Dawn Redwood Forest Just Planted!

[emi93m]

Hi I just wanted to get some opionions on this Dawn Redwood forest " too be " that I have just planted. I realize the trees in the rear need to be shorter to achieve the effect of depth and distance but i am growing them out to thicken up there young trunks. Any advice would be appreciated.

Mick

[TheNumber13]

I like it, it almost seems as though there should be a faux-stream running through the middle there.

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Mick
Can I suggest you go to bonsai4me and read Harry's article on group plantings ? I don't feel you have enough trees for the tray size, and 4 of the 5 trees have roughly the same size trunk. I feel you need a lot more trees with more variation in height and trunk size. Don't forget to use variation in the height of your potting mix as well. Good luck !

Tony

[emi93m]

Thanks Guys I agree with you Tony the front Tree should be a lot thicker but I am finding it hard to find more mature stock of this species. These starters were purchased threw Ray Nesci and they were the the best 5 out of 7 odd plants. As they mature I will heed your advice and keep a eye out for some more stock with different size trunks. Im treating this like a grow out pot till they get some thickness to them and you are right I will need to work on different heights of the soil.

Mick

[Hornet]

IMO they should be in a smaller pot and more tightly grouped, the layout is too loose for me. As you said trunks need to be a bit thicker but that will come in time. Also an underplanting of moss and a stream as #13 said. Look forward to its progression

[Jamie]

gday

mate I like the start of where you are headed. these can grow really well and thicken in the process well if done right. I was once advised when it comes to group plantings to grow out the trees seperately so you can get some thicker, some shorter, some with more branching etc. and have them just about ready for refinement if not have some refinement before the group is put together.

redwoods can be treated like swampies and will power on if grown in a tray of water with a heap of dynamic lifter in it. I had a swampy that I bought as a small starter, no more than pencil thick and only 8 inches tall. I put it into a 10 inch pot (or something round that size) and had a container that it fit in, filled the bottom inch or two with dynamic lifter, filled it with water and then placed the tree into this container. (same tree in plastic nursery pot, which sat in a larger container as explained above).
over a twelve month period It thickened to around an inch a three eighths before I pulled it out and did some root work, I dont know where the tree is now, I actually think my grandmother in law spotted it and put it in her garden as a garden tree (wasnt happy but she and I have gotten on really well lately compared to when we first met).

anyways back to the group, try to avoid the "Y" forks in the main trunks on a couple of the trees these will always draw the eye to it and take away a little from the group.
the others have given some great advice aswell but you have done well in what you have done

[philf555]

Hi Mick,
First time poster long time bonsai fan. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, whilst your planting is young/new it has lots of potential and is asthetically pleasing. Keep up the good work.

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Mick
If you leave them in the tray they will all develop at the same pace and that will be slow. How about taking one tree out and putting it into a pot and feeding it to get it to thicken up ? And of course you can always keep your eye out for some more trees. In fact I am sure Ian (alpineart) was selling some starters a few months ago. He may be able to help you if you want to acquire some more trees. I do have a group I have started with swampies, but I was fortunate to have a variety of seedlings in various sizes. But it will be slow to develop - but that's what bonsai is about

Great start and keep learning as you go forward

Tony

[Guy]

I would reduce the space between the two groups by about one third and lower the rh trees a little more.