AusBonsai

Hi guys,
I have the opportunity to purchase a couple of Californian redwoods at about 8' in height.
I would assume these be best trained as formal uprights?
Has anyone had any experiences with these as bonsai subjects, ie do they bud back readily if I were to chop them?
Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Hi Banksiaman , Californian Redwoods /Sequoia Sempervirens do back bud well . If the base has suckers or shoots it will continually sucker up for many years .If it has a single trunk with no sucker rarely will it sucker up from the base unless the trunk is burnt as in a bush fire .The bark is very thick and spongy so its hard to tell how muck actual wood you have to work with . As for seed , a sucker trunk tree will produce the same type seedlings and a single trunk in most cases only produces a single type trunk void of the suckers .

Informal upright or upright are the Normal styles for a single trunk or a clump style /multi trunk if it is a sucker trunk . If you look at the base and it has a tuber type swelling at or below ground level it will sucker up for sure . If i doesn't have this tuber type base it will grow branches , however the do grow low down . If a branch is removed the usually throw out another shoot from the same location and are easily dislodged .Root mass is like the other redwoods as in it is very fine mat type , similar to a willow and becomes pot bound very quickly .

Root pruning during the growing season can and will kill the tree even a 50mm -100mm trunk will turn up its toes . Seedlings are easily worked, i have grown them in water trays and sand trays however they don't like to become dry .
A dead looking plant can throw out new shoots around the base especially if it have a tuber type base , long after you think its a goner . . Best of luck with them .

Cheers Alpineart

Thanks Alpine,
great info
the 2 plants I am looking at are single stemmed trees, no apparent suckers at the bases.

Hi Guys,

Life has been hectic of late with work and such.

I thought I should post a few pics of the Californian redwood as purchased.
The plans are to place it in the ground for a season come winter.
Maybe chop it at the first branch and let it bud bac and fatten up a little.
I am not looking for a huge finished sized tree....something around 4-500mm total height.
As always, I am open to suggestions and will keep all posted on its development.

Paul

Hi Paul , i would definitely try to layer the top off on this tree . I don't know if they will layer but it would be worth a try .Mine a growing very well now so i would get a layer on it while the new growth is presently powering on .Dawn redwoods and Swamp Cypress layer so i don't see why these wont .

Cheers Alpineart