Technical Sheet - Metasequoia and Taxodium

Common Name: Swamp Cypress or Bald Cypress (because it is a deciduous cypress)

Scientific Name: Metasequoia Glyptostroboides and Taxodium Distichum

Description: They belong to the Cupressaceae family, with Metasequoia originating from China and Taxodium from Southeast America.

Both are "relatives" to each other and to the "giants" of the plant world, the Sequoias. 

Large deciduous trees, easily reaching 40 meters in height and 3 or more meters in diameter at the base of the trunk.

The bark is grayish in color and the leaves are compound, paired in Metasequoias and alternate in Taxodium.

In nature, they live in very swampy areas, in Florida often in swamps (hence one of the common names), so we must always be very careful with watering and their high water consumption.

Location: Outdoors where they receive 2 to 3 hours of sun per day (ideally in the morning or late afternoon), protected from strong winds and frost.

To avoid typical leaf tip burns from dehydration in summer, we should protect them from the hours of strong sun, preferably placing them in east or west exposures.

Watering: Water the soil abundantly until plenty of water comes out of the drainage holes, to evenly moisten the soil, always from above and never by immersion, using a fine-spouted watering can.

For watering tips, see the watering technical sheet.

Let the top layer of soil dry slightly between waterings, and in summer always keep the soil moist; when the leaves fall, allow the soil to dry a bit more between waterings (to check if the plant needs water, touch the soil with your fingers).

If you have a tray under the Bonsai, never leave any water in it (to prevent root rot).

There is no benefit in misting the leaves; only do this on days when fertilizing with foliar fertilizer, but make sure the leaves dry by nightfall to avoid fungi.

Nutrition: From February to October, with a base plan consisting of a complete fertilizer (Fertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant throughout the year (Bio Bonsai Activ), which can also be combined with other products from our range.

Detailed information on how to combine these products with others from our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan, see the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.

 
Pruning: Above a pair of leaves, restoring the shape, normally during winter structural pruning; prune heavily going back to the "basics" because they have very vigorous growth, usually it is easy to maintain the shape by doing "Metsumi" with fingers on the new shoots that grow.

For pruning tips, see the pruning and defoliation technical sheet.

Repotting: In January/February before budding with Bonsai Leafy Soil because although they are conifers, they require high moisture retention.

Details about repotting, post-repotting care, and specific fortifiers you can use can be found in the repotting technical sheet. 

 
Wiring: From late autumn to early spring, after leaf fall, due to rapid growth and thickening of the trunk, we must be careful that the wires do not leave marks.

Instructions on wiring can be found in the wiring technical sheet.