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