Bald Cypress Bonsai Care Guide

Taxodium distichum

Bald Cypress Bonsai

This tall, stately bonsai is native to North America and a descendant of the Redwood tree species. Its distinctive bark is a gray-brown that offers a fissured texture with age. The nettle shaped, soft leaves turn a serene auburn in the autumn. 

Bald Cypress Bonsai Care Tips

Bald Cypress demand a lot of light and appreciate full sun, particularly in the growing season. This species can be fully hardy up to -10 degrees C.

However, if you expect temperatures below -5 °C and inevitable frost, consider moving it to an unheated greenhouse, conservatory or providing insulation for the pot, Bald Cyrpess tolerate little frost when in a container.

These are thirsty trees and they should be kept moist at all times. Particularly during the summer, it may be worth placing your Bald Cypress in a pot standing in shallow water to keep the roots satiated. It will require less water in winter but be sure to keep the soil moist.  

Feed every two weeks during the growing season. Liquid and solid organic fertilisers are appropriate, adhere to dosage instructions. 

In autumn or early spring, branches can be pruned. New shoots can be finger-pinched throughout the growing season. Be wary about pruning new shoots too early, this can produce dieback come autumn. New buds across the forks, branches and trunk that don’t complement the tree design can be removed sooner rather than later. 

Bald Cypress suit many bonsai styles, its young branches and twigs are much more easily shaped than older stiffer branches. We recommend using wires that match the branch’s thickness: if the wire you choose is too thick you will damage the bark. If it is too thin, it won’t be effective.

Young species can be repotted every other year, older species every three to five years. The strong root growth of Bald Cypress means the rootball can push itself upward. This is nothing that pruning during the repotting process cant address. 

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning, a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix that has a neutral or slightly higher PH value of 5-6 but not over 7. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.

Bonsai trees aren’t only magnificent additions to an indoor oasis, they are more than capable of standing out in any garden. Many Bonsai species are incredibly hardy and withstand nature’s colder and damper turns with aplomb making them worthwhile outdoor plants. We have an extensive library of care guides for outdoor bonsai trees. It’s not about selecting the perfect bonsai, it’s about selecting the perfect bonsai for you. 

Bald Cypress Bonsai - Typical Queries

Bald Cypress is rare to fall prey to pests or incur disease. This is a reliable species. 

Bald Cypress is an easily propagated species. While seeds and cuttings can be used for the overwhelming majority of the year, air layering is the most popular method that should be done in Spring. Air layering will require root hormone as the tree will develop callus tissue. Any gap in the tissue must be considerable, a gap that isn’t wide enough will be bridged very easily.        

Bald Cypress is adaptable to a range of climates from tropical to temperate. As a deciduous that is considerably hardy, it’s best to grow this species outdoors, as a lack of full sun or consistent fresh air could hamper growth.