Metasequoia (water cypress) Bonsai Care

The Metasequoia (dawn redwood) is a deciduous conifer with fine, dark green needles that turn golden yellow in the autumn and then fall off

It has a straight trunk with peeling reddish-brown bark and grows in the form of a formal or informal upright bonsai

Location

Place outside in full sun, but in partial shade during hot summer days

In summer you can use a shade cloth for extra protection if the temperature rises above 29°C.

Leave outside in winter, but protect from severe frost (below 0 °C): e.g. in an unheated greenhouse or foil tent

Water gift

Make sure the potting soil always remains slightly moist

Check and water regularly in spring (several times a week)

Water frequently in summer, sometimes even twice a day in warm weather

Use a gravel water dish to increase humidity around the bonsai

Power supply

Feed with organic fertilizer regularly from early spring to late summer

Use a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content in spring, and a more balanced type from summer onwards.

Stop fertilizing from autumn onwards

Pruning and wiring

Pruning: cut back new long shoots 2–3 times a year (spring, summer, possibly autumn)

Wiring: Can be done during the autumn-winter period, when the tree is dormant. Remove the wire in time (before new growth) to prevent constriction.

Preferably use guy wire for thicker branches, because older branches can be brittle

Repotting

Refresh the soil every 2 years, preferably in spring when buds start to swell

Use a well-draining bonsai variety (such as akadama and/or pomice) that retains moisture but does not become waterlogged

When repotting, cut back about a third of the roots and remove excess old soil

Pests and disease

Metasequoia is robust and has few pests or diseases

Watch out for spider mites or aphids during dry periods, and possible mold in overly wet conditions.

Check preventatively in spring and early summer and treat if problems arise

Make sure the air around the bonsai is humid enough to reduce stress