Question
I have a red wood burl which I have been looking after in shallow water  for about a year.  It has lovely 'trees' growing all done one side, about 30 sprouts with the tallest about 35 cm. About a month ago it started to grow a root which is now about 25 cm long and is starting to get lots of little rootlets off the big root. I would like to plant it.  What kind of soil should I use?  Can I plant it outside or should it stay inside? I live on the north side of Lake Huron and we do get a lot of snow in the winter but not long periods of deep cold.  Mostly -5 to 0 with a few days throughout the winter colder than that. thanks for your advice.

Answer
Hi Hazel,

Your Redwood burl is one of those novelty plants that has great marketing appeal, but is very difficult to maintain as a houseplant. As I am sure you know, Redwoods grow only on the west coast of northern California and southern Oregon. The don't grow well anywhere outside those areas and that would include yours, which is too cold.

Pot yours in the smallest pot that will accommodate the roots and enough soil to cover them. A small pot is very important. Use a potting mix that is quite porous - lots of peat moss and perlite mixed throughout. Gently spread the roots and the root hairs in the pot as you slowly add the potting mix around them. The potting mix should be kept damp. Provide lots of direct indoor sunlight or light shade if you have it outside for the summer.

It is generally recommended to prune back all but the largest of the sprouts. However, that assumes you want to grow a large tree. You will probably want to keep yours to a manageable size and it may look more interesting with multiple stems.

The problem will be in winter when it needs cold temps (below 50 degrees F.), but not hard freezes. You have no way to provide that indoors or outdoors where you live. All I can suggest is to keep it on your coldest windowsill, preferably in an unheated room if you have one.

Now you know why this is a novelty plant that you almost never seen used as a houseplant.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at:
A link to HorticulturalHelp.com

or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com