This year I’m trying something new, sowing seeds for both my Japanese maple and acorns, in preparation for next season’s bonsai projects. I collected these seeds myself from a tree I’ve had for some time (it was sold as a Shishigashira maple, though I’m pretty sure it isn’t that variety, and yes, I’ve learned. The Shishigashira maple has been my absolute favourite tree long before I got into bonsai or built the garden.

The Mother Maple Tree

The current tree is still young, and in its first years it didn’t produce any seeds. Then recently it started to give seeds two years in a row, then skipped another two.

I tried cold stratification many times. I did the “water float test,” layered chilling periods, and ended up with around 300 seeds going to waste. So I figured there must be a more natural, simpler method that works better for me.

This video is showing the wooden box and the seedlings. And it also shows the seeds from the last year sowed 2023 and a batch 2024 comming from this mother tree that was bought as shishigashira japanese maple. But is indeed something else let me know if you do know the spiecies.

My experiment: sowing seeds in a wooden box Outdoor method

Here’s the process

So I figured to do a test with some wooden boxes one in the open and one with some mosquito net buy it cheap on amazone super cheap reasons for this was that I do not want animals going in there we have a lot of birds that like to dig stuff out.

So the first year there where 3 seeds coming out. I kept the boxes all year at the same place outside and the next year which is this year I have around 10 good seedlings and repotted them in containers where I keep my cuttings ( those do well at that place in the garden) It looks like it can take some years for them to sprout.

I refreshed the soil in the boxes and created the same mosquito greenhouse for them. I did I think 50 seeds in there. I also did boxes in a plastics greenhouse and well that also did not work for me but looking to maybe optimize this. But at the moment I do not have enough seeds and well I know my own seeds can germinate so I test those first. Maybe If this goes well, well I will next year put some bought seeds in same way and than maybe check if those also work.

Here Some wooden boxes you can buy in amazone for multiple use

I did also put some acorns in it since well its a native tree and I want some of those in the collection I have 2 at the moment one coming out of a willow growing there most likely some years this oak has super small leaf already so Wonder if I grow a seeding in a small space from start if that will make a nicer smaller leaf oak Bonsai ( and somehow oaks are so hard to get out of the ground so I figure to try and germinate them myself ) I will Update on this as soon I see or not see little seedlings 🙂

1. I boughta couple of wooden boxes: one left open, the other covered with cheap mosquito netting (window net style) to keep out birds and other critters.
2. I placed them outside in the same spot all year long. I didn’t move them around, so the seeds experienced the full seasons.
3. First attempt: just 3 seedlings emerged, but I kept faith.
4. Next year: about 10 good seedlings showed up! I moved them into containers where I keep my cuttings, a place of the garden that works well for me.
5. This current autumn: I refreshed the soil in the boxes and built the mosquito net greenhouse again, sowed about 50 more seeds. I also placed some boxes in a plastic greenhouse (which didn’t work for me yet). I’ll keep tweaking that.

Why I prefer this outdoors, simple setup

• Birds and animals dig, scratch and disturb seeds, the mosquito net cover helps.
• Seeds get the full “seasonal” experience: summer sun, autumn chill, winter cold, spring warmth, which seems to matter.
• I rely on my own collected seeds, I know they germinate, before I invest in bought seeds for testing.
• Next year, if this batch works, I’ll repeat the method with both my seeds and purchased ones so I can compare germination rates.

Setup Type	Key Results / Notes
Wooden box (open)	About 50 Acer palmatum seeds sown; 3 seedlings first year, 10 the next. Best natural results so far.
Wooden box with mosquito net	Around 50 Acer palmatum seeds; sown this autumn. Protects against birds and animals.
Plastic greenhouse box	Roughly 30 Acer palmatum seeds; no germination yet, likely too warm or dry.
Mixed box (Acer + acorns)	Around 20 total seeds; testing acorns for small leaves and compact growth.
Existing oak seedlings	Two trees already growing; one sprouted near a willow with naturally small leaves.

Acorns seedlings, too

Because I like native trees and want some oaks in my bonsai collection, I also added acorns into the mix:

• I have 2 oaks already, one sprouted in an old a willow and has very small leaves from the start. Which might make for nice bonsai potential
• I wondered: what if I germinate the oak seedling in a small container from the start? Would it produce smaller leaves and a more compact form?
• Also, digging up wild oak stock is tough (deep roots etc.), so growing from seed seems the practical route.

What’s next

• I’ll keep monitoring the boxes and report back when (or if) the seedlings emerge.
• I’ll compare the outdoors mosquito net box vs the plastic greenhouse setup and refine accordingly.
• If results are solid, next year I’ll buy some higher-quality seeds and repeat the process side by side with my own seeds.
• I’ll also document the oak seedlings to see if the “small container from germination” trick yields a more bonsai like trees from start

Helpfull Blogpost

• YOUTUBE 1 Video of my not yet bonsai garden
• The Bonsaitreasure youtube channel
• My documentation of my personal Bonsaitreasure trees