The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) originally comes from the swampy Everglades in the south of the USA and, from a botanical point of view, is a sequoia tree. The tree, which grows up to 35 meters high and is extremely long-lived, was already widespread in the Jurassic period around 200 million years ago. The robust bald cypress is ideal for growing bonsai.
How do I care for a bald cypress bonsai?
For a bald cypress bonsai you need a sunny and airy outdoor location, moist, loamy soil and regular watering with low-lime water. Prune every 6-8 weeks between May and September, fertilize during the growing season and repot every 3 years.
Location and substrate
If possible, keep your bald cypress outdoors all year round because the tree needs a lot of sun and air. In addition, this bonsai is quite winter hardy, but should be provided with light winter protection (e.g. leaves, brushwood) and placed in a protected place. The most moist, loamy soil that stores water well is suitable as a substrate. As a resident of the Everglades, waterlogging doesn't bother the bald cypress, quite the opposite: the best place is a spot right next to or even in water, for example in a garden pond.
Watering and fertilizing
Bald cypresses should always be kept moist and not allowed to dry out. The substrate should ideally be covered with moss or mulched to prevent drying out. Therefore, the bonsai should always be watered generously and placed in a shallow bowl of water in summer. When watering, use rainwater with as little lime as possible and spray over the entire plant. Otherwise, the tree is supplied with an organic-based liquid bonsai fertilizer (€16.00 on Amazon) during the growth period.
Cutting and wiring / shaping
For the typical bonsai shape, branches, twigs and shoots should be cut about every six to eight weeks between May and September. The desired growth habit is achieved by wiring with aluminum wire, although you should be very careful with the bald cypress. The branches are quite brittle and therefore cannot be worked on too much. Remove the wire by mid-May at the latest, otherwise the onset of thick growth will leave unsightly marks on the branches and twigs.
Repotting
The bald cypress grows quite slowly and therefore only needs to be repotted about every three years. The roots should definitely be trimmed to maintain the balance between crown and root growth. The ideal planter is about two-thirds as large as the height of the tree. The right time for repotting is spring, although you can still repot the tree in September.
Tip
Bald cypresses are very suitable for bonsai not only because of their appearance, but also because of their robustness. Fungal diseases and pests are very rare.
