I'm receiving seeds tomorrow, which I am very excited to plant! I purchased a small variety, but I'm most excited about the Sakura seeds. There used to be a cherry tree on the outside of my parents' house, and the flowers that bloomed were amazing every year. With that being said, I've been doing a lot of research online on how to germinate the seeds and nurture their growth, but I'm somewhat concerned about water. At first, according to what was said online, I was going to settle for tap water, but then I saw an article or two that said tap water can lead to health issues.

One site said distilled water, another site said distilled water is actually bad for the plant. One site said spring water, and another side said only if it's not chemically treated.

I feel like I'm at a loss

I understand rain water is recommended and probably the safest since it comes straight from nature itself, but I haven't figured out a way to reliably collect rain water. Could someone explain to a beginner such as myself, what water is *actually* safe to use? Or perhaps, am I slightly overthinking things?

Seeds are nothing to do with bonsai. As long as the water is wet it is fine

Tap water should be fine if rainwater isn't available

Tap water is not the same everywhere. The only way to know if your tap water is ok is getting an analyze from the water plant that supplies the water.

But if it is safe for human consumption, it is nost likelly ok for the tree.

If you are in the northern hemisphere you will need to be careful about seeds sprouting and winter. The seedlings need to be hardened off by the time cold weather gets to you but they will also need the dormant period winter gives them.

Do a little research about dormancy requirements, local weather, etc. You might want to save some seeds for spring.

Ivan Mann wrote:

If you are in the northern hemisphere you will need to be careful about seeds sprouting and winter. The seedlings need to be hardened off by the time cold weather gets to you but they will also need the dormant period winter gives them.

Do a little research about dormancy requirements, local weather, etc. You might want to save some seeds for spring.

And this is the right thing to worry about: When you plant your seeds. RIght now is not optimal for longivity of your seedlings. Plant the seeds to germinate in sync with spring. Water as needed. Make sure you do not try to grow them indoors. Unless everybody near you is worried about using tap water for their houseplants, there is no reason not to use it.

I am "lucky" enough to live in rainy Wales - I have two waterbutts connected to my guttering downpipe, and I use 50% rainwater (filtered though carbon and polyfilter) and 50% tap water (relatively soft here) for my 240 litre Amazon themed fish tank. When I do the weekly tank clean and water change I save the removed tank water in another waterbutt and use it on my "finished" bonsai (although of course there is really no such thing..!) and they seem to thrive on it. Raw material, pre-bonsai, and seedlings all get standard tap water.
Incidentally, and just to end on a gloomy note I heard on the radio news a couple of days ago that there is now NOWHERE on the planet whose rainfall does not contain traces of chemicals linked to causing cancer.
Have a great day everybody!

Rainy? there is a hosepipe ban in Wales!

Only in certain areas! We had the heatwave, but we seem to be back on track for yearly rainfall already...