When does the rare tree species Metasequoia glyptostroboides shed its leaves? Its medicinal value and bonsai pruning and care

The dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), also known as the water fir, is a tall deciduous tree reaching up to 35 m in height. It has a graceful form and is also a famous garden tree species. So when does it shed its leaves? What medicinal value does it have? How do you care for and prune a bonsai? According to Taxodiaceae data, the leaves of the dawn redwood are arranged in two rows on lateral branchlets, feather-like, and fall together with the branches in winter. The cones hang down, nearly four-angled spherical or oblong-spherical, green before maturity and dark brown when ripe.

What medicinal value does the dawn redwood have? How do you care for and prune a bonsai?

1. It has the effects of "dispelling wind and drying dampness, activating blood circulation and relieving pain." The leaves and fruits have the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing inflammation and relieving pain.

2. Modern pharmacological studies show that the various flavonoid compounds it contains have effects such as resisting myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia and myocardial hypertrophy.

3. It also has the effects of inhibiting platelet aggregation in rats and improving blood rheology. The volatile substances in dawn redwood leaves contain large amounts of active ingredients with antitussive, expectorant, antiasthmatic and anti-inflammatory effects, among which the main ones are a-pinene, trans-caryophyllene and myrcene, etc.

4. According to the "Chinese Materia Medica Resources" record: dawn redwood leaves and seeds have the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing inflammation and relieving pain, and are used for carbuncle sores, swollen pain and lichen sores and other symptoms; "Mingyi Bielu" lists it as a middle-grade drug, saying that boiling it into a decoction for washing can treat ecthyma; "Bencao Gangmu Shiyi" records that fir oil treats all stubborn tinea. In addition, its seed volatile oil has a certain inhibitory effect on 8 kinds of plant pathogenic fungi, and in garden plant configuration, it can reduce to varying degrees and prevent the occurrence of some diseases in plants of the same garden. The various active ingredients and antibacterial effects contained in its leaf and seed volatile oils have broad application prospects in both pharmaceutical chemistry and agricultural applications.

How do you care for and prune a dawn redwood bonsai?

Care:

1. The dawn redwood is a precious tree species in China. The care of a dawn redwood bonsai is generally considered suitable for a place with plenty of sunlight.

2. If you want to properly care for a dawn redwood bonsai, you need patience. Before sowing, you should fertilize the tree's roots, and do not harm its roots.

3. After sowing, irrigate regularly and water thoroughly.

4. When the tree begins to grow slowly, we can fertilize again.

Pruning:

Cut off the dead branches, lightly damaged branches, and branches damaged by freezing or wind from the golden-leaf dawn redwood. The cuts should be smooth. After tidying up the wounds, promptly apply a callus antiseptic and protective film to protect the growth of healing tissue and prevent pathogen infection. Scrape the wounds on large branches and trunks, and after scraping, evenly brush on "Hushu Jiangjun" plus potassium permanganate solution with a brush to disinfect and sterilize and prevent pathogen infection.