A past customer of mine from Eureka CA showed up today with a redwood seedling. I had asked her about a year ago that if she went home to Eureka to bring me back a redwood. I had forgotten all about it, but today she called and said she's bringing it over. I know the winters are too cold here and the summers too dry ( KC MO ). She brought one back for herself and said she was going to try to Bonzai it. Right now I'm clueless as to what my options are, but I do think it would be real cool to have a redwood growing around here. I'd also like to know what type of soil it needs. Any suggestions?
My sister has one growing in her living room here in Michigan.
A link describing the ecological characteristics of coast redwood follows. The closer you can match these, the more likely the tree will survive.
Redwoods like deep rich soils, lots of fog, and moderate temperatures.
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm
Maybe you should have some of the current presidential candidates carry it around with them.....
"deep rich soil, lots of fog, and nothing too hot or too cold" - There's a lot of that on the campaign trail!
srt, you forgot one thing, "ocasional bursts of hot air" - just like the Santa Anna wind! :D
Does the Redwood have a tap root or a root ball?
LOGDOG
It's in the link
"Redwoods have no taproots, but lateral roots are large and wide-spreading. Small trees have better-than-average windfirmness, and large redwoods are windfirm under most conditions."
I think a Sierra Redwood would do better for you, they like the cold winters and the hot dry summers, but that being said I have seen Coast Redwoods do well here in the Sierra. If you get cool nights in the summer it may do ok.