain could flood them out. Do you have a porch they can sit on?
sorry to bug you man but I know where a red maple tree is in northeast Alabama, I guess you wouldn't know when the seeds fall, would it be in November?
You can bug me all you want. The seeds are ripe in the fall. I'm not sure when exactly that is in your area but it will probably be around November/December. Watch for the leaves and a few seeds to start dropping and then it's time to pick seeds.
i want to plant maple trees but i don't even know if i can plant it here or not in my town coz i never seen one around here. i am thinking of buying the seed online ( i want to know your comments specially on buying the seeds online from amazon). even if i could buy the seeds online it good to plant them now i mean its already spring here.
Mike Kincaid hey thanks for the reply. i am from Manipur, north- east India. as i was saying i never seen a maple tree here before and amazon is my only way to get it so am gonna give a try
I answer all those questions in Part 1. You don't want to let them dry out. Have your friend collect them when ripe and place them in a plastic bag when he sends them to you so they stay moist.
Mike, you know, a continuous video of these little maples from seed to where they are now, would be nice to see. I guess I'm thinking of a time exposure of them, is this possible ?
We're thinking on the same wavelength, Reg. I've been wanting to do time lapse photography with the rhododendron blooms for a few years now and the seeds would be a natural addition to this. Only problem is I don't have the right camera equipment. Eventually, I plan to save up and do this.
Funny, but as I was writing my comment, I was also thinking about the need for different camera(s) too. Anyway Mike, you keep making those videos the way they are, I'll be here to watch what you have. Cheers!
The fact that a "how to germinate Japanese maple seeds PART THREE" exists tells me all I need to know about germinating Japanese maple seeds!
LOL, hope you enjoy the series, Ken!
Very helpful...thank you for the full set of videos as it is so much easier when you are a complete beginner to see the whole process. Fingers crossed....our first crop of seeds are in the fridge. 😊
Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your seeds.
Beautiful reddish leaves as Japanese maple ..wonderful video, Mike !😁😁👋👋🌿🌿
Hi there. I absolutely love your videos!
I brought various maple seeds from Japan in late November 2017. I collected most of them from the ground, some of them I collected from the trees. I put them in the fridge for about 3-4 months and planted them (individually so that I can identify them later since I collected them from quite meaningful locations and it would be nice to know their parent trees.) Anyway, I planted them in two batches - first batch of seeds I planted directly to small pots and covered them with some plastic to keep it moist. The second batch of seeds I soaked in water for 24hrs, then kept them in a zipper bag in a moist towel for a about a week or so and then I planted them into a different kind of soil into a miniature greenhouse with a lid. So total of 38 seeds and it has been 1 month exactly and I have only 1 sprout which is quite disappointing. The temperature has been warm (77-86F). Am I being too impatient or do you think there's no hope for them to germinate since it has been too long? The only thing that might have gone wrong is keeping them too soaked...
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together these videos. Hope you get some new shoes! :) I’m going to try and get a bunch of trees to grow from a Japanese maple I have that has a ton of seeds right now. I’m here in the Puget Sound, too so I appreciate the local advise. Thanks again!
Great! You should have plenty of Japanese maples to pick seeds from.
I’ve just bought seed from Herons Bonsai here in Uk. I will be trying your way of propagating them! Thanks Mike.
Awesome! Let me know how they turn out.
Does herons still sell maple seeds online?can't find them though.
I've been stratifying dry seeds I bought online since December and they've started germinating in the past week or so. Good luck with yours!
@@Pootleflump what online store did you buy?
@@letsbfriends19 tree seed online dot com
I've heard people buying seeds online and none germinating so I know they definitely are alive but certainly not the *best* quality.
I've put them all in sandwich bags with either just water, kitchen roll and water, just soil, and soil and perlite mix. All seem to germinate but the latter seems to have yielded best results.
hi Mike, thanks for all the knowledge and the tips!!! These videos were very helpful!
Thanks, Paulla, glad they were helpful!
Wow,, love it, you have the patience and talent , great job
Thanks Jorge!
Great video I will try this year to plants the seeds of my maple Japanese tree
Awesome! Let us know how they turn out.
Muchas gracias Mike!!! This is one of my favorite tree, I going recollect some seeds this year and follow your directions, I hope I can lucky as you with all those beautiful trees,
I believe in you, John!
Hey man! I'm astounded with how well this method worked, though I'm curious about one thing. I have about 90 to 100 little sproutlings and I'm not sure whether I should take the lid off my tote or keep it on for now. What say you?
Seedling don't need a humid environment so I'd take the lid off.
Mike, thanks for these videos. My JM put out seedlings in the fall and I have 4 babies that have come up. My soil is mostly all clay. Is it safe to dig around these and put them in something better so they have a better chance at living? I found them Easter Sunday, I can't tell you how excited we are! Any particular potting mix?
If they're just small seedlings then it should be very safe to dig them up and transplant, just try to keep the roots intact. Any good draining potting soil will work.
Mike, I don't know if you view/reply to all the comments that come your way, but I'll give it a shot.
First, thanks for this particular series. I collected seed pods from my Bloodgood (I'm in central Cali), plus collected seeds from my sister's tree in Olympia and her neighbor's Laceleaf. Followed the instructions and have 18 seedlings from my tree - some of which are really doing well. No such luck with the others, though. Kinda bummed about the Laceleaf - I thought those look pretty cool. I've got my hands pretty full now - I rescued almost 90 seedlings that grew up under a green JM that we've had for six years or so. Having a freaking blast doing it, though!
Okay, a question. My Bloodgood is fully leafed out and is dropping seeds. Can I go ahead and immediately try to germinate them, or are they too fresh? If they're too fresh, how long should I do the refrigeration thing before trying to germinate?
Thanks much!
If it's dropping the seeds that are just starting to grow for the season then they aren't mature enough and won't germinate. Some varieties of maples can be germinated in summer but Japanese maples have to fully mature through the summer on the tree and then you can pick them in the fall and will have success. They need a long stratification period in the fridge, about 3 months but you can go longer if needed. In Cali, you probably won't need to wait any longer than 3 months. By the way, I'm pretty sure that laceleaf maples are sterile and the seeds won't ever germinate. You multiply them by grafting onto a standard rootstock.
Hi Mike, how long do you leave the lid on for? At what stage development?
Love the videos! Thank you!
Once the seedlings start popping through the surface I pull the lid off. You really don't want a lid for more than a week or so, just long enough to keep the surface of the soil moist until they germinate. You may need to protect from birds with a wire cage around them. I've learned the hard way.
Hey Mike, just started following and I’m loving your channel! I have a question that you have likely answered a million times but what is a good source for the for bark that you use? Size pieces and what not? I live in Southern Oregon but have never inquired about fir bark for germination or cutting propagation purposes. Thanks buddy!
Glad you love the channel! Not sure if you've seen it yet but here's a video about the bark I use: ruclips.net/video/_9k0gV-KrSk/видео.html I pick it up from a local landscape supply store by the dump truck load. You should have no problem finding the fine fir bark in Oregon since our logging industry is pretty much all the same in this part of the country.
Mike Kincaid thank you so much! I’ve always been an avid gardener but you have inspired me to do much more.
I have mine started in 10x20 seed trays with a cover. So far they are looking good. Do you think they can grow in that environment until next year before I replant them? Only a few inches of depth with the soil. I should have used a tote like yours. Will I have to move them sooner?
In a years time the roots will grow up to a foot long. Those seed trays will work fine as long as the seeds aren't planted in individual cells in the trays, but an open tray should be ok.
Mike Kincaid it is an open tray. Thanks!
Hi Mike. Thanks for all the great videos. I'm planning to start germinating my maple seeds today so wish me luck. Just one question do you need to water these seedlings once they germinate and how much and how often. Thanks
Yes, keep the soil moist. You don't want the seedlings to dry out. That's very important when they first germinate, until they get enough size on them to be able to withstand a tougher environment.
@@MikeKincaid79 Thanks
Thanks, it been very helpful, blessings!!!
Hey Mike, really like your videos. I am from the pacific north west as well and have collected a bunch of Japanese maple seeds from trees around town. I have accumulated a few different varieties, what I am wondering is if this method of germinating seeds applies to different Japanese trees with the same seed structure, but different species. Also, how often/how much water are you watering the seedlings?
It applies to all maples, in fact, there is a guy in our Facebook group who collected a whole bunch of different varieties of maple seeds last year and they all germinated. I water the seedlings as often as I water my rhododendrons in the hoop house which ends up being about once a month in winter and once a week to daily in the summer, depending on how hot it is.
Hi Mike! I haven't seen you and Shelly in years, but thought you looked familiar. My husband and I would see you and Shelly at the bird show in Oregon. I saw your video on starting Japanese Maples from seeds. I have red and green ones and they get many seeds every year. Your videos will be very helpful to get some trees started. Do you have any idea how I can start Southern Magnolias from seeds or is it possible to start them from cuttings? By the way, Henry is a very handsome 🐓 rooster! Good luck to you and your family for your early retirement!
Yeah, I totally remember you guys! It's been a long time. Are you still into cockatiels? I no longer have the birds but would love to build a bird room and get back into it eventually. Our 2 girls (9 and 11) are always asking me to get back into birds again. So glad you found the channel! I have an obsession with plants and love everything associated with them. Shellie and I have been building this small nursery and landscaping our place for the past 14 years now. Anyway, to answer your question, yes, Southern Magnolia can be propagated by cuttings. They are taken as semi-hardwood cuttings starting in the next week or so and into September. I've been meaning to do a video on these and haven't gotten to it yet but maybe it's time to get my butt in gear and get it done, haha. Hope you guys are doing well and glad to hear from you.
Hi Mike! It was really great hearing from you after so many years! Yes, we still have our cocktails and ringneck parakeets. I am no longer using them for breeding purposes because my husband has been battling cancer and I just done have time. Plus, I am getting ready to have my first knee surgery next week. Hopefully, the other knee will be replaced in about 4 weeks. It's been a difficult time. So sorry to hear about your accident. We share the same interests. I love plants and experimenting with them. We have 5 acres, which at least 3 acres is lawn and flowerbeds. I can hardly wait till I can get back to work. One thing you may be interested in is our native dogwoods. They bloom 3 times a year with huge creamy white flowers. I throw the clusters of seeds into my flowerbed and they have started. You could do wonders with your knowledge of plants. Please, tell Shellie hi and I hope you and your family have been well and happy! Take care and have fun with your nursery!
I forgot to tell you that your videos are great! Your humor is great! Your personality adds to your videos. You made me laugh many times! I'm glad i found your video about Japanese Maples too! You're better off without Johnny! Its nice you are protective of your family and now you have Henry. He is gorgeous! Patches would have been a great name for him! 💚
Oh ok. So this just for Seeds I can buy or find? Maybe if you had time you could do a video on how to run a nursery business or if you know a good book or web site. Thank you for your help.
Every nursery is different and started under different circumstances but the best advice I can give is to just start and learn as you go. I am planning a 3rd video that will be for sale that will explain everything I know about making money selling plants from home.
Hi Mike! At what point, if any, while in the totes do you fertilize them? I have not seen that addressed in any of your videos up until they are moved to 1 gal. pots. Thank you!
I think I mentioned it in one of the videos. I fertilize with a slow release fertilizer once the seedlings get their first true set of leaves.
Is the miracle grow potting mix good for raising the seedlings meaning putting the seeds in that kinda soil after u take them out of the bag
Yes, miracle grow potting mix will work.
Thanks for these videos, Mike!
After the first fall, can these stay inside for the winter or do they need to be in a colder environment like an overwintering situation as is done with bonsai? Thanks.
My seeds have just germinated and looking forward to eventually using these as bonsai.
Leave them outside and let them go into their natural dormancy.
Hi Mike
Writing from Denmark. Thanks for the fantastic videos on Japanese maples.
I have followed your recommendations and I am now one year behind - with seeds in the fridge😄. When did you remove the lid of the plastic container? And did you supply water, fertilizer or something else before the removal (apart from the watering you showed in the video during the planting of the seeds)? And do you fertilize the plants until autumn?
My son is going to Tokyo in a few weeks, and immediately his selfish dad was thinking of Japanese maple seeds😬 Would you happen to know where to send him to get some?
I've never been to Japan so not sure where to find seeds. As far as the seedlings I have, I removed the lid slowly (over a few days) after the first set of true leaves opened up. I fertilized about a week later with a slow release fertilizer that lasts all Summer. I watered regularly through the Summer, about once a week.
Mike Kincaid thanks a lot for the fast and detailed answer. I really appreciate it.
So I got japanese maples coming in currently, since its going to be 90 days before I can do anything should I wait until next year? Or should I grow inside with my 600w full spec grow light set up for the first winter?
That's entirely up to you. You can go either way and I've seen great results from indoor and outdoor growing.
Ok. Sounds encouraging. Thank you so much
Hi there was a JM tree and there where seedlings all ready growing so I took one do I need to do all the things you need to when they are seeds or do I just let it grow
They need to stratify through the winter.
so once they sprout up they no longer need to be kept covered then right? and have you watered it again since that initial germination watering? Wonderful videos thank you so much! :)
They actually don't need a covering at all. Seeds have everything they need to germinate and grow. The cover just keeps the surface of the soil moist until they germinate and also holds a little warmth in there. Yes, get the cover off as soon as they start germinating.
@@MikeKincaid79 awesome! Thank you so much for replying to me! 😊 I’ll be trying this technique this fall - very excited
All the best!
Mike,
Thanks for the videos. Very helpful! So once you take the Japanese red maples out of the tote does it matter if you put them in one or two gallon pots? I'd like to be able to sell them so I want them to look nice and be healthy. Also, do I need to worry about critters getting to them if I leave them outside? Thank you for your time.
I pot them up in 1 gallon pots but any size will work. Eventually you'll have to repot them to bigger pots if you don't sell them right away. They will look great and be healthy in a 1 or 2 gallon pot but after about 3 years you'll want to replant or you'll have a bonsai. I've never had any problems with animals bothering the maples. Mine are outside and they are doing just fine.
If I collect the seed pods in late July, will it still work. They are completely dry. Should I add a little dampened fine bark to the ziplock bag in the refrigerator?
Hi sir are you from Massachusetts? I was looking for a Japanese maple tree but they are all pretty expensive I’m trying to find where can i get seeding that already germinate do you have a farm here in Massachusetts can i buy some that thank you
I'm in Washington state. I don't sell seeds but it you look around your local area, I'm sure you'll find some.
Well I hit something that I think posted my comment. But I didn't get my questions asked. What is the best time to pick these pods? What size is that container that you used to start the seeds in? Thanks for all your videos and all the information.
Hey Kitty, I pick the seeds in the fall around the end of November when the leaves are starting to fall from the tree. The container size isn't that important but mine is about 2 feet long by 8 inches wide and about 6 inches deep. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the information. Very helpful!
no problem, glad to help
Thank you for the great video!
You're welcome Debbie!
Thank you for your help. So do you recommend urinating on the seeds in the tote? And do you know where I could get some inexpensive 1-2 gallon pots? Any books or videos you recommend to get started growing trees? Thank you
The one book I recommend is 'Teaming with Microbes'. It's a great book for soil knowledge and will help you understand what makes plants thrive. I usually find nursery pots on Craig's List pretty cheap. Sometimes people have them on offer up or Facebook in buy and sell sections. You can usually find 1 gallon pots for 10 cents and 2 gallon for 20 cents.
Good job, I'm going to try your way.
Awesome! Let us know how it turns out.
The possible reason why some of it are green is because the parent tree was possibly a grafted tree mixed with the Japanese green maple variety which is extremely valuable in the bonsai world!!!
I'd love to have a green leaf japanese maple some day.
Mike Kincaid look up Japanese mountain maple
Ok mine are popping up now I've got the same question do I pull the lid off now that they are popping up now
Yes!
Its June here and I noticed my Japanese maple tree had pinwheels on it. My question is, I cut a few pinwheel off the tree and they appeared to be ready to fall off the tree. Can I germinate these seeds? they look green and burnished red and healthy and of course it's not November like you suggested. I do live in on the East Coast. Please advise
Nice...think I'll try this out... thx
I just bought some bonsai seeds, maple, can they be cultivated before spring?
You can germinate them in the winter after about a 3 to 4 month stratification period. I'm always skeptical when people advertise them as "bonsai seeds". There is no such thing. Any plant can be made into a bonsai through proper training but no tree will grow into a bonsai on its own. If you don't train the seedlings, they'll eventually grow to 20 feet tall.
Mine sprouted really nice. Nice all of them with pair of real leaves. Stems are arround 2 inches. But what concerns me is the fact they may become LEGGY if they are not now.
They are inside next towindow. I started to put them outside few hours then bring them back.
Temperatures these days here arround 10-15 celsius. Not much sun these days.
Any advices and is that legginess problem at all?
It's all about the lighting. If you're getting legginess then more light is the cure. Try a fluorescent bulb right over top of them.
Can this plant grow in tropical climate?
Never tried but I think it needs a certain amount of cold weather every year to do well.
Ok thank you for your advice
Would it be ok if I bring them in the house and take the container top off until I get the cage built
Yes, just make sure you have lighting on them.
Mike Kincaid we do what does the temperature need to be set on so it’s not to hot
i love how you just grow in unbroken down stuff lol what are you using for fertiliser besides liquid gold?
I have a video of the fertilizer I use here: ruclips.net/video/F5BRZwFEe50/видео.html
Do you just leave them in the tote outside all winter? Or do you bring them inside for winter?
Leave them outside.
Hola, lindo video, quisiera saber cómo y donde puedo conseguir semillas de este árbol de maple, pero que de verdad nazcan. Soy de El Salvador.
No vendo mis semillas, pero sigo buscando en línea y puede encontrar a alguien que lo haga.
Last question on here. I was just wondering if you're a nurse or doctor. I'm an NP so I was just curious. Thanks
I'm an RN. What tipped you off?
Hey I’ve got mushrooms growing in my soil with my Japanese maples... is this something I should be concerned about?
Not as long as the tree looks healthy. It's just an indication that you've got plenty of fungus throughout your soil which will help build the soil and support the tree. Things can take a turn for the worse if the tree is unhealthy and then the fungus will decompose the tree but I don't try to use pesticides and herbicides to rectify the situation. I just figure that's the way nature intended it and plant another tree.
Mike Kincaid okay Im about 3 months into planting them in a similar pot as you did and have over 100 growing of all different varieties! They look pretty healthy from what I can see. Do you have any ideas of where I could reach out to to sell them the coming spring? Websites or groups I may be unaware of?
There are a lot of groups on Facebook, just type in buy and sell plant groups and pick a few. You can also sell on Ebay.
Mike Kincaid cool thanks a lot!
Ok. That'll be great. Thank you
hello, thanks for these videos, how about dry seeds? is the process similar? i can't find anywhere fresh seeds.. and i was thinking on buying dry ones..
You will get some success with dry seeds but not as much. Here's a video I did about it: ruclips.net/video/gH2PnHa_39M/видео.html
Hi Mike, I've had some maple seeds (20+ bags of different varieties) in the fridge since January. In March one lot started shooting and I now have about 20 Kyushu Maple seedlings which I'm very proud of (first ones I've ever grown!) But nothing doing with the other bags of seeds. What should I do with them? Leave them and wait, put in seed trays or just throw away now?
I would plant them now in a plastic tote and place in some sun to warm the planting medium, if they sprout, move them to about 50% shade. Congratulations on your success with the Kyushu seeds!
Thanks for the advice. I'll do that 😀
Hey Mike, how much sun do these japanese maples need when developing the first true leaves? Do I put them in direct sun light? Greetings from Argentina.
Not full sunlight. Put them in shade until they get started. I leave mine in 50% shade for the first year.
Do you what Japanese Maple tree variety that you got them from is? I was also wondering how tall these get after the first year of germination.
They get 8 to 12 inches the first year. Not sure of the exact varieties these seeds came from.
@@MikeKincaid79 Thanks for all of your help with the videos and the quick response. Have a great day!
Im guessing me pulling off the wings and just shoving ghem into some dirt wont produce anything lol.
When is the best time to first plant them after keeoing in frige?
Late winter, once the danger of frost has passed.
@@MikeKincaid79 so if i just put them in soil now, nothing will happen?
Good Morning Mike My name is Jay. My question is how often are you watering these? Thank you for your time! Also, Great job by the way!
Thanks Jay! I water these every time I water my other plants in the hoop house which is about once every other day in the summer but tapers off to about once every 2 weeks in the winter while they're dormant.
Thank you for that important information. I live here in Sacramento, CA. Recently bought a house with a what seems to be an dwarf Japanese maple, right out in the open front lawn. Did some research and found out that it should have been planted around or near the house or other plants. Being that its the summer and it gets over 100 degrees Fahrenheit here, I tried watering it more often but it doesn't seem to help much. The leaves are drying out and turning red orange color, sun dried is you will. I really love this tree its one of my favorites, is there any way I can save this little guy? Any recommendations would highly be appreciate.
You might need even more water. Over 100 degrees is pretty hot for Japanese maples and they need cool moist soil. You can also try putting down a 6 inch layer of mulch around the tree to keep the roots cool and moist.
Hi mike love your videos,find them a great help to me just becoming green fingerd.can you help me i have an acer palmatum which is growing nicely,but i have a couple of thick brances where the leaves are completely different to what they should be they only seem to have 4 points and there green with white border,i havent a clue why or whats going on,look forward to your reply.gary
I'm not an expert on all the different Acer problems. You might get a better answer by asking your question in a group that is specifically about Japanese maples. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
@@MikeKincaid79 Thankyou for your quick response,and i look forward to many more of your vids,👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Mike, so trying to germinate Japanese Maples from seeds again this year how often do you water these?
Whenever they need it. I water on the same schedule as my rhododendrons, about once a week in the beginning but eventually every day when the weather is hot.
@@MikeKincaid79 Hey Mike, hi from Toronto Canada, so trying to germinate Japanese Maples from seeds again this year, and they got to about 2" and now dry off :(, i do water them once a week , i do not know what i'm wrong die off please help thank you from Nelson
Mike,
Do you ever ship your trees?
If so what is the cost and do you or the customers pay for it? Thank you.
I've shipped rhododendrons but never trees, however, I've had a lot of request for the red maple trees so this winter I will be shipping them. I haven't decided a price yet and the customer will pay shipping. In my experience with shipping plants, it will probably be around 10 dollars but I may be a little off on that. Do you have any suggestion for price of the little trees?
You've taken this video in segments, at which point do you leave the top off the container?
After they start getting their first true leaves.
thank you!!
HI Mike, I see a couple grainy looking things on the soil. Is that fertilizer?
Yep, slow release. Same stuff I use for my rhododendrons.
Hello!
New to the channel! My mother and I recently noticed her tree had seedlings. We did pull the dirt with the new growth and put it in it's own little pot. Do you suggest we keep it indoors untill it gets bigger near a window or should we keep the little guy outside morning sun and evening shade. Or should we out them in a plastic container like u did in this video untill it's gets established? She has the green thumb. I however can just look at a plant and it could possibly die. Lol so she is taking care of them. We are located in Northern California, so our summers can get up to triple digit's. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance
I would keep them in the same environment they were originally in but maybe give a little more shade. Plants always do better outdoors in natural light and I try to get mine outside as soon as possible every spring.
Okay great! Thank you
thanks a lot
I'm going to try and plant in Israel.
Is a cooler climate necessary throughout his life or just for germination?
I think you will be able to grow them in Isreal if you plant the tree in a shaded location and water well through the summer.
eyy Hi !!. nice videos!! i got a question, what temperature you have there? bless from Puerto Rico.
It's around 60 degrees F during the day and in the 30's at night.
Thanks Bro. Here is hard. Like 90 at the day or 80 and at the night 69 or 70. Well I will try aniway. I got a lot of seed that I buy from omcseeds.com them looks cool but the temperature is a problem 4 me. Lets see. Thak u men. Bless
Man I'm jealous of your temps. You could grow all kinds of tropical plants there.
Mike Kincaid I doit jeje but I what maples and all those beautiful trees. lets change positions for a year jajjaaj. well u have all that I whant and maybe I have a lot of tropical trees that u whant. so its weird but is like that. thanks men. appreciate and sorry about my English couse I speak better in spanish. but still. I try. I love Bonsai World and everything that looks exotics like the maples, think about it. if u send me some trees I send u some of these species. . God bless u and keep it 100. :)
here is my email send me yours. soufresh@gmail.com. lets talk business :)
Hey. Im trying to get my japanse maple seeds to germitate in my fridge. But right now we're having a really hot spring here in Norway where it's upwards of 80f during the day, and 55f at night. Do you think the seeds will survive this heat? :)
Yes, but when you plant them, make sure it's in a shady location with no direct sun and they should be fine. They'll probably love the warm weather. Also, you don't need to wait for them to germinate in the fridge. It's late enough in the spring now to just plant them out and the warm weather will wake them up.
Damn I love these videos!
Awe, thanks Adriel!
So u take them out of the bag the flowing winter or spring
yes
Thank you
Do you have to leave them in the container for a year meaning let’s say u put them in the container right before spring in 2019 and take them out in right before spring in 2020 do u have to leave them in the container that long
Yes, I leave them in the container for a year after they germinate, and then pot them up in the early spring while they are dormant.
What month do the true leaves start to show? I'm in the UK. Thanks 😊
A few weeks after they germinate.
Question, When do you take the lid off and leave it off?
Once the seedlings get tall enough to almost hit the top and they start getting their second set of true leaves. The lid really isn't necessary for seedlings and can be removed at any time. The purpose of it was to just help slightly boost the warmth around the seeds and help them germinate a little faster and more assuredly.
Do you put drain holes in bottom of tote container?
Yes, you got the answer, Lol.
Hi, my daughter bought seeds on the internet and now I have plants in this size, how should I keep them in the winter....I live in Sweden, so it's pretty cold some days. Can I have them in flowerpots all the year? So I can bring them inside?
Maples grow in cold climates so I don't think you'll have any problem leaving them outside. Mine sit in pots outside and freeze hard as a rock in the winter but look just great every spring.
Was just in the northwest in Oregon and collected some japanese red maple tree seeds this month of June. Are they mature seed at this time? Do I have to wait for November to collect those seeds? I live in the Southwest and wanted to germinate from seeds for Bonsai specimen.
Unfortunately the seed isn't ripe until late fall. Maybe you can make the trip back in November.
Thanks, I will try to do that I have a brother in Auburn & have a real tiny skinny japanese red maple tree I will see if I can get him to gather seeds in November for me. Thanks for the information, appreciate it much.
Is it true if maples drop their seeds in spring or early summer... you can sow them immediately? Fall time you have to cold stratify?
When they drop early, it's because they aren't viable seeds. They need to fully ripen on the tree just like fruit.
Like for example right now there is no seeds on the Japanese maples around my apartment complex but there was in summertime.
Mike, I just stumbled onto your videos, and I'm freaking pumped!
I live in central California and have a green Japanese Maple and a Bloodgood Maple. This spring I pulled up about 25 seedlings that sprouted underneath the green maple and transplanted them into a few large pots. I've got 14 left (I think). A few of them are growing like crazy.
I love that you say, pretty much, that we shouldn't take this too seriously - all we're trying to do is mimic nature.
So my next project is to try harvesting seeds from my Bloodgood. I started collecting them last week, and will continue to do so over the next couple of months. I can't wait to see how this turns out!
Thanks for putting these videos together. I think I subscribe to just one other guy - you're gonna be the second.
Cheers.
Awesome! Thanks for subscribing and so glad to hear your having fun with this. I can feel the excitement in your words!
Mike, what medium can I use for this? I have never seen fine fir bark for sale anywhere here in TN. What is another good mix or medium, homemade or purchased? If homemade, could you suggest relative parts? Thanks!
You can use potting soil for seeds. Just don't overwater.
@@MikeKincaid79 Thanks, Mike. I'm watching Part 5 now. What is the potting soil you use? What I can find here has too much peat in it and thus tends to do poorly with maples and plants needing well-drained soil.
I live in the pacific northwest where logging is a big industry and fir tree bark is a byproduct so I have access to massive amounts of fir bark mulch. I use finely ground fir tree bark for potting soil.
At what point did you take the lid off? I have some in individual cups in a tote and some are coming up faster than others. I would like to remove them to make room for other plants I want to propagate, but am not sure how tall they should be before I do that. TIA
You actually don't need the lid once the seedlings germinate because they are already growing on their own roots. If you have the lid on now and there is a lot of humidity then you'll want to slowly acclimate them to less humidity over a couple days.
@@MikeKincaid79 thank you! Just as I was reading your comment, I remembered you saying to acclimate, on multiple occasions. 😆🙃 Thank you for taking the time to respond, I really do appreciate it.
where can I get some of these kind of seeds?
Did you keep the lid on the container the entire time? Great video!
I kept the lid on just until the majority of them started sprouting. 1.) to make sure the surface of the medium and seeds didn't dry out before they germinated, and 2.) to keep a more even warm temperature at the surface where the seeds were so that they would germinate more quickly and reliably. I probably only had the lid on for a couple weeks.
Thanks dude! Awesome information. I get access to my glass greenhouse this weekend. I have about 50 Redbud tree seeds germinating, and some other projects planned, so excited. Appreciate the info!
That's pretty cool about the redbud seeds. I've been looking for redbud trees for awhile now. Nobody seems to have them in my area. What state do you live in?
I am in Ohio now, but collected them in North Carolina.
I will be selling them if successful.
I live in southern QLD Australis which is a Hot dry summer, warm winter area how would these go
I think they prefer a certain number of cold months through the winter but give them a try. Also, if you're in a hotter climate there are some really cool plants you can grow that I can't such as plumeria, palms, etc.
Would it be ok to put them in a storage building and take the lid off
You need light for them to grow
Hi Mike. Im louis. from Bs As. i just wondering what kind of soil for the red acer or green is best. thz n_n
They grow best in well draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Plant them in whatever soil you have and then lay down a 6 inch layer of compost or mulch and the worms will do the rest.
Aren't you going to run out of headroom in the tote over the time that you plan to leave them in the tote? What about heat in the tote over the summer?
You're right, I didn't answer that question in the video. After the seedlings all sprouted, I just took the lid off and left it off for good so no worries about headroom. The only reason the lid was there at all was to keep the surface moist and help warm the soil long enough for the seeds to sprout. Now that they're all growing I will just leave them in the tote and water once a week or so through the summer. They'll probably get about a foot tall this summer. Then in the winter after they harden off, I'll pull them out and pot them up into 1 gallon containers. Updates to follow. Thanks for the question and I'm glad you asked!
Direct or indirect sun/partial shade or shade?
I have mine in the hoop house which is covered with 50% shade plastic. If you don't have that, the best place to set the tote is on the north side of a building where it will get as much sky light as possible but no direct sun. You could also place it under a tree that provides around 50% shade.
Makes sense. Thanks.
I would sell the little trees for around $10 to $12 for a 2 year old seeding. That's the price I've come across most often. So if I want a Japanese Red maple I have to graft a branch from one and let it grow two years before I sell it? Could I take several grafts from one tree? Maybe buy a few Japanese red maples and propagate from those trees? I really have no idea what I'm doing. I just want to be my own boss and I love being outside so trees seem like a great idea for me.
Trees are a fantastic idea! I just did some research on pricing and found prices pretty close to what you're suggesting, from $6 to $15 for a 2 year old seedling but what I found was interesting. The prices aren't for grafted plants, they are just seedlings which is what I have. You get a lot of deep red but you also get some lighter reds as well due to genetic variation. If you had a grafted red maple like a bloodgood and grew it for 2 more years, I'll bet you could get close to $50 for it.
Ok man, I got some "true red maple seeds" in the mail a few days ago and today Nov 1st- 17 I am putting them in water for a short time (2Hrs) and then put them in p-bag then frig till April , then we will see.
Let us know how it goes. Were the seeds dry when you got them?
yes they were.
I'm curious to see how well they sprout. If you haven't seen yet, I just started a Facebook group where we can all come together and share our plant propagation experiments. Check it out: facebook.com/groups/346884795717132/
Hi Mike. What is that salt and pepper little stones that appears at 1:49 min?
Are you still leaving the lid on during this phase 3?
I kept it over the seedlings but propped it up so that air flow could get in there.
My pic on left is what I really want to try, Blue maple bonsai
Wow, is that a Japanese maple. I didn't know they came with a blue color. That's beautiful.
I live in a very hot country and I want to order and germinate Japanese maple seeds. Any advice? Because I can’t let them in a green house or a container because as I said before it’s very hot. The only way I can keep them cold is by putting them in a refrigerator but there isn’t any light for them, can you please help me
They may be the wrong plant to grow in your climate. Even if you get them germinated, will they grow there?
how often are you watering?
There are holes in the bottom of this tote so I just water them every time I water the rest of the plants in the hoop house which ends up being about every other day.
Did you keep the lid on between shots?
Yes
And is it ok if they get wet by the rain we have a storm coming Wednesday and Thursday here with a lot of rain
Keep them out of the rain. You want to be able to control the amount of water they get. The rain could flood them out. Do you have a porch they can sit on?
Yes I do
sorry to bug you man but I know where a red maple tree is in northeast Alabama, I guess you wouldn't know when the seeds fall, would it be in November?
You can bug me all you want. The seeds are ripe in the fall. I'm not sure when exactly that is in your area but it will probably be around November/December. Watch for the leaves and a few seeds to start dropping and then it's time to pick seeds.
Thank you very much, so far you have gave me the best info.
No problem my friend
i want to plant maple trees but i don't even know if i can plant it here or not in my town coz i never seen one around here. i am thinking of buying the seed online ( i want to know your comments specially on buying the seeds online from amazon). even if i could buy the seeds online it good to plant them now i mean its already spring here.
Where are you located? I wouldn't trust dried seeds from Amazon but if that's all you can get and the price is right then give it a try.
Mike Kincaid hey thanks for the reply. i am from Manipur, north- east India. as i was saying i never seen a maple tree here before and amazon is my only way to get it so am gonna give a try
That's all you can do, just see what happens. Let me know how it works out.
Mike Kincaid okay
Hello, dear friend! Tell me when is it better to shoot the seeds of ripe Japanese maple Inaba Shidare?
I'm not familiar with that particular variety but if I was going to start the seeds, I'd use the same method and times.
Mike Kincaid, tell me, do they need to be dried? A friend of mine will send these seeds to me by mail from Germany to Russia.
I answer all those questions in Part 1. You don't want to let them dry out. Have your friend collect them when ripe and place them in a plastic bag when he sends them to you so they stay moist.
Is it natural for the wings to fall off after the first few leaves come on
By the time you have leaves, the seed pot should be off the seedling.
Mike Kincaid ok that’s the wings right the seed pot
Is it natural for the wings to turn yellow before they fall of
Mike, you know, a continuous video of these little maples from seed to where they are now, would be nice to see. I guess I'm thinking of a time exposure of them, is this possible ?
We're thinking on the same wavelength, Reg. I've been wanting to do time lapse photography with the rhododendron blooms for a few years now and the seeds would be a natural addition to this. Only problem is I don't have the right camera equipment. Eventually, I plan to save up and do this.
Funny, but as I was writing my comment, I was also thinking about the need for different camera(s) too.
Anyway Mike, you keep making those videos the way they are, I'll be here to watch what you have.
Cheers!