Coast Redwood Landscape Nursery Stock

[pawspawsheart]

I've been eyeing this Coast Redwood at a local nursery for about 3 months now. I finally decided to purchase because they were having an Independence Day promotion at the nursery. My goal is to train this tree for bonsai. I'm not sure how old the tree is, but it's about 6 feet tall and the base trunk is about 2 inches. I live in Southern California about 3-4 miles from the ocean. We get a good amount of marine layer in the air every morning. There is not a lot of information out there for coast redwood bonsai. I'm looking for any advice or tips on how to get started. I know I'll eventually have to do a trunk chop and wiring down the branches before it lignifies. Thank you.

 

[pawspawsheart]

I did a trunk chop over the weekend. The coast redwood is now 25 inches tall from the soil. I applied some cut paste to the wound and I'm letting it sit under partial shade. I plan on changing the soil and perhaps repotting it in something bigger next month. In the meantime, I'll monitor the tree and learn as much as I can. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cypress187]

I don't see a trunk chop, and you probably shouldn't do a chop this time of year. Also a conifer usually don't like big chops and when u chop much green you also should balance the roots (which is also the wrong season).. But i'm not an expert.

 

[pawspawsheart]

I don't see a trunk chop, and you probably shouldn't do a chop this time of year. Also a conifer usually don't like big chops and when u chop much green you also should balance the roots (which is also the wrong season).. But i'm not an expert.

Thanks for the feedback @Cypress187. I'm clearly no expert either. I'm a total noob. What season is best to do a trunk chop and root work for coast redwoods? Since I've already done the trunk chop, should I just go ahead and do some root work or just monitor the tree and see how it's doing? Attached is the chopped area with cut paste on it.

 

[DhD47]

If it was me I wouldn't touch the roots or anything more for the rest of this year. Go learn more about this tree and figure out your plan from now until fall or winter. Maybe not do a thing until next summer. Bonsai is a slow hobby and trying to do so much in one year may do more harm than a tree can recover from.
Dave

 

[Cypress187]

The photo is blurry but the needle tips don't look too healthy in the last picture, i hope he makes it

 

[pawspawsheart]

Here is a little update. This coast redwood tree is pretty vigorous. It's budding all over after the trunk chop.

 

[CWTurner]

Looking very healthy, but still too tall to my eye.

CW