Major pruning is done when the tree is dormant. Pests: Spray against wasps and bark pests. Most species prefer a wet then dry, then wet then dry regimen. The dormancy period occurs here normally from late November to early March. John also visited Craig in Scotland. Its now developing well and the shape is starting t look like my favorite tree in Nature. It will be shaped in summer 2010 and that should get it pretty much to its final shape-well you all know that maintaining that shape is indeed an ongoing effort. They're one of three members of the Sequoioideae subfamily, and the giants in particular are very unique. Its best to pluck once at the beginning of summer when the new shoots start to grow and then tidy up what you missed in early September in Northern climates. Well, except for water, sunshine, time, and a little tender lovin' care. The Dawn Redwood comes from China and is deciduous, while the Coast Redwood is native to the coastal regions of northern California and Oregon and is evergreen. Believed to be extinct, a living specimen of the Dawn Redwood was discovered by a Chinese forester in the 1940s. It is stiff so you can take a small bunch and pluck up but do not tear as that will damage the back shoots. I started this tree from seed in May of 2007. I need to wait until the new growth starts to sprout within a few weeks and then pinch back hard. The Dawn Redwood is sometimes mistaken for a Bald Cypress, but you can distinguish those two by the leaves, as the Dawn Redwood has opposite leaves and the Bald Cypress alternating leaves. About Craig Coussins' relations with the Giant Sequoia: The Giant Sequoia. Branches: Keep these short as in the wild. You can also use Mortegg Winter Wash solution (Tar Oil base) on this fissured bark. Fast-growing, unique species. Watering: During the summer Redwoods need a lot of water and the soil should be kept moist. Fertilizing: High nitrogen fertilizer should only be used in spring. The Coast Redwood has two types of evergreen leaves, most of them are needle-shaped and on some long shoots scale-like foliage can be found. The soil must hold enough moisture but at the same time it must be well draining to avoid root rot. With the Giant Sequoia tree, it only about moisture. The original apex had been hard chopped so the new apex styled in 2005 was created from a lower branch. Watering: As normal but spray foliage once or twice a day in the morning and evening to emulate the conditions found in the Giant Sequoia Forest in California that are 1.7 to 2 thousand meters above sea level and so get a lot of cloud moisture in nature morning and evening. Heavy feeding with Biogold pellets twice a year (lots). However, there are almost no forests (especially passable forests) which have densely packed thin and tall trees. Watch for growth and remove when wire starts to cut in. Mine do not get much sun in Winter but are kept in a light place which essentially gets no direct sun from October until April. Working with guy wires to lower the branches is often a better solution. These were Jinned but may be removed later. Considerable root pruning is inevitable each time the Redwoods are repotted. Half the tree down one side has been plucked and the other shows vigorous growth. Placement: They like full sun but can take slight shade in winter. Even a few massive stumps, snags, and hollow ones used for cabins. I went up to see these great trees and they inspired me enormously. When I was ill with Cancer back in 2000 I made the pilgrimage to Sequoia National Park in California. This is uncommon, as most Bonsai species have alternate preferences of dry and wet and dry soil. Picture 2 (right): The trees first repot in July 2006. But take care on the other hand not to overwater them, because this might lead to root rot. A handful on every quarter of the soil every three months, Pruning: Root prune as normal like Junipers. Never completely bare the roots of the giant sequoia. All the existing branches were left on but the tree was leggy. "Craig Coussins started Bonsai in 1974 and spent the next 20 years studying under the UK's leading Bonsai artist. Wasps eat the bark to make nests. For more detailed information on these techniques, try our Bonsai tree care section. Take only a conservative portion of about 20% or less. The Bonsai Growing Kit includes everything necessary to grow your own Dawn Redwood bonsai forest. My wife asked me what I wanted to do before I died. Air-layering is also possible. Living specimens of the Dawn Redwood have first been discovered in Sichuan (China) in 1941. When we finally got there I managed to walk up the steep hill from the lower car park. All buds you don't need should be removed immediately. (Well in case I died) I wanted to see the Giant Sequoias and do the worlds highest Bungee.. Some try to prevent that by doing the opposite — gigantic sequoia-like forests. The extremely strong Giant Sequoia (Sequioadendron giganteum), however, is seldom used for bonsai. Picture 5 (left): Here you see the tree six weeks later. How many have you seen? June 24, 2011. It really was very difficult for me and having been through months of Chemo., I was not at all as fit as I would have liked to be for this journey. He began teaching in June 1978 when he founded the Scottish Bonsai Association and soon after in 1983 he was a founder committee member of the UK Federation of Bonsai Societies, FOBBS.