Sequioadendron giganteum

Discussion in 'Gymnosperms (incl. Conifers)' started by Lisa Harry, Jun 5, 2022.

  1. Lisa Harry

    Lisa Harry Contributor

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    Hi @AlainK I know the post at Identification needed is old but I was looking some stuff up because my partner and I just got a sequoiadendron giganteum pendulum. I noticed you mentioned they are a struggle to keep alive in a container in your climate. Our climates I believe are similar would you share what issues you found? Our tree will remain in a container and we quite like it so I’d like to find ways to keep it alive… I just up potted it as we got it from the nursery the other day it is quite pot bound. I’ll have to root prune in some capacity in spring.. I read that it is not appropriate to bare root them when root pruning. Thanks.
     
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  2. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    Hi Lisa,

    I'm not sure: you're not that far from the original natural range of Sequoia. I clicked on your location and New Westminster is very close to the sea (10 km or so, right?). Here, I'm 350 km (220 miles) from the sea, so the air is much, much drier. My sister lives by the Atlantic coast (near La Rochelle), and even if it's warmer, the wind always carries some humidity, which we don't have here.

    The main problem I think is dry air, more than high temperatures.

    I also tend to think that like some species of Larix like the European larch, they like to have cool feet and the head in the sun : they're mountain trees (the Larch), so the temperature drops at night even if it can be very hot during the day. So there is some mist, or dew in tha morning on the leaves, that's why they are healthier in the mountains than in the plains. I think it's a bit similar with Sequoiadendron giganteum. And potted Cryptomeria.

    That being said, messing with the roots when repotting a conifer is a risk, yes. You can cut, slice rootballs of Acer palmatum, but with conifers in genetral, better take a chopstick to separate the roots so you can put new soil. Another thing is that even when I remove most of the old soil when repotting conifers (I don't have many but..) I always keep a little to incorporate to the new soil, just to make sure mycorhizae will continue to be there - even if some of them are inside the roots.

    Will you post / have you posted photos? I'm very curious to see your tree...
     
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  3. Lisa Harry

    Lisa Harry Contributor

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    Hi all just got a lovely little guy here the Weeping Giant Sequoia that I hope to maintain container growing. @AlainK here is the newest addition to the mini forest family we are trying to make here. Even tiny it’s truly lovely I really hope I can keep it in a container, I mean bonsai guys can I gotta figure it out. It was extremely pot bound in the nursery pot, this ceramic pot is only slightly larger so I think spring will require a root pruning. I haven’t moved it back to it’s spot yet I need my partner for that tonight.
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  4. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    Next year, a twice wider pot maybe ?...
     
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  5. Lisa Harry

    Lisa Harry Contributor

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    You think so? You dont think I can maintain the root pruning? I’d prefer not to have too large of pots cause I’m finding they need to be repotted every couple years cause the soil is spent but maybe
     
  6. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    Although it's an erected (?) tree, I think it needs a wider pot, 20% plus, and 5-10% deeper...
     
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  7. Lisa Harry

    Lisa Harry Contributor

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    This should do this season and get me through until spring at least.
     
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  8. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    Yes, it looks very healthy, no need to worry.

    And the right time-slot for repotting is much trickier for conifers than it is for deciduous...
     
  9. Lisa Harry

    Lisa Harry Contributor

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    When’s the best time for these guys to be repotted
     
  10. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    I'd say spring, after the frosts. But I'm not a specialist at all...
     
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  11. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    I'm always very careful with touching the roots of conifers in general, I prune as little as I can...
     
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