Dawn Redwood Bonsai Care Guide

Choose an outdoor location that is sunny but protected from scorching sunlight in the hottest part of summer days. Redwood bonsai trees should be protected from frost during winter. If you expect temperatures below -5 °C, consider moving it to an unheated greenhouse, conservatory or providing insulation for the pot.

There is no definitive guide to watering and it should be conducted on an observational schedule, not a routine. This means that it is important to keep an eye on the moisture levels of the soil to avoid over and under watering, both which can lead to dropping leaves and/or root death. The amount of water a bonsai requires depends on pot size, climate, airflow, soil and tree type so it is best to use your eyes and fingers to assess whether the soil is damp, wet or dry. 

If the top inch or so of soil has dried, it is ready to be watered. When you water, try to get an even coverage over the roots and soil, allowing water to flow out from the bottom of the pot to ensure a good soaking.

If you are a first-time bonsai owner, another way to water is by submerging the entire pot in water until the bubbles stop. If you choose this method, be aware that your bonsai may not need watering for another two to four days, but this will depend on the factors mentioned above such as soil type, pot size and climate.  

During the spring and summer growing months, redwood bonsais require a large amount of water which could mean watering twice a day. There is not much danger of overwatering during these months as long as a well-draining compost has been used. However, take care to use the bare minimum of water during the winter months when the tree has dropped its leaves. Aim to keep the roots damp but not wet.

The dawn redwood also benefits from higher humidity levels. This can be achieved by using a mister to spray the leaves, as well as placing a gravel tray under the pot to create a more humid microclimate around the tree and reduce evaporation from the leaves.

Using fertiliser on your dawn redwood will help encourage healthy growth and this should be done periodically from once a week to every two months and only during the growing season. You can start adding Chrysal Liquid Bonsai Feed to your water from March until October and use weekly. Use Naruko Fertiliser Slow Release Bonsai Feed once every one to two months. With Buddhist Pine trees, less is more, and we tend to advise using half the recommended dosage to see how your Buddhist Pine reacts first.

Using a nitrogen-rich fertiliser will cause a redwood bonsai to shoot up very fast and give a lot of raw bonsai material. However, if you are looking to develop finer branches and avoid uncontrollable growth, fertilize more carefully in summer with a balanced fertiliser.

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but to also ensure optimal health. When working with redwoods, keep in mind that they produce a lot of buds and you should remove the ones you don’t want immediately. We also recommend pruning away twigs with long internodes in spring before the buds open. Redwoods are quick-growing species, so they require frequent pinching back and canopy trimming, typically done 2-3 times a year, to keep them in check.

Redwoods are typically trained in the straight up style, so they don’t require much training while growing. However, if you do wire the branches, the best time to do this would be in autumn once the leaves have fallen off so that they can stay on until the growing season. We also recommend using wires with a thickness that matches the thickness of the branch: if the wire you choose is too thick you will damage the bark. If it is too thin, it won’t be effective.

Repotting your tree is an important way to provide a fresh and suitable soil mix and ensure appropriate root health. Repot in early spring. Generally, your dawn redwood will need to be re-potted once every two years if it is young, while older ones can stay in their pots for longer. However, you should always check if it has become root-bound before you change pots. You can do this by lifting the tree gently out of the pot by the main trunk and examining the root system. You will know it is ready if you can see that the roots are circling around each other and the pot. If, however, they still appear contained in the soil, you should place it back and wait until the following spring to check again.  

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.