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First of all, seeds have to be obtained; you can collect them from trees in your surroundings or you can choose to buy them in an (online) shop. Please note that there is no such thing as “Bonsai seeds” as Bonsai are created from normal trees.
If you collect seeds from trees growing in your local climate planting the seeds in autumn will do just fine, however, if you want to plant seeds out of the season (during springtime for example) or if you like to grow seedlings from trees not growing in your local climate stratification can be necessary. Stratification is the process of keeping seeds in the right circumstances (refrigerator) for a specific (specie-specific) amount of time before planting them. For beginners this might be a bit complicated, so it is advisable to select a tree species that is suitable for your climate and simply plant it in the autumn.
Where? Seeds like chestnuts and acorns are easy to find in the forest, seeds from conifers can be found inside pinecones. Once you collect the pinecones you need to store them in a warm place so they will release the seeds from between the scales.
When? The best time to sow seeds is the autumn, this way you follow nature’s time schedule and the young seedling will have a full summer to grow after germinating.
How? Step-by-step plan for sowing seeds:
1. Choose a pot roughly 15 cm (6’’) deep with a hole for drainage.
2. The bottom layer (roughly ¼ of the pot) should consist of fine gravel and akadama (a type of clay you can purchase from a bonsai specialist) in a ratio of ½ to ½.
3. On top of the bottom layer put akadama, fine gravel and potting compost mixed together in a ratio of ½ to ¼ to ¼. This layer should fill the pot up to roughly 3 cm (1’’) below the rim.
4. Put the seeds on top of the earth and place them 2 to 5 cm (about 1’’ - 2’’) apart, depending on the size of the seeds (see photo 1).
5. Cover the seeds with the same ground mixture used in step 3, (see photo 2).
6. Rinse a considerable amount of water over the seedbed, but be careful not to disturb the soil surface by using a fine nozzle.
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