Sapling Redwoods

[mfantus]

I have sapling Sequoia Sempervirens and Metasequoia that grew over a foot this past year. I put them straight into bonsai pots and am wondering will they continue to grow up and develop thick trunks or will they end up spindly stunted twigs?

thanks for anyone who has any experience with this.

Michael

[shipsquartersfarm]

Hey Michael--

I do not have any (good) experience with sequoia, but bald cypress and dawn's redwood both trunk up fairly well in pots. Certainly, using a large pot (or, optimally, the ground) will speed the process. Pinching and pruning will limit the trees' height.

Good luck!

[plantmanky]

I have sapling Sequoia Sempervirens and Metasequoia that grew over a foot this past year. I put them straight into bonsai pots and am wondering will they continue to grow up and develop thick trunks or will they end up spindly stunted twigs?

thanks for anyone who has any experience with this.

Michael

Michael,

They will be stunted twigs for many years. Your better off putting the trees into the ground or a larger nursery container and letting them grow freely to develop trunk girth. You will have to do some cutting back every year or two to keep them from getting too tall and to develop trunk taper. You won't need a bonsai container for at least 5-7 years or maybe longer depending on your design objectives.