I look forward to repotting some trees months ahead of repotting season. Sometimes it’s because the pot is falling apart or too small – other times I simply want to see the tree in a bonsai pot for the first time. All of the above applied to the coast redwood below.
Coast redwood
I picked up the tree from Mendocino Coast Bonsai last spring and have been looking forward to repotting it ever since. Once new roots are established, I can begin training in earnest. In the meantime, I cut the tree back as most of the foliage had grown beyond the future outline.
After cutback
I left a single branch long to help thicken the new apex. I plan to let the branch grow for another one to two years to improve the transition of taper from the main trunk to the new apex.
With the pruning done, I turned to the roots. I removed the roots that were circling the rootball and removed most of the soil from between the roots on the front side of the tree.
After root work
I tried a number of different pots before deciding to go with a container from the Kisen kiln.
After repotting – 19″ to the saw-cut, 10″ wide at the base
I’ll be curious to see how the color of the pot works when the bark and deadwood dry out a bit.
Dark-colored bark from the rain
I’ll hold off on pruning or wiring until I see signs that the tree is growing well. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the tree in its new pot!
BGLM Mammoth Auction and Sale this Weekend
The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt is hosting its annual fundraiser this weekend at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland, California. Saturday features an auction that starts at 1:00 p.m. (preview at noon). Sunday features plant sales and vendors from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, see the BGLM website and auction catalog.
I’ll be vending Sunday with a mix of trees, pots, tools, and supplies so stop by and say hi if you come to the event – I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
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Brian McGrath says
When you say red wood do you mean red cedar . I have been working with red cedar as bonsai and after 10 years of training I have a few that are turning out very good. I am in the process of grafting junipers on to red cedar and let’s see what door that opens. My question to you is I have soom seedlings from a peach tree that are 3 years old. If left to their own it will take years to flower. The garden tree they came from is full of flower bud just waiting to open. If I was to graft a scion from the tree that is flowering on to the seedling would that flower for me next year on that seedling. If successful that would speed up the flowerring process by years. Tell me what you think.
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Brian – the tree is a sequoia, a different species from red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). As for the peach project, that sounds like a good question for the forum – could you post this with a photo to https://ask.bonsaitonight.com/ ? Thanks!
Amin Younes says
Do you worry about having no side branches from the first few inches of the new apex? I don’t see any signs of them in the pictures. Do you have faith in redwood backbudding?
Jonas Dupuich says
Good question Amin – I may or may not get side branches on the right side below the apex, but I have some good branches on the back so worst case I can grow some of those out to fill the gap. I expect lots of new shoots from the trunk in general – the fun part is seeing where they actually emerge!