Dawn Redwood and Kishu

[nurvbonsai]

Greetings,

Seeking advice for 2026 and beyond on this dawn redwood and kishu starters? What would you do? Thank you.

 

[shimbrypaku]

I would personally clean the juniper of any unwanted foliage, making sure you choose the branches you want to keep.

If they are not in Bonsai soil I would repot them into a 2 1/2 inch wood box maybe 5x5 or so.

Dawn redwood needs a bigger shallow box or pot, and a repot in bonsai soil.

Just my opinion.

Thanks

 

[shimbrypaku]

One other thing, do not remove any foliage from the branches you want to keep, especially close the the main trunk.

Thanks

 

[nurvbonsai]

I would personally clean the juniper of any unwanted foliage, making sure you choose the branches you want to keep.

If they are not in Bonsai soil I would repot them into a 2 1/2 inch wood box maybe 5x5 or so.

Dawn redwood needs a bigger shallow box or pot, and a repot in bonsai soil.

Just my opinion.

Thanks

I was under the impression that if I should continue growing the trunk out if I wanted which wouldn’t be a good idea to include bonsai soil.

 

[shimbrypaku]

Your choice, all my trees and rooted cuttings ( over two years old ) are in bonsai soil.

Thanks

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Every grow out decision that needs to be made on developing these junipers will rely on the size that is chosen.

Cutting off foliage, jining branches. Loop diameters for bending etc.

In any event, for a gnarly cool classic juniper styling look, some of these branches need to be bent sooner than later.

Junipers do prefer a xeric, dryer media. Yet, not a bonsai APL mix. A good starter grow out mix would be something like 80/20 pumice or perlite/peat or coco coir. Keep these in full TN sun!

A professional who has a lot of information out for junipers on You Tubeand even some courses for a small price is Eric Schrader. He has an online store, Bonsai with the juniper Shohin course,

The Dawn Redwood also requires the same decision.

Cheers
DSD sends

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[shimbrypaku]

Bonsai jack does just fine in my environment, just my experience of 30 + years.

Thanks

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

No media battle here … BJ media certainly might grow as fast… that would indeed be an interesting experiment!

We use the above recommended media and it’s pretty darn fast

However as OP is new into bonsai, thought something less expensive might be best. Especially perlite and coco coir. It’s also what Eric has recommended for many years.

Best
DSD sends

 

[shimbrypaku]

Again, it’s just my experience and what is available to me at the present time.
Thanks