Need Advice, Newer to the Redwood/ Sequoia scene

[B-Tone]

Hello to everyone!
Being this is my first post, please be patient lol
I live in North Utah...
I bought my Redwood sapling a year and a half ago, I repotted to this larger bowl and it has begun budding out. As it did not drop any leaves last year I am under the assumption that these longer ones are branches as they are now sprouting new buds? I am happy with the growth, and the leader has begun some new upward motion, but with the larger branches on the top, the tree is growing sideways. The shorter bottom branches are budding out, but they are NOT going to catch the higher ones. I also have what looks to be abnormal growth on most of these branches i.e.- leaves on leaves on leaves lol This along with many buds forming on the trunk where other branches are already located is concerning, I do not want the bulging or reverse taper to ruin my tree. Can anyone lend a new tree owner some sound rookie advice?

 

[TrevorLarsen]

Welcome to the site! It’s always nice to see a fellow Utahn on here I live in Alpine. I don’t have any experience with redwood (but I want some really bad) so I can’t help you with this other than to say I would just let it grow wild for a few years. Next year before it wakes up I would repot it into bonsai soil. If you have any more questions I know more about I am happy to help.

 

[PowerTap]

As this tree grows it's going to throw of suckers like mad lower down on the tree. Over time you can let these grow out and cut back the upper branches. I wouldn't cut back anything on this tree right now, it needs time and patience. You are not at any immediate risk of reverse taper.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Hello to everyone!
Being this is my first post, please be patient lol
I live in North Utah...
I bought my Redwood sapling a year and a half ago, I repotted to this larger bowl and it has begun budding out. As it did not drop any leaves last year I am under the assumption that these longer ones are branches as they are now sprouting new buds? I am happy with the growth, and the leader has begun some new upward motion, but with the larger branches on the top, the tree is growing sideways. The shorter bottom branches are budding out, but they are NOT going to catch the higher ones. I also have what looks to be abnormal growth on most of these branches i.e.- leaves on leaves on leaves lol This along with many buds forming on the trunk where other branches are already located is concerning, I do not want the bulging or reverse taper to ruin my tree. Can anyone lend a new tree owner some sound rookie advice?
View attachment 544688View attachment 544689View attachment 544690View attachment 544691View attachment 544692View attachment 544693

Looks healthy. They love water, and you're going to get buds sprouting out from the trunk in batches, each one will become a branch if you let it, sometimes 4-5 or more coming out of the same location, I pinch or prune them off if I don't like the angle or location. I'd let it grow wild for awhile and thicken up the trunk. I don't think you have to worry about reverse taper at this stage of development. The browning leaves makes me think it's not getting enough water.

 

[RKatzin]

Can you clarify what exactly you have there? It looks like a giant Sequoia and not a coastal. They're very different critters and the requirements are a little different.
Either way, the brown tips are not uncommon in spring emergence and I believe it's cold related. I've seen it on both Giants and Coastal. I usually just pluck them off.
I can't say much more until I know what you have. The Giant is an inland mountain tree and the Coastal is, you guessed it, a lowland coastal tree. Very different habitat.
I can say, for me, the Coastal is a breeze, but the Giants are problematic, especially about root disturbance.

 

[PaulH]

looks like a giant Sequoia and not a coastal

That's a coast redwood for sure. Its much too young to think about anything but letting it grow and thicken. It will need winter protection in your climate but I'd just concentrate on proper feed and water and keeping it healthy for a few years.

 

[B-Tone]

Thank you everyone for the input! Finally a place without fear of badmouthing a post lol.
I have pinched a couple of buds I didnt like, but will leave it this year, and go with the repot next season. Just wanted to make sure I wasnt going to destroy the trunk before it had a chance, but I guess being top heavy is giving it some different trunk movement as well!

 

[PowerTap]

Thank you everyone for the input! Finally a place without fear of badmouthing a post lol.
I have pinched a couple of buds I didnt like, but will leave it this year, and go with the repot next season. Just wanted to make sure I wasnt going to destroy the trunk before it had a chance, but I guess being top heavy is giving it some different trunk movement as well!

I would let it grow incredibly wild and thicken the trunk. Jonas at Bonsai Tonight has some great posts on redwood care.

 

[zeejet]

Not to hijack this thread, but I'm in a similar boat - just bought a coastal red from a bonsai nursery for $35. It has some minor root flare at the bottom, but it otherwise straight.

Here are my questions:

Repotting:

• What's a safe amount of roots to remove if the tree is rootbound?
• Should it be treated like any other conifer and be repotted in late spring when new growth starts showing?

Growth/Pruning:

• Should it be allowed or run uninhibited for growth and trunk development? I often worry that the speed of growth comes at the price of developing issues down the road - don't these things grow very vigorously?
• If there are multiple shoots extending from the same point or level on the trunk, should the extraneous shoots be removed (to prevent inverse taper and swelling at the node)?
• Will this species reliably back bud if ends are pruned back? How far back should a cut be made?

Sun/Water:

• I'm in coastal SoCal (Zone 10 with mild summers but very strong sunlight and moderate to low humidity) - should I keep this under shade cloth in the summer months? Or does it need full sun throughout the year?
• My impression is that coastal red should be more on the water side of the water-oxygen balance - are there any nuanced notes I should be aware of for this species?

Pests/Disease:

• Do I need to spray prophylactically for bugs or fungus?