Bald Cypress Care

Background: Origins in United States and Mexico. The Bald Cypress Tree grows from Texas to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida and north to Massachusetts. In Louisianna the Cypress grow between 100 - 150 ft. and can live well over 1,000 years. The cypress is a deciduous tree which goes dormant in the tropics as late as January losing its leaves and branchlets. The wood of the cypress tree is very resistant to rot because it contains an oil, cypressene which is stored in the wood. The Cypress also grows 'knees' which some believe the tree sends up from its roots for additional oxygen but a new belief is that these 'knees' are for supporting the tall tree in the soil.

Features: Depending on the species, the bark can be reddish, shredding into Bark strips in bald cypress, to grayish and furrowed in pond cypress. Deciduous. The wood is very resistant to rot due to the cypressene. Buttressed trunk, fast growers.

Fruit / Flowers: Produces both male and female catkins 2 to 4 inches in lengh on second year seedlings. Cones are also produced which are round and green.

The seed is brownish and angular but do to the constant pruning for bonsai these are rarely seen in bonsai subjects.

Soil Requirements : Acidic, organic mix which retains water. Keep soil moist.

 

Styles / Pruning / Training: The Cypress tree is usually trained upright (as in nature), Forest planting, weeping and using deadwood. Initial pruning when repotting: If branches are long and bare to the end, cut the branch back hard, it will bud back and grow quickly. Train anytime druing the spring and summer. To achieve downward growth in a younger tree, bend the branch down until you hear the cambium layer crack, continue this process every few days until the desired effect is achieved. Wiring can be done but use caution because the rapid growth can cause wire cutting into the branch. Pinch new branchlets back to promote branching. If green branches are clipped too often they may die back, allow a branch to become 'woody' before clipping.

 

Light / Water Requirements: Anything from morning sun to full sun and does not need to be protected even during the hottest months. KEEP MOIST, water daily if you are using quick draining soil, if using moisture retentive soil, water when the surface dries.