Ok, Im completely new to bonsai. When I say completely new I mean I have 0 knowledge or experience with anything pertaining to bonsai lol. Just keep that in mind. Im very interested in learning all I can and I am fascinated with the art of bonsai so any help will be greatly appreciated. For my first bonsai I really want to get a japanese maple or red maple. Ive ordered 30 acer rubrum heirloom scarlett maple seeds and 10 japanese sakura cherry blossom seeds(I figured id try out more than one type of tree as im sure I will be unsuccessful at first). Any ideas on how I should germinate the seeds? What kind of soil/pots to use? Ive read it could take up to a year or 2 before any decent sized seedlings will form. So in the mean time I am also looking for some Japanese or Red maple 1-3 yr seedlings. I really would like one that keeps Red leaves year round (Ive read the bloodgoods are great Red color keepers). When/if I find a good seedling should i repot immediately after getting it? Basically Im looking for a detailed guideline on how someone with bonsai experience would go about purchasing their first bonsai knowing what they know now. After all, hindsight is 20/20 lol Please help me!!! Thanks, Steve

millerste10 wrote: Ok, Im completely new to bonsai. When I say completely new I mean I have 0 knowledge or experience
Ive ordered 30 acer rubrum heirloom scarlett maple seeds and 10 japanese sakura cherry blossom seeds.
(I figured id try out more than one type of tree as im sure I will be unsuccessful at first). Any ideas on how I should germinate the seeds? What kind of soil/pots to use? Ive read it could take up to a year or 2 before any decent sized seedlings will form. So in the mean time I am also looking for some Japanese or Red maple 1-3 yr seedlings. I really would like one that keeps Red leaves year round

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to answer your questions. Bonsai is a difficult art. It is just not possible to give detailed guidelines in a few words, on a forum, on how to grow bonsai trees, let alone to someone who doesn't even know - and apparently hasn't even bothered to look up - what a good way is to start with bonsai (loads of articles to be found on this subject), how to germinate seeds (numerous articles about that subject), what soil to use for seeds (countless pages to be found on that subject)... and what a deciduous tree is.

Do your own homework in stead of letting us do it for you.

Basically Im looking for a detailed guideline on how someone with bonsai experience would go about purchasing their first bonsai knowing what they know now

If I would buy my first bonsai knowing what I know now, I would buy the same tree as what I would buy now, wouldn't I - and it would not be a tree suitable for beginners.

That was very helpful. Thanks Asshole

millerste10 wrote: That was very helpful. Thanks Asshole

Agreeed.
THat was helpfull. And to help you get started read.. www.bonsaiempire.com/basics

While you grow from seed, go out and buy a plant. Any plant. And read. Auk is right. Learning how to grow bonsai takes years. Not a few lines on a forum.

Good plant for bonsai here: www.kaizenbonsai.com/italian-cypress-eve...n-bonsai-tree-ts1960 . But perhaps not the material to get started with. This is more robust, provided winter protection is given. www.kaizenbonsai.com/trident-maple-bonsai-tree-ts2485