Spring is time for many horticultural tasks. The world is waking up after a 'long winter's nap' and that includes the seeds you collected in the fall. These were elm seeds gathered from trees on the Ohio University campus in Athens, Ohio. The family was down that way to get my daughter to a fencing tournament. As we walked into the venue-which looked a lot more like a fancy, high dues health club than any "campus recreation center" I knew about when I was in college If I recall correctly, we didn't have a campus recreation center. But educational amenities in the Dark Ages are beside the point.It was mid autumn, and these Elm trees still had leaves, but were also heavy with seeds. The leaves were a pleasant green color, on the small side even on a full sized tree,and the tree itself had really great looking bark that peeled and flaked for a tri-color effect. It was fairly easy, being one of those people who never has bonsai far from his mind, to find a plastic bag and fill it with seeds. My family pretended not to notice, they have grown used to this sort of thing.
Once we arrived back home, I mixed a handful of bark fines with the seeds, sealed the bag, and put it in the refrigerator. This was in the "second" fridge that is usually just for soda, beer and such. Again, my family, accustomed to my eccentricities, is used to seeing a plastic bag or two in there. I find a clear plastic bag lets them know that what is inside is not food-an unfortunate mistake with an empty Country Crock container, and someone shouting about the butter going bad made that switch a step well taken.
Keeping seeds slightly moist and cold over winter is a process called 'stratification'. Somehow the seeds can count down the amount of cold they have sat through, and when their internal clock, or what ever it is, tells them it is time to wake up, they do it!. When I pulled this batch out of the fridges, many had already started putting out roots. I caught them just in time!
Since the seeds were ready, it was time for me to get ready too. First a container to plant them in, and some soil to fill it. I am a big believer in using what you have, and not spending money you would rather hang on to. The container you see is being recycled-it originally contained 5 pounds of vac-packed ground beef. It is a tough, flexible plastic that seems like it will take a year or two out doors in the sun, so let put it to use!. I also mixed up some planting mix, in this case some play sand and coir fines. Coir is coconut husks, and it can be found at orchid supply places as well as dope grower shops, I mean indoor gardening shops. The fine stuff replaces peat, is more ecologically friendly than peat ( it is totally renewable) and rewets much better than totally dry peat.
With materials assembled, it's time to fire up the power tools! The meat tray/seed tray needs drainage holes, and the electric drill with a properly sized bit makes quick work of the job. Rather than make a few big holes and mess about with mesh, I used a smaller bit, and made a whole lot of holes.
Once the drainage was seen to, The potting mix went in, and then the seeds went in as well. There was not a lot of fuss with this step-a pencil was used to make a series of holes in rank and file, then seeds that had a root sticking out of them were tipped into a hole, one at a time. After that, I'd like to say I have the patience to carefully plant 50 or 75 elm seeds, but I dont. The seeds/bark mix were sprinkled evenly over the surface of the improvised growing tray, then watered well.
This project was done during a weather anomaly-temps of 70 degrees at the end of February, which is quite unusual for Central Ohio. When day time temps were over freezing, the seeds went outside, but spent most of their time in the garage, doing more waiting. I was surprised that they never got leggy, but think a combination of cold and bright light kept them growing at a proper pace,
A month after planting, it seems like a germination rate of at least 90%. This will grow on for a year, then next year get potted up in larger containers or put into a growing bed. When that happens, each tap root will be snipped.I am a bit disappointed that all of these seeds seems to be growing nice and straight, not a odd ball in the bunch. Wire ir selective pruning can help with curves and angles-there are only so many elm forests you can have.
Seeds popping up bring the promise of new life and many new bonsai projects.
