Planters’ Choice: Bonsai FirstSun

Posted on March 17, 2019 by Wan Chi Lau in RainyDayGarden, RainyDayProjects // 0 Comments

Friends of RainyDayMagazine gave us a bonsai kit for Christmas. We sowed them on New Year’s Day and will be chronicling our bonsai journey…for many years, apparently.

FirstSun

After a few weeks of artificial light under the full-spectum LED panel, we are delighted to announce that the bonsai seedlings are having their FirstSun experience!

The Black Poui was the last to germinate and while only one seed said “Oh, hello,” it does looks like it is going to make it!

Of the four types, the Black Poui is definitely the most exotic. Hopefully, it will enjoy its real-sun exposure and catch up to the rest of the gang.

The Norway Spruce seedlings, with their many needles, look really happy. Maybe because they are used to a colder climate? We don’t know, but it’s nice to see and we hope they continue to thrive now that their needles are experiencing the real deal.

The Pine seedlings are also doing quite well. We love the shape of the leaves. While they started out looking fairly similar to the Norway Spruces, it is now easy to see the differences between the two types. It will be interesting to see if this divergence continues.

The Flame Tree seedling started out quite vigorous, but has since dropped some of the leaves and has starting to look rather ragged. Its struggle was a big reason for moving everyone to natural light. We hope it recovers!!!

All the bonsais are off the LED lighting and onto full sun at a window with Southern exposure.

The interns will have to keep a closer eye on them as they are now 1) closer to the window (brighter, warmer) and 2) the temps can get a bit cooler at night (further away from the warmer air in the center of the room).