The Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree- The Best Bonsai Tree for Beginners!
If you like the idea of having bonsai trees as an indoor decoration but don’t know anything about these great looking miniature trees, then the Bald Cypress bonsai tree is probably the one you need to get first!
The Bald Cypress bonsai tree is a miniature of the big Bald Cypress trees (Taxodium Distichum), which originates from The USA( mainly Florida and Louisiana), as well as Mexico.
This very pretty bonsai tree is in fact one of the most popular of the kind since it is easy to grow and its care is relatively reasonable for someone who is just getting started. The Bald Cypress tree usually grows in swampy areas- hence, the reason why it is found mainly in Florida and Louisiana.
The Bald Cypress is a deciduous tree that usually sheds its needles during the cold season. The fall color foliage forms a dome-like shape and the leaves are linear and featherlike.
It is well- known for growing “knees”, which are in fact roots coming out of the soil and bending due to the lack of space. Although this specie of tree tends to prefer wet and swampy soils, its cultivation has become widespread and is now found in most countries.
In fact, Bald Cypress trees are cultivated in Europe as well as Asia as they tolerate both continental as well as subtropical climates. However, for their growths to be optimum, hot summers are necessary. Bald Cypress trees that are cultivated in places that have cool climates won’t grow as fast but their robustness won’t be affected.
As already mentioned above, anyone wishing to learn about bonsai cultivation should start with this particular specie. Bald Cypress bonsai trees aren’t demanding and will help bonsai beginners understand the basics of the art of cultivating miniature trees.
If you are one of those lucky few who pays attention to details, then you would have noticed that several Bald Cypress bonsai trees can be grown in the same pot and are very often referred to as ” Bonsai forest”‘.
How to Look After your Bald Cypress Bonsai…
If you want a nice, healthy, robust mini tree, then some wet soil is what this bonsai tree wants, especially during the summer months. Make sure you keep the soil very wet and drip water over the bonsai tree to reproduce the effects of rain falling over the foliage.
If you happen to live in an area where summers are very hot, your bonsai tree may require to be watered twice a day, preferably early in the morning and in the evening. Never wait until the soil gets dry. The bonsai could die in a matter of weeks, especially if it is a young plant.
Your bonsai tree will need sunlight as much as possible so it is always preferable to place it near a window or outdoor if you have enough space. In fact, Bonsai trees are like “normal trees” so to speak and should be left outside as much as possible.
Now, some people do like to have them indoors to decorate and this is ok, as long as it gets enough sunlight to grow properly.
Contrary to what most people assume, looking after a bonsai tree is not a difficult task. These days, with the modern tools and fertilizers available, keeping a Bald Cypress bonsai tree in perfect health is very easy.
For instance, the “fertilizing rule” is very simple. Start using it when spring starts, once every fortnight and then stop progressively as the cold season approaches.
Expect your tree to grow very quickly during its first years and then slower once it has reached maturity.
Practical Tips for Pruning and Wiring your Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree.
This particular bonsai tree has a natural shape (dome-like form). It is better to let it grow in its normal upright position. Because the Bald Cypress bonsai tree grows very fast, when you place wires to keep the tree vertical, make sure you pay attention to its growth as the wires could otherwise damage the bark in a matter of weeks.
Pruning and shaping the foliage isn’t very demanding. Cutting off the new growth is pretty much all you have to do. Now, if you want thicker branches, you may leave the tree grow its foliage for a whole season and prune it at the end of the winter only.
How to grow Cypress Knees?
The famous Cypress knees are easy to grow but you need patience. It takes about 3 years to start seeing knees if your tree is young. Now, to make sure your bonsai starts to get its roots out, all you need to do is keep the tree in its original pot for the first 3 years. This way, the tree roots will come out naturally to the surface and create these knee shapes. If you repot the tree beforehand, then roots won’t be able to come out and thicken.
Have fun!