Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia Glypostrobides) Care Sheet
DAWN REDWOOD
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Tips and Tricks for Caring for Your Dawn Redwood Tree |
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The Dawn Redwood is one of the most exciting trees in the redwood family. It was rediscovered in the 1940s and planted in the United States in 1948. Before that, it was feared to be extinct and known only through fossils. |
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PLACEMENT
Dawn Redwoods love dappled sunlight and warm summer days. They require about four to six hours of sunlight a day, but need semi shade during the hottest summer days. They thrive in areas with high humidity and moderate warmth. If your Dawn Redwood is outdoors, it requires serious protection from extreme cold and frost during their dormant season. Dawn Redwoods do best in zones 5 to 8. TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY Dawn Redwoods prefer a sunny position with a lot of humidity. Dawn Redwoods prefer moderate warmth, sunny days, and protection from extreme sun rays and also extreme cold and frost. Once your tree has been re-potted, do not allow the pot to freeze. WATERING Dawn Redwoods require constant attention to their water supply. They are not drought-tolerant and can die quickly if allowed to dry out. Do not let the soil dry out completely, even once. Be careful not to overwater, though, as this can cause root rot. Less water is required during colder months. During the summer, however, you may need to water twice daily. SOIL/FERTILIZER We recommend our Deciduous Bonsai Soil Mix for your Dawn Redwood. Fertilize your Dawn Redwood from late spring to late summer with a well-balanced organic fertilizer. Once new leaves have emerged, begin feeding every two weeks. During the summer, be more controlled with your fertilizing as to not provoke unmanageable new growth. Stop feeding in the fall. REPOTTING Deciduous trees, such as the Dawn Redwood, should be repotted every two to three years, or when the roots of the tree are growing too big for the pot. The best time to repot is in the springtime to midsummer. You'll want to remove about 1/4 of the root mass, but not more than 1/3, before repotting. PROPAGATION The easiest way to propagate a Dawn Redwood is through seeds or cuttings. Air layering is also possible. PRUNING Twigs with long internodes should be pruned in the spring before new buds open. Remove all the buds that you do not need immediately. In the summer, prune your Dawn Redwood by trimming back the new shoots. These are fast growing trees that require frequent trimming. Regular pruning also encourages dense branching. WIRING The best time to wire a Dawn Redwood is when the tree is dormant, from early winter to spring. As the branches are quite brittle, be very careful when wiring. Guy wires work well for Dawn Redwoods. Formal or informal upright styles, as well as clump, slanting, and bonsai forests are great ways to style your Dawn Redwood. PESTS/DISEASES The Dawn Redwood is not very susceptible to pests. It is possible for them to attract Japanese Beetles and spider mites, though the damage is cosmetic and hardly ever life-threatening. |
PRODUCTS |
Deciduous Bonsai Soil Mix KIKU™ Root Hook Kikuwa Cut Paste - 160g Jar Fertilizer Pellets |
