Knowledge of Bonsai

Hello, I am attempting to start a 5 tree grouping of Giant Sequoia Redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum). I am in a unique coastal zone 3/4 mile from the pacific ocean in north Los Angeles, Ca. It has a low smog index with temps of 38F to 96F but with yearly spikes of 103F+ to contend with. Has anyone had Bonsai experience with these trees? I know the Coastal Redwoods do very well here and I have seen many Bonsai forest pictures using this species, but NO pictures (ANYWHERE) of group plantings of the Giants in action (a FEW individual trees-yes). I know they have unique watering needs but any help beyond that would be greatly appreciated. What am I missing with these dinosaurs?

As Purchased (Evil-Bay) 32" tall, 5/8" caliper trunk: 4-19-09


1st thinning 4-25-09


1st new home 4-26-09


ADDED: This is my former boyhood home NOW showing a Coastal Redwood that I grew up with (it won!) taken 4-27-09. It is thriving well along the Los Angeles, Ca. Pacific coastline. We'll see how some little Giants do 1.5 miles away...you can also see in the picture, another influence tree for me on the other end of the property...Hollywood Twisteds...BELIEVE ME...Hollywood Twisted fits the star studded area this grows in.

The reason you can't find many pics of giganteum is that they are rarely use as bonsai subjects The foliage and growth habits are the main reasons for this. They look just as pictured for many years. The straight stick branching and thin wispy foliage are hard to style into anything but a solitary upright. I'm not the guy who will ever say you can't bonsai this or that tree, but this one presents several obsticules that are obviously hard to overcome, hence few people bother with them when the Coastal Redwood offers everything you want in a prospective bonsai. I've had a giganteum for several years and while the trunk has developed nicely, showing good bark and roots, the branches and foliage have remained the same throughout. I'm considering chopping the trunk to get several tops, but I certain they will all have the same look to them, just like your picture.

Thanks Rick, This is what I have been hearing back from those that have worked with them or have them now. As long as I know I am not sending these trees to certain death, I can work with the foliage limitations by grouping the trees as is but eliminating the cross branches etc. The way I read it...use what you have, the way it is, or less (thinning to fit in other trees for the grouping). Close to instant bonsai then just park it!. One thing I will be working with is the soil. Trees are cannibals. They eat their own decaying droppings (sounds gross) and the other plants and trees nearby plus what squirrels bury and birds drop. Their natural base soil is decomposing granite. They like damp but not wet or soggy soil with good drainage and can never dry out.

I'm going to try a soil mixture of 1/3 sifted potting soil, 1/3 of sand size (and a little bigger) grained decomposing granite, and finally lunch...1/3 untreated redwood sawdust! This witches brew has the right trace foods for the trees and the anti-fungal properties of the redwood tannin to help with the needed extra soil moisture. I will then feed my tried and true way of adding a thin layer of the potting soil and the redwood sawdust (in this case). This leaches nutrients slowly into the soil and keeps the feeder roots UP TOP. It keeps the moisture in the soil but also acts as a wick and holds more water than the soil underneath. It keeps the roots from shocks of extremes in temperature by acting as a little bit of insulation. This soil washes away slowly as I water (intentional) and I add more as needed for a low shock feeding regiment. It has worked well for me for 28 + years. I have some bone meal in a box I bought 15 years ago...never needed it. We'll see....

Here are the mixed results...I now think of the GIANTS as wild animals. They will do OK for a while in captivity if strict rules on replicating the wild for them are followed. I live in a unique area 3/4 of a mile from the Pacific Ocean. Just 5 miles inland can be 30 degrees hotter and have 50% less humidity on the same day and time. The GIANTS take special soil and CAN NOT be pruned and wired as traditional bonsai trees are. They will end up like you see in the first set of pictures. THE SECRET, though not satisfying as a manicured bonsai, is to top it to size then trim WHOLE branches ONLY. If you pinch it back the traditional way, BYE, BYE... and out of control...

The next set of pictures are of one of the only THRIVING, HEALTHY Giant Seqouia bonsai forest in existence. Why? They will do well only under near perfect conditions. Don't waste your $$$ on these exotic relics. If you don't have perfect conditions, they are like keeping junipers indoors. Go Coastals instead. The Giants don't like humans....

Charles




With my own special soil blend and perfect conditions...new photo 7-5-09 and much overdue for another branch thinning...I hold my breath each time I touch this thing