I have collected some larch cones, picked out the seeds and plan on sowing them. Can i sow them in generic bonsai soil or do they need a specific soil mix?
Also, do i sow them into the soil, or place a layer of soil then put the seeds and another layer of soil? Or onto the surface?

Generic bonsai soil. Didnt know that exists. But any bonsai soil should be used for bonsai, not for seeds, seadlings or young plants. Use bonsai soil on bonsai, use soil for sowing or for cactii and succulents for sowing and use any organic mix for young trees.

...what happens in nature?

For sowing seeds I use half common organic soil, and half river sand, that helps the young fine roots to spread.
Sometimes even pure rough sand... Any fluffy soil will help roots to develop, but there's no need for fancy soils at this stage.
And I always cover them a bit, just to mantain them humid.

This Eugenia Uniflora (Pitangueira or Brazilian Cherry) seedlings for example, I used only rough sand, and so far about 80% success on this batch.


Jacarandás on 50/50 (Organic/Sand).

Albas: that is excactly whats in the product called sowing and cactii mix here. Other places may different.

Oh yes Tropfrog, by fancy soils I meant those Bonsai soil mixes, with akadama, pumice, etc...

In the end, the seeds do not really care what substrate is used. Aim is to kee the seed moist, as long as they are not swimming / drowning. Normally you sow the seeds in the soil, I typically fill a pot with substrate, puts seeds and then add another half cm, cm of substrate on top.

Thank you for all the help!

leatherback wrote: In the end, the seeds do not really care what substrate is used. Aim is to kee the seed moist, as long as they are not swimming / drowning. Normally you sow the seeds in the soil, I typically fill a pot with substrate, puts seeds and then add another half cm, cm of substrate on top.

I mentioned apple seeds in another post. I put them in a mixture half small lava rock and half perlite, and half sprouted. Since then they have done fine. I have been careful to fertilize, mof course.

As lb says, they don't care how they get water and nutrition.

Many people use cocopeat because it is more conducive for seedlings since it tends to allow for aeration, water retention and has anti fungal properties. It’s too premature for bonsai soil.