Plant seeds, Bonsai - Japanese white pine

TROPICA Bonsai Japanese White Pine – Pinus parviflora 12 Seeds

The TROPICA Bonsai Japanese White Pine allows you to grow the popular Pinus parviflora as an outdoor bonsai. This slow-growing conifer originally comes from Japan and is known there as Hime-ko-matsu.

In Japan, Japanese White Pine has long been cultivated as a bonsai. It can reach an age of over 350 years and is admired for its elegant growth, small needles and highly decorative character. Around 1850, it was introduced from Japan to Central Europe, where it is considered fully winter hardy.

Slow-Growing Conifer for High-Quality Bonsai Design

The Japanese White Pine is a five-needle pine with fine, small needles and calm, slow growth. This makes it ideal for long-term bonsai styling as a classic outdoor bonsai.

Its original home is Japan. From there, the popular pine also spread to China and Korea. Today, Pinus parviflora is valued worldwide as a premium ornamental plant and bonsai species.

Sowing and Germination

The Pinus parviflora seeds can be started indoors all year round. For improved germination, place the seeds for 5 to 10 days in a small bowl filled with sand and store them in the refrigerator or preferably in the freezer. This cold period helps break down germination-inhibiting substances and is known as stratification.

After the cold treatment, sow the seeds slightly spaced apart about 1 cm deep in moist seed-starting soil or garden soil. Germination usually takes 6 to 14 weeks. During this time, keep the substrate evenly moist but not too wet. About two months after germination, the young plants can be pricked out and separated.

Location and Care

Japanese White Pine prefers an open to full-sun location. The position should be as bright as possible, as growth may weaken in overly dark places.

Pinus parviflora has low water requirements. Water moderately and allow only the surface of the soil to dry slightly. As with many bonsai, occasionally immersing the bonsai pot in water is recommended. After a few minutes, the soil and ceramic pot will have absorbed enough water.

From March to November, feed every 4 weeks with liquid bonsai fertilizer or organic slow-release fertilizer. From spring onward, pinch or shorten the annual shoots by about one third. This encourages new growth with smaller needles.

In winter, old needles should be thinned out and overly dense branches removed so the plant receives enough light and remains healthy.

Technical Details

• Brand / Manufacturer: TROPICA
• Product name: Bonsai Japanese White Pine
• Botanical name: Pinus parviflora
• Japanese name: Hime-ko-matsu
• Indoor / Outdoor: outdoor bonsai
• Content: 12 seeds
• Plant type: bonsai seeds / slow-growing conifer
• Origin: Japan, later also China and Korea
• Growth: slow-growing, decorative, five-needle pine
• Special feature: small needles, premium bonsai character
• Winter hardiness: fully winter hardy in Central Europe
• Possible age: over 350 years
• Sowing: possible indoors all year round
• Stratification: 5 to 10 days in sand in refrigerator or freezer
• Sowing depth: approx. 1 cm
• Substrate: moist seed-starting soil or garden soil
• Germination time: approx. 6 to 14 weeks
• Pricking out: approx. 2 months after germination
• Location: open to full sun, as bright as possible
• Watering: moderate, allow only surface of soil to dry slightly
• Fertilization: March to November every 4 weeks with liquid bonsai fertilizer or organic slow-release fertilizer
• Pruning / pinching: shorten annual shoots by approx. 1/3 from spring onward
• Winter care: thin out old needles and remove overly dense branches

Scope of delivery

• 1 x TROPICA Bonsai Japanese White Pine seed pack
  • 12 x Pinus parviflora seeds

Warnings & Care Information

• Seeds are not suitable for consumption.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Use clean containers and suitable substrate for sowing.
• Keep the substrate evenly moist and avoid waterlogging.
• Cold treatment before sowing improves germination.
• Gradually acclimatize young plants to full sun and outdoor conditions.
• Germination and growth may vary depending on temperature, moisture, substrate and seed storage.