Trebor
Sapling
Hi, I obtained the below pictured coastal redwood last year and have a couple questions for those more knowledgeable than I am (basically anyone reading this). As background, it spent the winter in Cincinnati in a rooftop sun room, I basically kept the humidity and temperature as close to its natural habitat as I could. I spray it every other day and keep the soil damp. I’d say it probably has grown 4-5 inches and seems to be pushing again now.
#1) PRUNING: The growth/shoots at the base—are these sucking energy from the main tree/should I trim them off? My initial thought was that it would provide increased trunk growth, but seems like it could result in a bulb or inverse taper at the base of the trunk. If they are best to be trimmed, are they any good for propagation?
#2) REPOT: It’s due for a repot, is there any strategy as far as the next pot size goes? Anything wrong with getting it a massive (but relatively shallow) pot to grow in or is it better to incrementally increase the container size? (Assuming in both cases, that I will pay attention to root development)
#3) SOIL: It is currently in whatever the nursery mix was that it came in. I was going to buy a 1/3 each Akadama, Pumice and Black lava mix. The current mix is the nurseries bonsai mix, but I don’t know what it is. My sense is that it less porous than the 1/3 mix I’m looking at. Is there anything to be said for having material that holds water more to provide a little insurance against the roots drying?
I appreciate any advice/info. Thanks – Rob.
#1) PRUNING: The growth/shoots at the base—are these sucking energy from the main tree/should I trim them off? My initial thought was that it would provide increased trunk growth, but seems like it could result in a bulb or inverse taper at the base of the trunk. If they are best to be trimmed, are they any good for propagation?
#2) REPOT: It’s due for a repot, is there any strategy as far as the next pot size goes? Anything wrong with getting it a massive (but relatively shallow) pot to grow in or is it better to incrementally increase the container size? (Assuming in both cases, that I will pay attention to root development)
#3) SOIL: It is currently in whatever the nursery mix was that it came in. I was going to buy a 1/3 each Akadama, Pumice and Black lava mix. The current mix is the nurseries bonsai mix, but I don’t know what it is. My sense is that it less porous than the 1/3 mix I’m looking at. Is there anything to be said for having material that holds water more to provide a little insurance against the roots drying?
I appreciate any advice/info. Thanks – Rob.