Last year this Bald cypress, Taxodium distichum, suffered a bout of chlorosis. This is a condition that isn’t predictable or readily explainable – the causes are well enough known, but you can have a single specimen on your benches suffer under the same growing conditions as others that do not exhibit any symptoms at all.
I removed the tree from its bonsai pot and placed it in a growing tub, and treated it with Ironite®. I was able to see improvement within a month or so. I left the tree alone, just watering and feeding as normal, through the remainder of the 2015 growing season.
This year the tree grew like crazy, with no sign of chlorosis. As you can see, however, we’ve reached that point in the year where lack of air circulation and heat can cause the foliage in the interior of your trees to die. While this doesn’t affect the health of the cypress long-term, it’s unattractive and serves no useful purpose to the tree.
July is the perfect time to defoliate healthy bald cypresses. Though this tree suffered with chlorosis last year, I judged by the look of the growth this spring that the problem was behind me and it was okay to go ahead and defoliate. I also decided to push the envelope a bit, and put the tree back in its lovely Chuck Iker home.
This shot makes it easy to see how much growth the tree has put on! If you compare this photo with the first one, it’s clear how well it’s developing. This is especially evident in the progress I’m getting in the crown. The grow and chop process works beautifully, provided you take the time to fully execute it.
Here’s a close-up of the apex. You can see how far it’s come. I’ve grown and chopped it three times before today, and now it’s time for round four.
The tree is wired out now. Notice how well the branch development is coming along – I’m getting ramification and the branches have thickened up nicely. There’s more to do, of course, but the right techniques properly executed will complete the development of this bonsai.
And finally, the tree back in its pot. The trunk measures 5″ in diameter 4″ above the soil surface. It’s currently 32″ to the tip of the leader. The finished height will most likely be 30-32″.
I should have new growth in two weeks, assuming the tree doesn’t object too much to the treatment it got today. The foliage will be fresh and green, which will allow me to show it in the fall.
I’d love any feedback you might want to share on this bonsai.
Zach there is a nursery local to me. They have Bald Cypress in their stock. Some of these are over 12′ in containers ( 39 gallon ? ). I plan on a couple this fall.. My question is, they have produced Knees in the ground around the pots. Should I try to take the knees with the containers, or take the trees only…
Mike, it’s impractical to try to take the knees with those trees if I understand your description correctly. It sounds like the trees are rooted through the containers into the ground. I would cut the roots flush with the containers and take them that way.
Awsome tree Zach! This isn’t the one the you planned on styling like a transitional BC half way between informal upright and flat top is it? If not can we expect an update on that one? I’m very interested in seeing where its at in its development.
Thank you, Tim. No, this isn’t the “transitional” specimen. I sold that tree last year and am not sure what the new owner has done with it.
Hi Zach, that will be a great looking tree when it is finished ..I have a question , I have a couple of Bald Cypress, approx. 12-20 yrs. These were collected during Jan 2016.. I currently have them in a tub like the one you are using.. Is it okay to keep BC in water year round ?….In water do I use a water soluible fertilizer, what do you recommend ??…. I have a supply of mosquito fish to control the mosquito larva
Mike, I don’t keep BC in water year-round because I don’t really have to. This is usually done to promote buttressing. If you do keep your trees in water, you need to be sure it gets changed frequently enough to keep it oxygenated. As for fertilizer, no reason not to use Miracle Gro all purpose water-soluble or similar. If you’ve been successful growing BC this way, by all means keep on going!
Nice recovery with this tree, Zach. Two questions:
1. When defoliating a bald cypress, do you only leave growth in the apex, or is it best to leave green growth on the tips of the branches as well?
2. Approximately when is the latest date one can defoliate this type of tree in New England?
Thanks.
Richard, when I defoliate it all comes off. The tree doesn’t really care. As for the latest date to do this in New England I’d say June though I don’t have any direct knowledge. I’m just judging by the seasonal differences.