I received a fantastic box of 4 different seeds with soil and plotting containers.

My Pinus Aristata have started to sprout and are roughly 2.5 inches tall. The pot (more like a lined hemp bag) that they are in is about the size of an average coffee mug. My concern is that the pot is getting overly crowded, and I may need to either trim some of the plants so others can grow larger, or separate them from each other into their own pots. Obviously I am very novice in the art of creating a Bonsai from seeds, but I have cared for a tree for over five years now.

I have attached a few pictures here for reference. Any help will be much appreciated, because I love these little things and am very much so looking forward to caring for them over the next few decades.

Congrats on getting healthy seedlings!

Looking at this I see a few things:

- The pots are crowded, but not overly yet. As long as they get full sun, they will be fine for a bit. I would not repot untill the stems have started to grow woody (turn brown). At that point they can take a lot more than now.
- The pot sits in a larger container with, it seems, high walls. This will obstructu airflow and may result in fungal problems
- The soil used is fully organic. Here you have a risk over overwatering. Certainly pines are sensitive to this. So ensure you let the soil dry in a bit before watering.

You do keep this outside, right?

Thank you for the response.

- Firstly the plants are inside right now because of the harsh weather we have in Chicago. It is currently about 35 degrees outside, and I think that may be too cold for outdoor growth.
- The container they are in has walls that come up about .5 inches from the pots themselves. But I have a fan going inside to maintain airflow, and havent seen any major signs of mold growth yet.
- With regard to watering I have been maintaining moisture through the use of a very "mist" spray bottle, and pouring water when the soil becomes dry about .5inces down.

3 questions arrise:
- Should I trim some of the seedlings to allow for a few to grow stronger, or will they have enough room for all to get "brown" and "woody" trunks/stems?
- Secondly, should I move the pots outside even if the temperature will be below 65 degrees F for the next month or so?
- Third, should I remove the pots from their container to increase airflow even though the edge isn't much higher than the pots themselves?

Thank you so much for you response I was getting a little stressed about their condition.

I think you'll be fine as is.
Next time, I would recommend sowing them outside. Then, when spring arrrives, the seeds wil germinate and you get the shortest stems