Coast Redwood, Anyone had much experience with them?

[Redwood Man]

Hi guys, Im new to the forum thought id start by saying HI,

I have only just begun to bonsai the past 2 months and dont have much experience, i Have a Californian Redwood which stands about 3-4 foot tall, a little bigger then the bonsai i have been looking at but i like the height of it, i keep it out doors and try to give it as much sun as possible without it being to hot, and the same for the winter.

Has anyone had any first hand experience with these amazing trees? I cant seem to find much info about these trees as bonsai.

Can they tolerate alot of pruning? What kind of soil do they like( moist but free draining??) how do they handle root pruning and repoting ect...

Any help would be much appreciated

Cheers Redwood Man

[alpineart]

Hi Redwood Man , Welcome to Ausbonsai . Coastal Redwoods make very good bonsai , they like free draing mixes and love water at the same time . If the dry out they turn up there toes ,but re-shoot again , loosing all the progress one has put into the tree . They don't like root pruning during the growing season , again they will die back or die off completely . Root rot would be the biggest issue i have had even on an established trainer .

I lost 3 this season due to injury and not being able to water correctly all 3 dried out way too much combined with radiant heat it cooked the roots . If a branches dies back they re-shoot from around the same area , they back bud well , more-so on the lower trunk than established branches . Reduce the new growth by 50% to improve ramification during the growing period , allow the shoot to elongate 100mm and pinch it back to 50mm . They thrive under 50-70% shade cloth .

Best of luck with them .

Cheers Alpineart

[fiveoffive]

Hi Redwood man

I have just been give two from a Ausbonsai member ( Alpineart ) i'm not 100% if its the same as your redwood but i have seen them as a bonsai.
I would say have a chat with Alpineart he had two trainers that looked very very good. ( about 3 foot tall and 5/6 " base.)
if anyone has any info it would be him.

[fiveoffive]

Wow Alpine u must have been typeing the same time as me

[alpineart]

Hi Fiveoffive , yes mate your tree's are the same species . Sequoia Semprevirens -Coastal Redwood .

Cheers Alpine

[Redwood Man]

Thanks for all the reply's guys much appreciated

I think i may have a slight problem i was just out the back examining my redwood and i noticed that some of the needles are starting to go brown? could this be maybe burnt leaves from the heat? or could it be root rot or die back? It is also putting on alot of new growth at the same time? im a little confused.

Cheers Redwood Man

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Redwood and welcome. Take a photo or photos and post them - it's a little hard to diagnose problems without seeing the tree. I have swamp cypress and they have foliage die off naturally and new shoots when things are well. I don't think you would have too much wrong if it is putting out new shoots but pictures will help

[alpineart]

Hi Redwood Man , Bougy Fan is correct . This species get more browning off than my Dawn Redwoods and Swamp Cypress .You have to remember these Coastals are evergreen and the other's Dawn and Swampy are deciduous . It's natural for the foliage to drop its bundle as the new growth appears , they can and do drop entire branches so don't worry too much . Ijust noticed your other favorite is the Douglas Fir - New Zealand Oregon or False Canadian Hemlock , do you have any ?

Cheers Alpineart

[Redwood Man]

Alrighty guys ill try and upload some pics had a bit of trouble before size was to big lol

There we go hope that helps guys

Cheers Redwood Man

[Redwood Man]

Sorry Alpineart the answer to your question is no at the moment i dont sadly, but i took a couple cuttings off the giant Douglas fir at my parents place so hopefully they will take I just bought a swamp cypress today very nice tree but the redwood is still my favorite

Cheers Redwood Man

[Bougy Fan]

G'Day Redwood the tree looks great - don't think you have anything to worry about. Have you been feeding it ? It does look like it could do with some fert but other than that no worries. As long as the mix free draining and do you have plenty of drainage holes in the base you should have no dramas

[alpineart]

Hi Redwood Man , thats not a Coastal Redwood , its a Taxodium Distichum or Swamp cypress . The weeping /hanging habit is typical of the swampy . The Swampy has oppposite/staggered/alternating foliage . the Dawn Redwood has the foliage in pairs and the Coastal redwood has staggered foliage however it is very harsh or course compared to the Dawn Redwood or Swampy . This is why it is so important to post a pic when asking questions so the correct advice can be given .

Cheers Alpineart

[Redwood Man]

Hey guys,

A swamp cypress thought it was a redwood although i must say the swamp cypress is a very nice tree, it is a little disappointing but thats life thanks for your responses now i know i have nothing to worry about because it will loose its leaves.

Do you know any where i might be able to purchase a coastal redwood? Would really like to get my hands on one of these beast of a tree lol

Im going to have to change my name to "Swamp Man"

Cheers Redwood Man

[Redwood Man]

up about my swamp cypress