Making a Redwood bonsai

P

plantmansam

Seedling
Messages
19
Reaction score
10
Location
SF Bay Area, California
Hi everyone,

I'm new here and to bonsai as well. I have enjoyed growing different kinds of plants for years, particularly unusual ones, and have recently grown an interest in bonsai trees.

I have a seqoia "soquel" redwood which I've had growing in a pot for roughly 2.5 years outside, and I'd like to know if it can be turned into a bonsai.

I've been doing research on bonsai and have seen various examples of bonsai redwood trees online, I'd love to try and create one of these awesome looking specimens.

I've attached some photos of the tree which I have already done some minor pruning on. Are there any experienced folks who might be able to tell me if this tree looks like it could work for a bonsai?

Any help and information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
IMAG0231.jpg IMAG0233.jpg
IMAG0234.jpg
 
Sammy!

I like it....

It might be a few years before it's anything great....but the little sacrifice on the left, if left growing unchecked, can keep that base nice and fat.

I Think you got a lot to learn, all winter to learn it.....and you found.d the right place.

More so if you are certifiably loony bin nuts, like me.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce
 
sorce said:
Sammy!

I like it....

It might be a few years before it's anything great....but the little sacrifice on the left, if left growing unchecked, can keep that base nice and fat.

I Think you got a lot to learn, all winter to learn it.....and you found.d the right place.

More so if you are certifiably loony bin nuts, like me.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply Sorce, I appreciate it. I certainly have lots to learn and I'm glad I came to the right place!

I've checked out some "twin trunk" bonsai images, I'm not sure if this would qualify? Anyhow, good to know that the tree has some potential...

I'm not sure if I'm certifiably nuts yet, but my plant collection has certainly evolved from a hobby to an obsession over the years!

Thanks again for the warm welcome!
 
Welcome to crazy . . . and critical.
I think these need pretty large trunks to be believable as bonsai - the foliage is very coarse.
How much has the trunk increased in diameter in the last 2-1/2 years you've had it?
Now extrapolate that out until you have a 6"+ diameter trunk . . . retirement? grandkids? will it to someone? Planting it in the ground might speed it up some.

Seriously though, this probably needs to grow a lot more before you should worry much about pruning or bonsai techniques.
 
ColinFraser said:
Welcome to crazy . . . and critical.
I think these need pretty large trunks to be believable as bonsai - the foliage is very coarse.
How much has the trunk increased in diameter in the last 2-1/2 years you've had it?
Now extrapolate that out until you have a 6"+ diameter trunk . . . retirement? grandkids? will it to someone? Planting it in the ground might speed it up some.

Seriously though, this probably needs to grow a lot more before you should worry much about pruning or bonsai techniques.
Click to expand...

Thanks much for the reply, and yes I've given that some thought for sure. The trunk actually has increased in diameter considerably since I got it, but I wouldn't doubt it to be many years before It is believable as a Bonsai as you stated.

I suppose I'll have to find other options, because the bonsai itch is pretty strong...

Thanks for the welcome!
 
ColinFraser said:
That's the spirit! Bonsai is a great hobby, and it's better if you have multiple trees in various stages of development - then there's always something to do.

You may also find this helpful:
http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?resources/the-importance-of-starting-with-a-good-trunk.11/
Click to expand...
Thanks very much for the encouraging advice and for the link, I'm certainly in the earliest stages of the hobby and eager to learn more before getting my feet wet.
 
ColinFraser said:
Haha, I did a cannonball!
Click to expand...

And the splash is still falling!

@plantmansam where are you located?

Look into getting that redwood in a colander, which, for a redwood, would be homemade screen sided box.
But you can search colander here for info.

Basically, when the roots hit the air, they die and branch back in the pot, giving you more feeder roots, more growth, and less waiting Time.

The oxygen flow is better to the roots, so the tree grows better.

After you read that trunk resource.....
Will you still work yours?

You seem a sensible cat, like Colin, and he's been on fire, Lotta smart newbie moves, I hope you hang with us!

Any chance of a pic of the base of that Thing...?
It is also a good practice to refresh your soil surface in fall, so maybe you first bonsai practice could be this, scrape the top layer of soil away, find the flare, the base, pic, replace with fresh soil!

Sorce
 
ColinFraser said:
I forget that everything bonsai takes years - even graduating from noob status ;)
I can't believe I've been on Bnut nearly a year now, and this spring will start my 3rd season/year in bonsai!
Click to expand...

Seems longer than a year!

I realize at least once a month, I'll still be experiencing "firsts" for decades!

I love that! Newbie for life!

Sorce
 
@Cypress187 Thanks for the welcome!

@sorce I'm located in Redwood City, CA (Fitting, right?), where the official motto of the city is "climate best by government test." We're situated about 30 minutes south of San Francisco. I'm lucky enough to have grown up surrounded by these giant majestic redwoods and that of course influences my desire to create a bonsai version.

I'll research putting the tree into a colander in the future, thanks for that advice. After reading the trunk resource linked by Colin, I'm still interested to work the tree but of course in no hurry to 'watch paint dry' as they say.

I've heard that it can be good to begin with a 'starter' pre-made bonsai to get initially familiar with them, and thoughts on this? I take a DIY approach to most of my hobbies so I'd also like to try my hand at working with nursery-bought trees as suggested in the article.

I'm happy to have joined the forum and I hope to stay around and hang as well!

I'll try to get a pic of the base/roots after work today if I have some time, thanks again for all the input!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jetson1950
Another Weird Project in the Making
Replies
11
Views
419
Jetson1950
Jetson1950
Hack Yeah!
What sacrifices are you making? Pic required
Replies
15
Views
945
RJG2
RJG2
T
Is bonsai more about making a small shrub look like a mini version of a large tree or making a large tree look like a mini version of itself?
Replies
4
Views
526
penumbra
penumbra
vancehanna
having fun making a pot
Replies
5
Views
435
NMbonsai
N
WEI
entry into making bonsai pots
Replies
4
Views
513
WEI
WEI
Back
Top Bottom