Creating a Dawn Redwood Bonsai - Part 1

In this video I talk about the history of the Dawn Redwood and then I show you examples of various shapes, sizes and varieties of the Redwood.
Later I show you how to prune and wire Dawn Redwoods into Bonsai Trees. Some of which have quite unusual shapes.
Stuff to buy... (EU Only)👇
🌱Dawn Redwoods www.herons.co.uk/Outdoor-Bons...
🌳 Outdoor Bonsai Trees www.herons.co.uk/Outdoor-Bonsai/
👉 To shop for bonsai go to 👉: www.herons.co.uk
(please note we are only able to ship within the EU)
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👕 To purchase Herons T-Shirts click here heronsbonsai.teemill.com (shipped worldwide)
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🎹 Music is from imove and is called Newborn

[@dmperri]

Does everyone who comes here searching for an instruction video fall in love with everything about this and want to stay forever???? ...... just me?

[@andreasweber1533]

Perfectly normal reaction ;-)

[@rongiveans7215]

@@andreasweber1533 I just had to pause the video and purchase some reddawn redwood seedlings. Peter has that effect on me.

[@jaskaran-ll3xk]

Same here

[@user-fb3pu3qx3t]

Nope. It’s my new home.

[@skivvu2876]

I watch your videos over and over Peter. Even your ramblings are interesting you know, that’s why I watch the same videos again and again so I get every bit of information in those ramblings. 😁

[@veronicajones608]

I have started doing bonsai plants, because of your KZbin videos. I have always liked bonsai but never thought I could do it myself. Watching you has changed that. Thank you so much!

[@dreamgate]

SAME! Total black thumb, but with a calendar, and a little bit of caring about something other than onself, it's quite easy.

[@Anoiabonsai]

Veronica Jones; what I like about Peter is that he simplifies the techniques when applying the bonsai guidelines. I your trees acquire a very naturalistic aspect which gives a special character to the Bonsai and they are not forced and imposible forms branch. 🌳❤️😍

[@MsOSheDidIt]

It's so addictive! I loved Bonsai plants and now because of KZbin videos I have been growing Bonsai for years and have hundreds. I have to move my tender ones in a truck every winter and spring. Get ready to be crazy over the first freeze or last frost. 😂👍

[@jdhartman100]

I have started bonsai bc of Mr. Chan 😊. Even if I didn’t enjoy bonsai, I would watch and learn from Mr. Chan daily. His enthusiasm and way of being blesses my day!!

[@DawnMcCordDawnOfArt]

This was really nice to watch. Almost like Bob Ross with the way he embraces the oddities in each tree.

[@LoveBonsai902]

After finding Peter two years ago, I fell in love with bonsai and it now is a fantastically enjoyable hobby and obsession!!

[@standardgaming50]

Keep them coming Mr.Peter 👍Big fan here. You're an inspiration to us✌

[@constancemiller3753]

Right on Chino. 👍

[@PlanetaryDweeb]

"anything is possible, never never take 'no' for an answer." I'm so glad you are able to get more enjoyment out of making these videos, we really do like watching them!

[@owenmccann9297]

Dawn Redwood is one of my favourite species, I love how fast it grows and how easy it is to experiment with. I would recommend this tree to anyone looking for something fairly simple and fast growing. Within 2-3 years you can easily create something compact and beautiful.

[@Rockin23]

I planted about 20 cuttings in December, they are all budding out now. The new growth is really pretty. Glad to have a new species in my bonsai world!

[@DTRproductions]

It is you who made me take the leap and start growing in the pursuit of making my own bonsai, thank you.

[@Ukeitupmike]

Hi Peter, thanks for focusing on the dawn redwood. I bought a quite large one ( 1.60 m) for cheap 2 years ago in a ordinary nursery. This year I airlayered the upper 50 cm successfully after your advice, Now I am with two big trees ready for styling. Both straight upright. Still far away of the trees you are showing but let’s where we land at the end.

[@viksa78]

Your enjoyment is our too. May god give you health and good will to continue to educate us. Thank you so much.

[@sagebonsai]

I know how it is to feel like your life is constantly in motion that you often feel you couldn't enjoy what got your passion in the first place. I'm happy that you doing your videos made it feel like you have a new purpose, and to fall more back in love with the wonderful world of bonsai. And no you are not going crazy being alone talking to trees, in my opinion your giving those trees life, as those trees are returning the favor, plus were all hear watching and listening with anticipation like little children wanting to learn everything we can from our favorite teacher. Please remember to have a moment sometimes to take it all in, and enjoy all the little things in life even when times get rough.

[@peterchan3100]

Thank you for your kind words

[@charlesmancino4279]

These are the best educational bonsai videos on the web!

[@JacobMeza-pro-footballer]

dang, this is so cool, I had not even had the intention to tune in for the whole video, but yet here I am, completely and pleasantly entertained

[@TrumpxDaily]

This man is a fountain of knowledge. Thanks for all your help sir.

[@AricMcT]

First thing I do when I buy a new species: look if there is a Herons video on the topic. And as always - there was one. Thank you so much for teaching us the things you learned.

[@carolchiocchi7703]

You are talking to many,many very happy people who love watching and learning from you! Thank you very much Mr. Chen!!!

[@MitchellMasilun]

We hear you Peter! Thank you for doing all these videos, and I'm honored to be part of the audience that has given you a new lease on life and more enjoyment with bonsai. Keep it up and no working at the pond at night!

[@lindasanders7621]

Yes you create not only for our enjoyment, but as I speak for myself I not only learn so much from you and you are so informative. You are not going mad, LOL and yes you are talking to us! And we enjoy every moment spent with you. You even had me chuckling a few times with at British sense of humor you have developed! 😂❤️🌺🌹. I watch your videos more than any other channel here on KZbin. Just can’t get enough. Just one thing, I’d love to see a big old smile on that beautiful face of yours! 😁😂💕 By the way, I talk to myself all the time and my poor dog thinks I’m talking to her, so I involve her in my self conversations so she doesn’t think I’ve gone mad. 😂

[@michaelrutledge3750]

I love the cascade one. It really turned out better than I could have imagined.

[@druhandarkrock2678]

You are Correct in what you say and I am happy to hear that it gives you joy to know others have learnt a little of your wisdom. In a sea of madness yourself and the philosophy of bonsai have given me a rock to hold on to and I look forward to the future life of my young trees. I have had a love for bonsai your videos have helped inspire. And your a cool wise man thanks all at Herons Bonsai 🙏

[@mydios123]

Dear Peter, I want to thank you because you started me on my bonsai journey. I have always been intrigued by plants and gardening, but during the COVID lockdown in Singapore I started bonsai. Your videos were my first training materials and now I am hooked. I likened your style to Jamie Oliver’s who also started me in my love for cooking. Keep the videos coming please! Would like to see some tropical species in your demo that are suitable for the Singaporean viewers.

[@yopage]

LOL, I watch Peters videos over and over.

[@naecotiliasounds2373]

The part where you said that you feel like you create the bonsais for the enjoyment for us is really touching! Here I am now - 8 months later and still can enjoy what you created in October. And this will continue as long as you leave your videos up. Thank you for all your videos, I learned so much about bonsai and also: just watching them relaxes me also after a stressful day :).

[@mattygroves]

Thank you for sharing your work, Mr. Chan, it's inspirational!

[@castianplagued]

my friend its two years later and someone is still learning and enjoying it.

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

I'm happy to report that I finally had success air layering my dawn redwood this year. I also had massive success with cuttings taken in early spring! Thanks for the info, it's always helpful.

[@arnes.7945]

Hey, quick question, can you air Layer the main stem of the tree? My Meta is about 60 cm and grows very sparely around the base, so i wanted to know if it is possible to air layer the tip (about 20 cm), so the stem of the old one get‘s the chance to regrow. Alternative : how can i get it to grow new branches below top of the tree. I kind of like it‘s height. But with only the top growing, literally no growth on the trunk and some leaves right at the base. It really looks like a palm tree, which i dislike. I know dawns are very happy to grow, but it doesn‘t seem to produce new sprout on the trunk. To put it into simple terms: how can i get my Meta to produce new branches?

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

​@@arnes.7945 In my limited experience, cuttings worked well up to pencil size, and sir layers worked well around 1"Ø. The inverse didn't work. So I'd say that if your main trunk line is around 1" at any point, you should be good to go. Look at future branch structure before you do it too. As for the bare trunk, I know these guys backbud pretty readily. Check out "Darth Masiah's" channel, he chops the living heck out of his and it wont die. My bet is if you chopped it way back (or just picked a low point to air layer it) it would find a way to rebound, but you'd obviously be growing the rest of the tree from scratch. Hope that helps!

[@entvisual]

*I love the* dawn redwood! Incredibly interesting to hear history of Metasequoia! 💜💜😳

[@SteveSharples1]

Loved what you said about creating things for the enjoyment of others gives you pleasure and added the added incentive to do more.

[@eoinmulvany860]

Thanks Peter! I'm a big fan of your videos. Very relaxing and educational. I love seeing what you can make out of odd material. That twisted trunk tree; I would not have known what to do! You made it look great. Please keep posting!

[@annepahler8726]

I really love this tutorial, you provide so much insight into your art. My eldest son was given a dawn redwood when he was born. Now, more than thirty years later I am trying to grow some new trees from the old one and make them into bonsais. Your advice and demonstrations are so extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@coralreefer98]

I am in love with your character and all of your videos, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful garden and radiant positivity with us each video you make, you are so genuine and so kind, keep being you Mr. Peter! I'm going to keep watching!!

[@OB1Ken1]

My absolute favorite tree! I’ve been scouring the internet for information on how best to care for this plant as a bonsai and I’m overjoyed to finally have such a definitive guide. Thank you so much Peter!

[@DarthMasiah]

yeah, info on these guys is few and far between. I've been posting my experiments with a dawn redwood i got from Brussels Bonsai.

[@MidniteSan]

One of my favorite tree after maples, lovely trees Peter. Thx for sharing and hope to see more videos soon. Stay safe to all..Cheers.

[@janeplatt8254]

Enjoyed watching your creations with the dawn redwood love this 🌲👌❤️

[@erickcoffin6848]

I have been hoping for a dawn redwood special from you, Peter, and very happy to see part 1 on the title. Happy autumn to you my friend.

[@louise6666]

I am so mesmerized by all your videos! You are such a natural at the trimming and shaping of the trees. I enjoy watching every little detail, and appreciate all of the wonderful tips you share. Thank you so much!

[@dw293]

And we always appreciate the good quality content to watch, thanks.

[@jeanhawken4482]

You have made it possible for me to take bonsai. Already have a host of little oak trees sprouting and grafts taking of. Such a joy watching you work

[@Ailorn]

Thank you for talking to us Peter. When it gets cold again here I'm really looking forward to watching you work since my baby maple bonsai are all tucked away for the winter.

[@heikoziegler3459]

You are so inspiring and calming at the same time. It is such a joy to watch your videos. I will start also now to create bonsai the next time I am in the garden center. Thanks for sharing your experience and passion for this art.

[@ntwebster]

I'm so glad you posted this. I plan on buying a Dawn Redwood in the spring that I can start to bonsai.

[@mrcool7100]

I like watching you create Bonsai. It’s as though I’m there hearing the planes and motor cycles.

[@nicholas9875]

Peter reads my mind! I just collected some Dawn Redwood cones last week to sow! This information was really helpful.

[@cyndydejoy6129]

Thanks so much for all your videos. My life has been so enriched by watching you, listening to your simple yet effective philosophy (Be Bold) and your love of nature. Your channel is the first channel I check every day. You have become a mainstay in my life and I so appreciate you. Thanks from Florida!!

[@ritaschutte5764]

I HAVE A TREE CALLED SWAMP CYPRESS LOOKS VERY LIKE YOUR REDWOOD .COULD IT BE THE SAME TREE ? I LOVE YOUR WORK AND HAVE LEARNED A LOT.RITA 87 YEAR YOUNG NEW BONZIA LOVER.

[@heddapike8271]

Such a lovely video. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with your audience. Very easy to follow and informative.

[@BrockCombs]

Thanks again Peter, another informative and inspiring video!

[@mortisnoctu]

Glad that making videos has brought an element of enjoyment to your career!!! That was a very enjoyable part of the video, and yes, while you are talking to yourself, you are also talking to myself and others in the future! This is a very informative video! Thanks for the great tips. I undrstand a lot more about bonsai from your insights here.

[@robmartin3312]

You are definitely creating for the enjoyment of others... me for one.. keep going your love of what you do shows through on every post

[@jeffncompany]

i can confirm. you are definitely talking to me. and those words resonated with me. thank you, Peter for all that you do, your sharing of knowledge, skill, and all things bonsai

[@adrianvostenwald]

Thank you so much for making this video. It was delightfully enjoyable and informative.

[@lorrainesteele]

Thanks for this demonstration. I enjoyed and learned something’s that I will apply to my bald cypress bonsai tree. Keep up the great work! Watching on my Saturday morning with a cup of coffee thinking what need to do with my bonsais today mid October from the state of Georgia USA. Stay well!

[@russelldooley6262]

Hearing you talk about the KZbin video any why you enjoy doing it was very nice to hear. We appreciate you doing them as much as you love doing them.

[@nldutch5957]

Hello Mr Chan, Peter, Very nice to hear that providing the KZbin public with these video's rejuvenated your passion, or at least the satisfaction you feel. Big fan here :-)

[@marionfarley7379]

Your not going mad I have learned so much from you ,and I talk back to you. Thank you for making these videos.

[@vernonvice6054]

Dear Mr Chan, thank you very much for showcasing the Dawn Redwood. It has been a real struggle finding quality bonsai references to this species. Waiting in anticipation for part 2.

[@andrewlynch3737]

You are definitely creating for the enjoyment of others. As I’m listening and watching I have 3 orange trees I’m wiring for the first time. You are inspiring to those of us just getting started and experienced alike.

[@kenmahannah7509]

Yes extremely entertaining and informative ...I have 15 little Dawns ... from seedlings and i love these trees and this loved this video!

[@justinlmc1]

Thank you. You are an inspiration. Just potted my first bonsai and am extremely excited for the adventure ahead.

[@Shivangnis]

I end up serialising your videos for fear of missing out your words. You’ve been a great help in opening up my imagination & giving me courage to take up secateurs. Thank you

[@MaggYela]

OMG I was going to ask you exactly about this tree and I open your channel and there you have it!!! thank you

[@cs3742]

Yes, you are talking directly to me and I am taking in every word and every bend and every snip. Your videos have been a revelation and a blessing to me.

[@jimbersmcimbers]

Took a cutting off one over my village common just yesterday to go with the one I bought from Ashwood Nurseries near to me back in June. I love em!

[@giselelundrigan6610]

I love watching you make such beautiful trees! Maybe someday I'll try and make one! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@thepoppunx]

love what you said at the end... i'm learning a lot watching you videos... saludos desde argentina!

[@clintondavis3363]

I am one of those who is enjoying your videos and learning from them! I love watching you work.

[@kryzto8368]

Thanks, Peter! We live your videos and we I am grateful to have someone show all the possibilities with assorted trees. Especially the encouragement not to be so strict all the time and enjoy it as a hobby.

[@natrjack965]

Has to be one of my favourite trees also thank you again Peter for a brilliant video. Really appreciate you sharing your knowledge

[@creightonfreeman8059]

Your videos have been of exceptional enjoyment to those of us stuck at home due to the pandemic Peter. It is good to hear that our interest in your videos has given back something of value to you as well. May you always have "beginner's mind" and the interest, sincerity and focus that comes with it.

[@purplethumb7887]

Everything you touch turns into a piece of bonsai art! You are a master of your craft and make it look easy. Thank you for sharing your videos with us.

[@747captain]

Thank you for sharing your art and expertise for the world to enjoy! You've inspired me to grow 11 Japanese maple (that I found in foliage of a nearby office complex!) with the intention of grouping them in a bonsai forest, come mid winter. I live in Seattle and I've also collected a western hemlock from the woods of Washington State, near Mount Rainier and it has a most unusual curve to its young trunk; it is doing well and I've had it almost 1 month.

[@AmraphelofShinar]

I really like this species of tree and as you said it does somewhat resemble a Bald Cypress. Thanks for making such great videos!

[@Tore1972Wisdom]

Peter it´s so nice to see a video about Metasequoia Glyptostroboides. I have some my self and i love them. So beautiful trees.

[@pauloconci4196]

Hearing you talking to yourself is one of the most pleasant things I ever done. I have only recently found your channel. I'm now binging all your videos and amazed with yourself and your knowledge of the trees and life itself. Thank you very much.

[@danielela9383]

Wooow amazing and nice Bonsai plants .. I hope part 2 comming son ..thank you for the ideas ..

[@michaeljijus980]

Lovely video. I got redwood forest as well. Cool you mentioned history of these trees!! Exciting

[@alwafy50]

Thank you very much for sharing what you do for a great job I really enjoy listening to you are at work. I really like your videos and the way you work and I have benefited a lot from you. Thank you so much

[@StephenTurnerVlogs]

You're only mad when you stop answering yourself Peter. It's such a pleasure to watch you work and I love all the help it gives me too work on my own trees or something else in the garden. Hopefully I'll get over for a workshop in the near future

[@xyzllii]

Good old Mr Chan....this gave me ideas for the several Dawn Redwoods in my garden...which are still small enough to keep interesting.

[@jonnygunsuk]

Another great video and an unusual tree genus 👍🏻

[@craighunter3273]

Excellent. I enjoyed the focus on the Redwood. Especially the cascade. I designed a cascade a few years back and was mega happy to see you go down that route as I get some very weird looks from people when they look at my Redwood cascade and ask “what is the tree?”. Anyways - your demo helped me to think about a slight redesign as I haven't given too much attention to the crown. Also I may reduce it from a two trunk cascade to a one trunk. A little bit of air-layering coming up. Cheers for this uTube video Peter. It was much enjoyed.

[@mariapilarme]

I can see this can become an obsession. Beautiful 🤩

[@vaughnblaylock6069]

I have a dawn redwood in my back yard that I purchased this summer. I saw it at the nursery and fell in love with it. I went back three times just to look at it before I bought it and actually clear an area in my backyard so that I would have room for her. I plan to plant a good sized stand of them at my farm this spring from cuttings off of the tree. Just gorgeous.

[@danielboone5505]

I am enjoying and learning from many of your videos. My sincerest gratitude. May Christ Jesus bless and keep you and yours. Cheers. Adios!

[@tedtolentino4955]

Never before had I a serious interest in bonsai or growing trees, for that matter. But having discovered your KZbin videos has piqued my interest. Thanks for sharing your wealth of information, love of bonsai horticulture, and skills.

[@lilladick4334]

I enjoy watching your video's and the creations turn out beautifully

[@joeneukom8254]

I've got one that I chopped down for bonsai from the tree nursery I work at called gold rush. It has bright yellow leaves all summer. Cheers from northern Indiana. USA. Hope all is well! Love your videos!! Joe

[@SawItAgaaain]

Confirming that you truly are "creating for the enjoyment of others." I'm watching this for ideas for my dawn redwood grouping, so thank you!

[@MrChausner]

Wow. Such a great video. I will certainly consider adding Dawn Redwood to my trees. USA Michigan

[@goss67]

I am enjoying the videos and learning :) Thank you so much!

[@guardherheart]

I gathered some Taxodium distichum seeds, among others, last year and started bonsai thanks to you! Nice video as always!

[@alibitemporale7179]

“Less is more” “Don’t be afraid to cut” 🙌🏼 I absolutely love your videos, you talk about bonsai but you always talk about life. Please keep talking to yourself and so to us. 🙏🏻 Thank you for sharing your unvaliable experience

[@modtheblackmarvel]

I enjoyed it . The cascaded tree was "improved" very wel ..i just like how you use "impove" the trees .like they are already good.. but u make em even better .but in a respectful way .i like that 👌🏾🌳

[@63yearoldskater]

You are much more creative and optimistic than I! When you picked up the "bizarre" tree, my first thought was "air layer above the loop, then, cut the loop off and throw it in the firewood pile, and let the trunk regrow!

[@senbonzakurakageyoshi2664]

I got into bonsai for my 5yr old. He wanted to grow plants. I originally got him some plant kits but they didnt last very long since they weren't long living plants. So I decided to grow bonsai from seeds & also bought a dawn redwood seedling. So this video gave me lots of ideas for it that we can do together. Thanks for all you do!!

[@TheCraigproctor]

Amazing talent Sir ! year's and year's knowledge right here 👌👍

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

Glad you recaptured your enjoyment of the hobby, not the business which I am sure is tuff like any business, in our hobby dumping hundreds doesn't matter since we have our "Job". Always great videos, I drove an hour to a landscape supply company near Mt Baker volcano, got black volcanic rock for $2 a 5 gal bucket, I did a lot of shoveling and then sifting when I got home, hope this will drain better for my hundreds of JBP and JRP seedlings, it's been very rainy here in Washington and it was killing them.

[@lump88]

Ha, your not going mad!!! i myself have become addicted to this channel. i literally have spent the last 2 days in front of my PC just watching one after the other. i have become so interested the the Hobby of Bonsai, i know find myself wanting to leave America and go to England to work for them.

[@justinbrantley220]

I didn't know all that about the redwood... Cool. Thanks for the helpful vid as always

[@martindorrance8133]

Your new uptake in using KZbin to revitalise your enjoyment of bonsai helps us all newcomers.