Seed grown Dawn Redwood suggestions

[power270lb]

Two years old now, initially wanted a forest and now not really sure. Main goal was trunk thickness and as of now some are 5 feet tall. Should I chop? Idk how to bonsai these, want the trunks to get bigger but not taller. Any suggestions I'm all ears.

 

[BrightsideB]

You’ll develop taper wherever you chop. So I’d figure out what kind of final bonsai you want to develop from them. Like the overall size. Dawns heal well and quickly over chop wounds.

Chopping always reduces the growth rate of a trunk as well as the pot size. But I understand growing out tree’s that are manageable. I’ve done chops above the area I want to develop taper to make the tree more manageable. Sometimes you can get a branch to start growing lower where you want and use it for your future leader.

Why not do a forest? It seems like you have enough and some for a single bonsai. They also root well in spring taken before they leaf out right at the swelling of buds in my experience. I say this because if you do want to do a forest you can start some younger ones to add to the mix if you decide to.

 

[power270lb]

Yeah some of the smaller ones I want to do a forest I just don't know where and how to start. As far as the larger ones final bonsai I'm completely lost and no idea what to do.

 

[BrightsideB]

I’d separate the tree’s you want for a forest and the ones you want for a single bonsai first. This helps you see the individual tree and it’s future as well as the forest tree’s and their future separately.

I would experiment with a couple so you can experience and see how the tree responds to what you do. Meanwhile growing some out so you have a good feel and experience to make the larger material into a nice bonsai. Understanding the outcomes of what you do. Practice is what it’s about.

Chop a trunk like 7” up and see what happens. Try building some ramification on a branch to understand how it works. Basically try creating a bonsai with one while growing out larger material in the meantime.

Dawn Redwoods are usually upright so really no bending or wiring on the trunks. Branches are usually straight at a 90 degree or slanted down slightly. But I think yours are a little small to start developing. I’d wait until your trunk size is at least 1 1/2 inches. When you do your first trunk chop you will get backbuds lower on the trunk you can start developing branches and your new leader which will bud at the chop site. Just make sure to only let one leader grow or you can get swelling.

 

[power270lb]

So theyre all technically separate in separate pots they're just bunched together. Growing from seed is hard. I bought 1k worth of Chinese elm, red/trident/Japanese maples and ficus' but think I just want to invest in developed trees. So much work.

 

[BrightsideB]

So theyre all technically separate in separate pots they're just bunched together. Growing from seed is hard. I bought 1k worth of Chinese elm, red/trident/Japanese maples and ficus' but think I just want to invest in developed trees. So much work.

Starting from seed takes much more time. It’s nice having tree’s to start the fun work on immediately. I think your redwoods look great though. Good work growing them!