The Characteristics and Care Methods of Dawn Redwood Bonsai Explained

Dawn redwood bonsai is a bonsai cultivated using the ancient relict plant dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) as material. The dawn redwood is known as a living fossil of the plant kingdom; it was once a tree species thought to have long been extinct, and was later rediscovered in parts of our country, and it is now a key nationally protected plant. Its trunk is straight, its branches are distinctly tiered, and its leaves are as slender as feathers, so that once made into a bonsai it appears delicate and graceful.

The dawn redwood is a deciduous tree; its new leaves are tender green in spring, and after autumn arrives the leaf color turns reddish brown, with obvious seasonal changes and high ornamental value. Because it grows quickly and its trunk is naturally upright, styles close to nature such as the formal upright style and the double-trunk style are mostly used in shaping, in order to highlight its tall and upward-thrusting momentum.

In terms of care, the dawn redwood likes a sunny and moist environment, and must not lack water during the growing season; if the potting soil stays dry for a long time, the leaves are prone to turning yellow and falling off. When temperatures are high in summer, water should be replenished in time, and water can also be sprayed on the leaves to increase humidity. It is suited to fertile, loose, well-drained slightly acidic soil, and during the growing season fertilizer can be applied lightly and frequently to promote lush branches and leaves.

The dawn redwood has a strong sprouting ability; normally excess buds should be removed in time, and leggy branches and overly dense branches cut away, to keep the tree shape compact and attractive. Because its root system grows vigorously, it generally needs to be repotted and the soil changed once every two to three years, and the old roots should be pruned appropriately to control its growth. Losing its leaves and going dormant in winter is a normal phenomenon; it is only necessary to keep the potting soil slightly moist and reduce fertilizing, and in the following spring it will sprout new leaves again.