Creating redwood bonsai: reducing the sacrifice branch

When developing primary branches on bonsai with large trunks, it’s common to create them with sacrifice branches that grow freely until they reach the desired thickness. Once the branch is big enough, it’s time to reduce it.

Here’s what this looks like on a medium sized coast redwood.

Coast redwood

Reducing the sacrifice branch (thanks, Max!)

When shortening the sacrifice branch, I make sure to leave visible buds or leaves as this increases the odds I’ll get new buds where I want them.

After shortening the two sacrifice branches and pinching the upper branches (see Creating redwood bonsai: step 2 for details) I was better able to see the structure of the tree.

After pruning and pinching

What stuck out to me was that the two lowest branches grew directly opposite each other – I’d created bar branches!

I was curious to see if there was a way to use both branches so I tilted the tree and used a towel to see if a more compact design made sense for the tree.

Testing a new angle

I found the new angle interesting but disliked how the lowest branch on the right made it harder to appreciate the deadwood feature on the lower section of the trunk. My only choice was to remove the branch.

After removing the first branch on the right side

I instantly liked the design better without the branch but am not totally sure about how I’ll handle the apex. Although it looks full with lots of branches to cut back to, there’s only one branch on the right side of the upper trunk and a limited number of apical shoots to cut back to.

Here’s the tree where I left off.

Coast redwood – 18″

Back

The next steps are to develop a new primary branch on the right side, create secondary branches on the main branch on the left side, and continue keeping the upper branches in check by pinching.

News & Updates

• The Redwood Empire Bonsai Society will host their 37th annual show this weekend at the Rohnert Park Community Center at 5401 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park. The event features a quality exhibit, large vendor hall, and headline demonstration by Ryan Neil. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm Sunday. I’ll be vending at the event so stop by and say hi! Learn more about the event at the REBS website.
• If you’re curious about life as a bonsai apprentice in Japan, check out the recent Black Pondo podcast featuring host Jeremiah Lee’s interview with Seth Nelson. Listen on your favorite podcast player or at the Black Pondo Podcast website. Follow Seth on IG @seth.nelson.bonsai.