Bonsaify | This IS the KEY to Redwood Bonsai!

In this video Eric shares how he gets dense growth on Sequoia sempervirens - the California Coast Redwood. It's a great species for bonsai.
Learn what pinching is, and the details of how and when to use it to make a tree compact and beautiful!
Along the way, you might find some mind-bending tips and visuals!

[@eeeealmo]

I've stopped pinching and solely use scissors now to ensure the smallest distance between the new growth and buds that emerge. Every new shoot that grows in spring I cut (instead of pinch) such that only 2-3 pairs of needles are left

[@letmebereal]

Deep love for Redwoods.

[@marnoster]

I’ve grown a couple of these from seed but didn’t know what to do with them. The one in your demo is real purdy! Thanks for the inspiration

[@gwenpotter1511]

I live in southern UK and have a quite mature coast redwood just starting to 'pop'. This video is very useful. Glad I found it. 👍

[@fruitlessbeast]

Still a beginner and not ready for this but will return when I am. So much great content on this channel! Hugely helpful.

[@AX1A]

Your humility is charming, but don't let it trick you. You're ready when you're ready (and you're ready)

[@Bonsaicrazy]

That’s a great lesson Eric thanks for parting with that knowledge. I’ll be sure to rewatch this vid when my trees are finally at this stage. Thanks loads fella👍👍👍👍

[@judymagrath3771]

Another fantastic video!

[@houseofintent]

This is really helpful. I just got a coastal redwood. Thanks!

[@T1374]

That's a beautiful looking tree. I just received 3 one-year old Sequoia seedlings that I'm considering doing this to. I wanted to try making a forest as well and growing them to about 5-6 feet. I might not live that longl 😆

[@rossanctuary5238]

Never knew such a big tree, and be turned into such a small tree 🌲

[@leelocd907]

Great video, love the new visuals!

[@estherlovesveges]

Rad tree. I really enjoy working with these trees.

[@G_909]

Thanks a lot for another informative video!

[@SuperPeleke]

Ive never seen one of these up close. Reminds me of yew trees in the foliage.

[@Bonsaify]

Yes very similar. Although I've never worked on a yew bonsai. lol.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice!!

[@questionablecooking7019]

nice looking tree.. I had chance few years ago to get a couple really nice shohin sized stumps I passed on and have regretted since 😭😭😭

[@danakelly2206]

Hi Eric! Long time Bonsaify fan and supporter here. As far as the nice trunk you have on this redwood, did you just let the tree grow for years then cut it? Or was it a series or sacrifice branches? Thank you so much :)

[@Bonsaify]

Hi - this was a collected trunk from Bob Shimon / MCBonsai.com. All I've done is basically create tiny branches!

[@woohooliving8683]

in bonsai, u trim both the branches and the roots. i have redwoods in pots. what would happen if i don't prune the branches and just prune the root every time the roots become pot bound?

[@MrHarryscoots]

thanks for the info, i have a question about collecting coastal redwoods. i have a large one planted out in the garden and am wondering when the best time to dig it up would be? im in the uk. would springtime be best? thanks

[@simongore29]

I know this is a question that will always spark controversy, but what soil mix do you use for your coastal redwoods? I hear they like kanuma in the mix, but like things on the damper side. I have mossed the surface of mine but it keeps it too wet

[@Bonsaify]

1:1:1 APL is my default. But I also use a 60% akadama premix called "Aoki". They will grow in a lot of mixes, proper watering for the mix you're using is the important thing to learn. They like water, but no tree should stay constantly wet. In the nursery we grow young ones from cuttings in 80/20 perlite:coco coir, and those do well also. More details here about our soil (but not specifically as it pertains to redwoods): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJK3i3uOgLV5m7c

[@willwatkins6694]

was it uncontrolled growth for many years? how tall was it when you topped it?. do redwoods respond well to having their trunks cut way down?

[@Bonsaify]

This was also a collected trunk. I didn't see it before collection but probably 15 feet. They do respond well to hard cuts when healthy - although you're not guaranteed buds in any given location.

[@jeffreyhutchings561]

What type of potting soil would you recommend for the development stage of a young redwood? My coast redwood from a nursery is about 6 feet tall and less than 2” at the base. I used Mother Earth Groundswell with added vermiculite. Other people have suggested Fox Farms Ocean Floor mix.

[@Bonsaify]

I've seen them grow in a lot of potting soils, which means to me it's not super important which one. But, I would caution that peat moss based soils have some problematic long-term properties. We use perlite as a base and mix in coco/bark. In bonsai many people use Akadama/Lava/Pumice.

[@RhysDardis]

Eric, would this principle apply to Dawn Redwoods as well? Thanks

[@Bonsaify]

TBH, I haven't worked with them much. Someone put a link to another video about them in one of the other comments I think.

[@theloudprofessional]

Hi What soil can in use for a small coast redwood? Is 100% akadama ok?

[@Bonsaify]

100% akadama isn't great typically, but it works, it just breaks down faster. 50/50 akadama and pumice or lava works well. 60%-70% akadama is fine too for slower finer growth.

[@stephencreswell229]

Will you please consider creating a video on Chojubai?

[@Bonsaify]

Yeah, but I might need to consult with @rakuyobonsai. I actually have a large-ish one now, but I find them temperamental in my climate. E.g I get them to gallon size and then they just die over the winter for seemingly no reason. I believe there is a diagnosed fungal pathogen causing it but I'm blanking on the name - Nutria? I'll find it again soon.

[@TheSunnyTrails]

Do you use a sealer on your terracotta pots or just keep an eye on watering? I find my terracotta dries out really really fast

[@Bonsaify]

I don't, these are Japanese terra cotta which are a bit tougher than the cheaper garden-center terra cotta. As for drying out - that's a good thing - the more times you need to water the faster you can get a tree to grow.

[@jank419]

Do you pinch buds of early development trees? Or Is pinching done with developed/finished materials only? THANKS!

[@eeeealmo]

One approach I'm trying is pinching in this fashion for a couple of years to develop ramification, then letting a terminal shoot run to thicken after

[@Bonsaify]

Nice! Yes, I agree that could be useful. And generally, pinching is only for trees where you have a trunk you like and are trying to create fine branching. That applies to pinching almost any species. If you don't have a good trunk then pinching is normally couter-productive.

[@KurisuBonsai]

Another great video!! Would this also work on dawn redwood? I've got a 5 tree forest that needs work soon judging by this. Thanks :)

[@Bonsaify]

I have limited experience with dawn redwood, but I believe yes - pinching is needed to increase density.

[@gwenpotter1511]

@@Bonsaify Recommend Chris watches Bonsai Science (Candice). Her '5 Rules of the dawn redwood' is a MUST watch. Dawns are entirely different to coasts. 👍

[@bricker918]

Would you recommend waiting until they have extended a bit to pinch, or can you pinch them right as they’re opening?

[@Bonsaify]

I do it when they look like in the video - it's hard to do it right when they're smaller, and if you wait longer then they're too long. Basically, whenever you can get your fingers in there! But as one of the other commentors said - scissors can work. I use them also. Just keep in mind that if you cut through the leaf, you'll end up with brown edges.

[@douglasbakerjr6706]

How did you get the trunk so big?

[@Bonsaify]

The trunk was a collected tree from Bob Shimon. MCBonsai.com

[@lindac446]

Would this work for bald cypress?

[@Bonsaify]

I don't think so.

[@vojtechmalina5698]

What if the tree is in early or mid development, the canopy has to get bigger and you just want to cut half of the shoot of, do you wait and prune it once it hardens off? Or you pinch it once it reaches the desired length, but when it's still soft? I have only seeds now but I'm curious.

[@Bonsaify]

This is by no means a comprehensive guide to start-to-finish redwood development. This is only one step in middle/late development. Sacrifice branches are great on redwood for making taper - a lot of the collected trees have large chops but no real taper above the base. When you do a large cut leave a little extra space, and wait for it to send out buds where you want - then cut back again finally. Once you've stopped building wood you can start pinching. (whether in a trunk extension, or in a branch you want larger.)

[@pawelm5493]

Does removing the needles on the older branches cause back budding like e.g. fir?

[@Bonsaify]

Not specifically - only in that it allows more light. Backbudding is not a problem, although you can end up with budding only in a few places - which is the nodes. Pinching reduces the node length, so you get more budding sites in the same amount of space!

[@jonathanaristone2468]

Eric, does this apply to Dawn RW too? Thanks

[@Bonsaify]

Yes, although my experience with such is more limited.

[@gwenpotter1511]

Jonathan - watch Bonsai Science video '5 Rules of the Dawn Redwood'. Dawns are a different animal to Coasts. Dawns are deciduous in all climates. You have to know when and what to reduce. Candice is your expert!!

[@gwenpotter1511]

Jonathan ... Bonsai Science on KZbin. Video entitled '5 Rules of Dawn Redwood'. You cannot treat dawns like coasts. Different animal entirely!

[@jonathanaristone2468]

@@gwenpotter1511 Thanks for this, just watched it, don't know how I missed that one even though I'm subscribed

[@gwenpotter1511]

@@jonathanaristone2468 - my pleasure!

[@daleruschmeyer2993]

Can these be kept indoors?

[@ScottL1017]

No

[@theCorePound]

How old is this beauty?

[@DavidScheltema]

Would you do this pinching with pre-bonsai Redwoods or would you wait until a good trunk has developed?

[@Bonsaify]

You could selectively pinch while allowing a top branch to run as sacrifice - but generally you want your trunk established before pinching begins, otherwise you have to constantly worry about the strong growth slowing the fine growth you're managing.

[@DavidScheltema]

@@Bonsaify Thanks for the info.

[@dudesjir74]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@9daywonda]

Nice one air wreck.

[@Bonsaify]

🤣

[@9daywonda]

[@iPheek]

Can you do the same to dawn redwoods and bald cypress?

[@Bonsaify]

Read other comments below⬇️

[@bulebonsaibatam1758]

Would this also apply to Spruce trees?

[@Bonsaify]

Generally yes, spruce pinching in spring is almost exactly the same. Keep in mind that your tree should be in good health before you pinch.

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌

[@zeroeure]

Do you think I could keep a coastal redwood alive in Virginia or North Carolina?

[@Bonsaify]

Good question. They are not freeze tolerant - e.g. 28F is about as low as you want to go. Beyond that, I'm not sure I totally understand the climate parameters they need. I would say you should try with an inexpensive nursery tree and see what happens! Keep in mind that the combination of heat/humidity might be a problem (or might not) - in the native range they either are subject to hot/dry or cold/moist. That said - more heat does produce faster growth, so it may be that you just need to watch for fungus during hot/wet conditions.

[@ronniebruce9624]

Im in NJ. I got a collected coast redwood last summer. It survived the winter in my garage where it didnt get below 40 degrees. It's just starting to awaken now

[@zeroeure]

@@Bonsaify I guess you’re just going to have to send me one then! 😀

[@kylepurvis6231]

I’m just out side Charleston SC, I have successfully cultivated coastal redwood for the past 3 yr outside in my small nursery. I can confirm they do not like the cold snaps in the winter, results in die back and some ugly foliage. If you were able to protect them over winter I think your fine, there are some fungal challenges as well, those have to be managed on a case by case basis. Thru my research coastal redwoods are quite unique in that they have Tripoli chromosomes, and are able to express up to 16 different growth characteristics, basically they are very adaptable and we’re once spread throughout the continent. However the only way to get the different growth characteristics to express would be to germinate seeds in your spec climate, causing them to adapt from germination. I got mine as plugs from the west coast so they think there from there home range. Not sure how you are with seeds but interesting experiment, sorry for long winded reply, geeked out there for a minute.

[@markwoodard659]

Same for Dawn Redwood?

[@Bonsaify]

See some of the comments and replies below.⬇️

[@ronniebruce9624]

I watched a video from Mirai. From my understanding you need to let dawn redwood grow until a bud appears. If you cut a frawn before any bud appears on that shoot, then it will die back

[@gwenpotter1511]

To those who asked about dawn redwoods I recommend Bonsai Science video 'Top 5 Rules of Dawn Redwood'. Very different work required from coast work.

[@kazu7700]

It's more beautiful if you don't wire it