Dawn Redwood - Yellowing to bronze

fab

Dawn Rewood foliage has yellowed and is now turinng to a bronze color. *There are growing tips that are still green. *This has happened over the past 3-4 weeks (May 2002).

I have two singles in Bonsai. *Both are doing this. *They appear to be failing on me. *I also have a forest of these trees and it appears to be OK.

Both specimens have trunks about 2" diameter at base, both about 1 year in bonsai. *Both were very vigorous all of last year. *Both started out this spring with vigor, bright green new growth. *I pruned them in April. *

The two singles (the problem ones) are fully exposed to weather and are in full sun most of the day. *The forest is still on the ground backed up to a fence, in the same position where all of these bonsai wintered over under mulch.

My initial reaction was a possible iron deficiency so I used some Chelated Iron. *I feed Miracle grow every couple of weeks and put a small amount of osmacote (14-14-14) in *on the surface of the soil in April. *I water every one or two days, keeping the soil at least damp. *No insects appear to be on the trees. *I am in a zone 7, the Washington,D.C., area .

I'd really like to turn these specimens around to good health and both need and would appreciate your advice.

Frank

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hi, Dawn Redwoods or Metasequoia glyptostroboides are actually one of the few deciduous conifers. Conifer? i hear u ask; well yes they are a gymnosperm but i dont want to get into plant history or family breakdown. All i will say is that the Dawn Redwood is actually deciduous and is expected to change colour from green to yellow to a rustic bronze before defoliating. It sounds like your plants are fine, but keep an eye on them just in case. Keep us posted as to whether the others change as well.

Cheers

TreeBay

Very good point.

If it does not get cold enough, the Metasequoia may not drop its leaves and they will be pushed off come spring by the new growth, like a Chinese elm is prone to doing.

Did the tree ever go completely dormant last winter and lose all its leaves?

Regards,

Matt

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fab

Response to Matt,

Yes, the trees were completely bare during the winter. All the foliage on the trees is new this year.

My big question now is whether I should do anything specific in this case. More watering, less watering, minerals, feeding ... more sun, less sun... or just nothing in particular.

fab

Response to Dave, *

What you're saying is that the color evolutions going on are normal as a prelude to dormancy or, to leaf drop for whatever reason. *So I ask, what kinds of things would cause these trees to believe they should drop their leaves in late spring, early summer, after having been fully dormant all winter? *

How cold and long a cold spell would we have to have had? *
Would overwatering or underwatering cause this? *Pruning in the spring? *
And, of course, what to do ... if anything?

By the way, You mentioned "deciduous conifers." *I also have a small bonsai forest of "Montezuma Cypress' trees I bought from California. *My understanding is that they originate from somewhere in Mexico. *These trees have rough, partially exfoliating bark that looks great in bonsai. *The leaves are much smaller and finer looking than those of Dawn Redwoods and the tree is DECIDUOUS. *I presume this qualifies as another variety of deciduous conifer.

... and thanks for your info.
Frank

TreeBay

I think less sun. *Younger trees typically need less sun, and the Metasequoia has an understory feel to it in general. I think I would get it into partial sun. *If your forest is doing well in part sun, that would be the best place for the single trunks.

As far as watering is concerned, they are more tolerant of wet conditions than pine, but they don't want to be soggy.

Some folks have had difficulty with osmocote triggering in the confines of a bonsai pot in hot damp conditinons, as I imagine DC can get.

here are some gorgeous pictures, by the way:

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/mglyptostroboides.htm

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fab

Matt, the picture links didn't come through. *I just had a little red 'x' in a little white window where the picture link should have been in your reply. * I tried right clicking and "show picture" ( windows 2000) but nothing happened. *How 'bout trying again please or just email me at fab@comcast.net. *I would like to see the pictures. *Again thanks for your help.

BTW the Dawn Redwood forest is in the sun just as are the singles, but it is not elevated and out in the open like the singles are.

Frank

TreeBay

Sorry, it was just a link to a tree identifier page and I made the mistake of putting image tags around it.

You should be able to click the link in the message above, and see it.

Regards,

Matt

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fab

Matt,
Really nice pictures. Thanks. How to get such nice butressing?

Frank