I have always had a passion for the art of bonsai since I was little. I recently have acquired the funds to start growing some and have a bit more time now that my life has settled. I recently bought about 2000 JBP seeds, so as to not discourage myself when if I had bought 50 and none would grow, so I bought plenty to allow some room for failure. I have done my research and read up on many different techniques and variations on growing techniques, as well as experimenting with a few of my own. I first planted about 25 seeds, which not all germinated, so in actuality it was about 15. The ones that did germinate sprouted in the estimated times and grew up tall and lanky. they remained that way for about 3 weeks before wilting, all still green and vibrantly colored. About a week later they shriveled and died. 3 weeks after that I took another crack at it, this time planting 50. Only 6 sprouted and they grew quickly to 3 inches, long and lanky again. My ditz of a cat decided to gnaw on 3 of them, killing them. The other 3 remained still tall and lanky. Today they wilted yet again. I apparently have no clue as to what I'm doing and am desperately looking for answers or some possible growing techniques. If you have questions on anything specific, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'm willing to try anything to get these little seeds to grow and become beautiful little trees.

You are growing thenm outside I hope?

Please show what you use as substrate.
Do you have them in full sun?

sounds like a fungus issue

Justin21 wrote:

I have always had a passion for the art of bonsai since I was little. I recently bought about 2000 JBP seeds. I'm willing to try anything to get these little seeds to grow and become beautiful little trees.

Many people think that bonsai are created by growing a tree from seed and keeping it small. That is not correct.
Many bonsai growers, including myself, will at some point in time try growing trees from seeds, but this is a long term project - think decades.

For beginners, it will almost certainly lead to failure. You need to know fairly advanced techniques and how and when to apply them. You cannot learn these techniques using seedlings, you'd need to apply techniques you already master.

While you're waiting a lifetime for those pines, I recommend starting a cotoneaster, or ligustrum from cuttings to maintain the level of your enthusiasm. The growing rate of these is amazing, you'll enjoy watching them develop fast and have a decent starting material to practice on in 2 years with cotoneaster, and 3 with ligustrum.

good luck, but do as others say. buy a starter tree from a specialised nurcery..

note: i also grow some species from seeds.. but these are only used for grafting branches or roots..

I can't grow them outside just yet, as I have not yet made an environment to which the feral animals in my neighborhood will not eat or destroy. They do however spend most of the day in an open window.
I'm using a basic seed starting substrate, but with sterilized river sand on top to allow them to have a quick drainage layer, but getting some nutrients from the soil below.

I also realize how long this will take and that's one of the things I'm actually looking forward to. I have just recently turned 25, and I have (hopefully) a lot of time on my hands where I could be doing not only something constructive, but something I enjoy and can share with others. Decades doesn't bother me at all.

Justin21 wrote:

I can't grow them outside just yet, as I have not yet made an environment to which the feral animals in my neighborhood will not eat or destroy. They do however spend most of the day in an open window.
I'm using a basic seed starting substrate, but with sterilized river sand on top to allow them to have a quick drainage layer, but getting some nutrients from the soil below.

I also realize how long this will take and that's one of the things I'm actually looking forward to. I have just recently turned 25, and I have (hopefully) a lot of time on my hands where I could be doing not only something constructive, but something I enjoy and can share with others. Decades doesn't bother me at all.

Then you need to find an indoor tree, very few will do that.

Seeds are fun to play with, and learn from, but, ... You have wait for your seeds to grow up, then reduce it's size ...

It's an art of patience.

Find a ficus tree, they do "ok" inside.

Justin21 wrote:

I can't grow them outside just yet

Then start practicing patience and don't grow them.

I'm working on making a greenhouse area essentially, but until I do that I'm just curious as to what I may do to help them grow. I can get them to sprout with little problems, just maintaining them from there is my issue. I would like any tips or advice on how to grow them from seed, whether it's a specific soil mix, watering/fertilizing regimen, certain amounts of sun/shade,. I have the patience to wait 20 years even if it's only one pine. I want to get advice from experienced people and see if I might learn something or fix something I'm doing wrong. I want the satisfaction of growing my own from seed and I'm not worried about time.

Growing anything from seeds is going to be just about the same. I'd check with your local nursery or gardener for more info.

Seeds, like plants, enjoy it damp, not wet. If your growing medium stays wet, don't water so frequently - let it dry out some before watering again. Root growth is the same once sprouted: damp not wet. Good draining bonsai soil helps eliminate that problem. Holes in the bottom of the cup help, too. Try some tomato plants or other vegetables while you're at it - all sorts of growing adventures out there, and fruits of your labor will tide you over until you have a tree.

If you're starting them indoors, you'll have to acclimate them to being outside over a period of time ~ a week or so, otherwise they may shock. Then, leave them outside so they get sun, rain, and good air circulation (or start them outside to begin with). Misting helps in early stages.

Read up more on pines in general, not just on pine bonsai. To create a pine bonsai, you must have a pine. Study that.