I recently received this pre-bonsai stock and am new to bonsai. Two questions. Are there ways to get the tree to focus it's growth on the trunk thickness rather than the height? And secondly, do I need to trim any of the leggy limbs down?
I've heard the same thing over the years, that's how they can grow so massive, same with the Coast Redwood. It's very possible this is the case, but best I understand it is that in their native range young seedlings are completely covered by snow insulating them completely the first few years from the extreme wind and cold that would descicate the foliage otherwise until their roots are established enough, then they can take just about anything. It's believed that a Sequoia has a root spread that can stretch for a mile. So when we try and bonsai the Giant Sequoia we never give them the opportunity for their roots to run well throughout the earth, thus preventing them from being strong enough to be wintered outside like our other cold hardy species. Even when moving them outside from a protective cold fram you have to be careful not to do it too early, that's what killed mine. I've since started another one and some seedlings. I love the challenge.
indeed a bummer, we don't see Sequoia's much in Bonsai, when we lose one I feel it's that much more difficult going forward with these. Not too many people providing thier expertise on how to grow them as bonsai. I feel I know enough about keeping them alive to be able to share my do's and don'ts, but one wrong step sets you back years with a new one to start over with.
Might be easier to build the pot around the tree in this case.For just an instant, I pictured someone with a backhoe and a BIG pot going to collect a giant sequoia.
