Pruning My Giant Sequoia Trees for the First Time, The Bonsai Zone, Jan 2023

I'm pruning my Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) trees for the first time since they germinated from seeds!
To see previous videos of my giant Sequoia bonsai, click on the playlist here...
• Giant Sequoia Bonsai
#TheBonsaiZone

[@mannyoliveira9020]

I’ve had 22 Giant Sequoias grow from seeds I planted and am going to turn some of them into a bonsai (my first ever bonsai)! This channel is going to be a godsend!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Sounds great! I hope your trees do well!!!! Mine are dormant for the winter, ready for spring!!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Be sure to check out the complete playlist for the trees in the description to see the latest updates!!

[@BlueJayBonsai]

I agree with Derrick, the little forest already is looking good. Can’t wait to see how you rearrange the trees when you repot in the spring! 🐦💙

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Me too! Just a few months now!!

[@danielsickelmore]

I love growing trees from seed! I'm young, so hopefully when I'm retired I can enjoy 30 year old trees I grew from seed.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice Daniel, that's the spirit!!!

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

They have already arranged themselves! Largest at the front even! I have been fascinated by these and giant redwood since I was a child. I used to want one to plant in my yard with my first white pine I was given when I was 5, by a friend of my father. Unfortunately the only place in Canada both will grow is the BC coast. I made it there once as a teen. I was in cadets and heading to the Whitehorse, Yukon cadet camp. We were bussed up from Vancouver. I was able to see Redwood in person. I'm a small person to begin with, but I felt like a flee on a dog looking up through the fur. Not sure how else to describe it really. Once in Whitehorse, the trees were similar to where I am now, less deciduous trees though. The trees were smaller in general. I still have the rocks I collected along the Yukon river. Oh boy, this video brought me for a trot through memory lane... Edit to add, I bet they smell very nice! Would be nice to hang the clippings in the house like we do with cedar!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Great memories Marysol, I'll be making a trip out west some day to see the trees! They do smell great, very unique!!

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Hi Nigel I’m so glad you made this video. I made a giant sequoia forest the other week and I was beginning to believe it would be me experimenting with my trees, something I was not looking forward to. I hope they recover ok. And thanks for your kind comments on my forest 👍

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, I hope the trees grow well in spring!! We'll see!

[@apostlewoody]

Thank you for this video. I literally have the same broken down seed tray, filled with 2 yr old sequoias that I didn't know how to tackle..

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ChannelSobari]

Thank you for sharing pruning bonsai🙏👍

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Most welcome!!

[@baldyeti]

That was quite interesting and informative, good sir. I’ve always come to your channel to learn, but I didn’t appreciate the effort you put into teaching until I watched Dave’s interview with you. I sure do appreciate you, brother.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks so much Yeti, I hope these trees do well this spring!!

[@coneflower5101]

Your little giant Sequoia trees and adorable already. I want one now.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

😊 thank you

[@TobyJin]

The forest is getting along quite nicely, I remember the one winter where they turned a bronze colour and you thought they weren't going to make it. Even as seedlings, they look quite nice already, I'm not sure how fast these ones grow but I do have a similar species, Sequoia sempervirens which seems to be so vigorous I need to prune multiple times a season. Can't wait to see how they develop.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I think they have similar growth rates Toby!! I'm sure I'll have to prune a lot too! I'll have to check out yours! Thanks!!

[@eljardindesofiB2688]

Que belleza amigo gracias por tan lindo vidro

[@gabrielruiz9540]

My wife and I just returned from Sequoia National Park and the giant sequoias are majestic and inspiring! These magnificent trees have lived for thousands of years and have endless stories to tell. I purchased a giant sequoia tree sapling and thanks for your wonderful video💚

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Wonderful!

[@paulthompson2147]

Along with Coasters my favourite trees. Would love to visit the national parks one day.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Me too!!! Some day I will!

[@scotthogbin613]

Looking forward to seeing you arrange these tree's into a forrest, already looks great and I'm sure you will create something special Nigel.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Scott!!

[@maureenfaulkner4323]

Last Saturday I saw two beautiful small giant sequoia at UNBC in forestry lab. I now want one so much, to try what you are inspiring. Great new camera angles. Thanks for the super instructions.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Awesome Maureen, It was hard pruning my little trees, but I think they will become really nice, many years in the future!! It was really nice meeting you and I can't wait for October's big event!!!

[@planterbanter]

I love your forests Nigel, I can't wait to see how it turns out - even within the next 5 years!

[@DankPiscean]

Just started my own journey with giant sequoias seeds. Hope mine turn out as vigorous as these by next spring! Really beautiful trees.

[@PATentPending310]

Can't wait to see how this turns out! Thanks for sharing.

[@JackC1961]

A trailblazing master class in pruning. Thanks Nigel, very informative 👍Im off to tackle my Junipers.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Jack, I hope the tree do well for me!!!

[@JackC1961]

@@TheBonsaiZone I’m sure they will do very well, looking forward to following their progress.

[@jerzinho92]

Grow sequoia giganteum for several years in France and what you ll get are many back buds everywhere :) Plus, strength will still be strong on the top. This winter i tried a very strong pruning : the top as every years + remove most of side branches. I just let many buds. We ll see the results this summer!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Cool, thanks!!

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Heavy wet snow here. Glad okay by you.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Not much here yet!

[@mattbrennan647]

Looks fantastic already. I can’t thank you enough for your tutelage. Not only inspirational but both enjoyable and informative. Thanks, keep growing

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Matt, I can't wait to see how the trees react to their first pruning!!

[@bartstellink307]

Can't wait to see the next one on this forest. Looks great!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

More to come!

[@skrounst]

I think I watched all of the series of the Montreal bonsai collection videos you posted. I dont remember seeing the sequoia. They only have a few trees listed on their website too. Maybe I'll try and find it in your videos again. I have a few 1 year old sequoias, and finding inspiration is kinda tough because of the lack of information. I'll be following your progress closely, since yours are one year ahead of mine!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I turns out it was a Coastal Redwood, not a Sequoia! I'll keep you posted on all the work I do to these trees!!

[@skrounst]

@@TheBonsaiZone Other than foliage (coastal redwoods foliage looks almost like bald cypress foliage, Sequoia foliage more like a juniper) they are rather similar trees. I think coastal redwoods might be a bit more hardy too. I read that sequoias do better at higher elevations, which might be a detriment for us, but they're such cool trees it's worth a shot. Looking forward to the repotting video in spring!

[@betulaobscura]

Looks interesting! I keep my fingers crossed and I hope some day these cuttings will look like miniature Sequoia forest!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'll keep at them, I'm sure they will grow quickly!!

[@random40s]

I like the trees. I used to have 2 of them, but for some reason they died when they were about 18, or 20 inches tall. I was pretty bummed about it as I had high hopes for them as bonsai. I'd not keep one smaller than 3 feet tall as they seem to not like being very small, but I hope you have more success than I did.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks for sharing your experience!! They do seem tough to keep alive outside of their native zone! I think they need lots of misting and cooler temperatures in the summer and a cool, but not too cool spot in winter!!

[@derekhead7068]

Those are looking good Nigel! I’ve tried growing Giant Sequoias from seeds a couple of times now and can never get them to make it past a year. Usually die off when I bring them inside for winter.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They like to be kept cool for the winter if possible, ideally just above freezing. This will keep them healthy in the long term. They grow in a very specific range on the coast where conditions are just right for them. They need lots of misting in the summer and babied through the winter!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks user-xb4yy6st9s!! Great to hear real life experience with the trees!!! I hope your trees do well over the years, it sounds like you are taking good care of them!!!

[@johanvanasch8967]

@@TheBonsaiZone Sequoiadendron grows on the slopes of the sierra nevada between 1200 and 2400 m high, they can take quite some frost , sequoia however the Coastal redwood , you better keep these arround freezing as lowest temperature , giantsequoia - 5, -7 in a pot is no problem, below that i would worry about protecting them , my pots just stay outside the entire winter , on the ground protected from wind. canadian winters are a different beast though :)

[@paskali1975]

Nice! 👍🏻🌲🌲🌲

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Tybold63]

Can almost feel the smell looking at you cutting away. They seem to have pretty soft needles do they?

[@arnes.7945]

Yes they do. The green branches feel very waxy, but they are fairly delicate as well. Handle with care or you might squish the green growth. But the smell it exudes is a perfect excuse for that 👀. Jokes aside, it has become one of my favorite scents. A slightly tangy orange note paired with soft cedar and piny notes in the beginning and fading to a smell almost resembling freshly cut lawn . At least that is what i smell and i love it

[@NoenkGalleryBonsai]

Thanks for sharing 😍👍

[@ferasi6944]

Medium to large seems to be your favourite bonsai size 😉

[@DavesBonsai]

Love the forest!

[@peterw2845]

Lovely little forest Nigel , gonna be great one day !! The only time I ever saw a sequoia I had to buy it , it never made it to a bonsai as it’s far to pretty , maybe though one day now I know what to do with it , I will give it a try , thanks always for your valuable information 👏

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Peter, I hope your tree grows mighty!!

[@Holla.Die.Waldfeee]

These look exactly like lemon cypress lol. Pls give us an update soon, i also never pruned these, very excited how they react :o

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They do look like my Lemon Cypress, I only have one left, it is in the basement and is doing well so far this winter!!

[@jiggermast]

Great video, I've just taken delivery of two Redwood small saplings which I will grow as Bonsai's. hope they don't die like the last 5 over the previous years,

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

GST trees grew nice for you. The way you prune these trees, they will be ready for some nice spring growth. Of course, done by the Master, Dr. Saunders.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I hope they do well Tom!!

[@claytonarnot7217]

I have 8 sequioadendron giganteum currently going in my 2nd year. 5 different cultivars. 2 are plain. I have not any pruning. They are all mostly 3 feet tall. Looking forward to see how yours develop!

[@mirkoirishdrunk8992]

I follow this interesting project, I have one giant sequoia and one costal redwood

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I hope my trees do well after this pruning, we'll know in spring!!

[@mirkoirishdrunk8992]

@@TheBonsaiZone Me too. In Italy I only know one boy who has a giant sequoia and he too is carrying out experiments. It is not very common here in Italy. This spring I'm trying to layer on the coast redwood, let's hope everything goes well 😊

[@uppergorple]

Nice one Nigel! A thought - the seeds 'gave' you that random grouping, I'd keep it. It looks natural and if some struggle to compete then why intervene? That's what trees do.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

If I tried to keep the forest small, that would work, but as they grow they will need more room, I'd end up with only a few trees!

[@uppergorple]

You're right, of course. In the longer term I'd be tempted to add 'new' smaller trees, as though the big guys have self-seeded. Just a thought.

[@MaybeBonsai]

I hope yours grow like normal trees after pruning, my bigger giant sequoia seems to not respond that well to pruning. I get tons of back buds on the trunk but the branches do not develop as well.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Xin, good to know, I hope they turn out OK!!

[@hollydavies8800]

Hi Nigel i was just thinking that i actually like the arrangement now, very natural without the effort! Maybe you could replicate in the repotting?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Great suggestion!

[@andrewbetrosian2784]

I have 7 of them and have never pruned , have two Dawn Redwood and one Coast Redwood.

[@alaineon7557]

Bonjour...je viens d'acquérir un séquoia géant en bonsai , il était a Barcelone, je suis dans le sud ouest de la France..il est brumisé tout les jours 2 fois par beau temps et un peu d'engrais fertil océan..et substrat toujours humide ça aime un sol frais et humide...la personne qui le possédait ne savais pas y faire il a failli mourir...donc il me fait une belle poussée...j'adore cet arbre avec mon cyprès des marais de Louisiane

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Bien, je suis content que tu en aies un, ce sont des arbres tellement intéressants !!!

[@blooky102]

My sequoia tree is about as old as yours, however mine is twice as big perhaps due to the large pot its in.

[@arnes.7945]

Will there be a follow up? I have 2 giant sequoias. One got frostbitten during the winter (turned reddish-purple). It isn‘t showing any signs of new buds forming. I am afraid it will die. Also i am super unsure on how to prune them. Van i chop branches at any length or do i need to prune back to buds/internodes? (I tried it a while back, cut a branch short and it died) It is such a task to find info online😂. Would be really cool to know how the giant responds to cutting back

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Time will tell, mine haven't started growing yet, I am hoping all goes well, we'll have to wait a bit longer!!

[@Alepoudiitsa]

:O i have this trees to i have 2 off them i got them from the super market for 2 euros ea i like the way the look and the were not pricly

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice, thanks for the comments Hikari!!

[@je-xv7it]

Well I live in Oklahoma and have had one for about 2 years now last winter was colder then shit and this past winter was colder then shit last summer was hotter then shit and hopefully this summer won't be hotter then shit but my sequoia is doing great finally coming out of it's dormancy and starting to green up again. It's about oh I don't know 2 feet tall and it's truck is about 2 inches in diameter. Pretty bad ass little tree last July had a real bad drought lawn turned to dust and blew away lost a blue spruce my duggy fur hung in strong and my sequoia never flinched a bit just kept on growing. I did have it were all my trees got the morning and early afternoon sun but then shade the rest of the day. Took me 3 days watching the sun and elm tree in my front yard to figure out a location for that to work. My wife watered them for me when I was at work then I watered them again after I got home. Made it through that shit summer. We get real high winds in the winter and the temps can drop to -10 even -20 here with the wind chill but I put them in my little green house for that. Prunes mine about 2 weeks ago and got a little die back. Pruned the roots so it could fit in the badass pot my wife bought. ( It's frost proof ) love the pot. All in all it's doing awesome for a high altitude tree growing in Oklahoma, love my little sequoia buddy. I'ma stop it from growing after about 4ft tall. I got a couple of sacrificial branches left at the bottom. Hopping to get another 3 to 4 inches of truck width. Bought another came the same height as my first about 3 inches but I'm guessing in Oklahoma they grow fast not sure why but my new one will put on about 2 feet by November I'm sure. Well I watch your videos from time to time. Got a weird hair do going on there but what ever floats your boat as they say. Keep up the great content and I'll keep watching and learning. P.s cool looking sequoia forest btw love the snow you got going on where you live. 2 thumbs up on that 👍👍

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, great information, I hope your trees do well this year!!

[@Alepoudiitsa]

yes to cuting i did it tho i lost them to thos bugs that look like cotton, i don't know if the will root tho if the are green my were woody when i planted the cutings.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's hard to keep everything alive, when I plant seeds, out of 100 seeds, I'm lucky to get a handful of trees!

[@Alepoudiitsa]

@@TheBonsaiZone yes! i planted a lot of maples but so far i haven't goten any i am realy unlucky with them or the seeds i got were bad.

[@blakespower]

they look just like eastern Red cedar when they are that small

[@Bigninjon]

Aw man, no rubber cement today, lol jk thank you Nigel!

[@Sentient_Goose]

Are you going for a mame forest? These trees will never get larger in that pot especially with all the pruning

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, I am trying to keep them as small as possible, if possible!

[@mattbrennan647]

In the beginning there I was wondering… is he smelling it or tasting it? ;-)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I was tempted to taste it!! It was nice to see you in Jay's viewers pics, putting a face to the name!!

[@mattbrennan647]

@@TheBonsaiZone ,, thanks Nigel. Hopefully one day we’ll have an opportunity to meet in person

[@MultiVic1982]

I think that the Ryan Neil tree you saw in Montreal was a coastal redwood, not the giant seguoia.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You are right, it is a Coastal Redwood!! Thanks Vic!!!

[@Alepoudiitsa]

btw i don't know if you know about Discord, i use it for games mostly but i think ppl here will like to show there trees to own an other.

[@justlucky13]

Foist

[@kevinrandell5189]

🌵🌴🌳🌲Foist 🌲🌳🌴🌵

[@jaguardelcielo]

Not Foist.

[@umwha]

I dont really understand why you did this? If they have more leaves, then they'll be able to obtain more energy quicker, and grow quicker? Cutting off most of the branches will just hinder them, no? The branches weren't bad, they were fine.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'm trying to keep the trees small, not grow them into larger trees. If you let them grow, the lower branches will weaken and die off and the tops of the trees will get huge!

[@Kwood10]

Thoid

[@mfmurk8526]

looks kinda small to me to be honest

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Indeed, giant in spirit only!

[@apogeus2]

you need some pruning too🎉😂

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Indeed!!!