I have a Dawn Redwood in the front lawn. Last year, about this time (which means temps about 50-60F, 10-15C) I cut some branches off and stuck some in pots full of dirt. Most are just dead sticks now, but one has a lot of needles coming out. At the moment it would be optimistic to call it prebonsai, but I am wondering if I should do anything like nip off some lower needles, or just let it be for a year. Fertilize? Protect from the sun? In June it will be hot and July brutal. August....

The other stick in the pot is a cherry cutting that doesn't seem to have made it.

DON'T cut anything right now!
The buds low in the trunk are bonsai friends, and you will need them in the future.
Maybe in a couple of years you'll be able to cut down to the first branch (the one that now is just a bud) and start a nice bonsai from there.

Wait a couple of years. I was ready for one.

A related question is, how fast do roots develop and when can I take it out of the good pot for a training pot? I have a large stack of styrofoam cups to use, but for some reason I stuck this in a real pot.

Okay, that was two questions.

Ivan Mann wrote: Wait a couple of years. I was ready for one.

And that is being generous and optimistic. I´d say no less than 3 years. I have this friend that when he collects a pine (and usually his collected tree are of great quality and are fairly well developed) he puts it into a big training pot and let the tree alone for at least 3 years. He only waters and fertilizes it during those 3 long years. Then he actually performs the first modeling of the tree.

Ivan Mann wrote: A related question is, how fast do roots develop and when can I take it out of the good pot for a training pot?

Well, I´d say that depends firstly on the species. And that brings me to a question of my own... Have you looked into this site species guide before even asking? Well, in any case, look at this extract on this site:

"Redwoods should be repotted every two years. The strongly growing roots fill up the pot quickly and soon push the rootball up in the pot. Considerable root pruning is inevitable each time the Redwoods are repotted. The soil must hold enough moisture but at the same time it must be well draining to avoid root rot.

"

And in case you were wondering where did I take it from:

www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/redwood

Hope this might have been of help.

Alain

Yes, I read that. I took it to mean that once the tree was established and the root system was there repot every two years. What I wondered was how long to expect to get to that point.