Bald cypress saplings

[Bertyfly]

Hi all. New here. I potted 4 bald cypress saplings last may from the one growing in my yard. I intend to attempt a grove bonsai( maybe too ambitious for my first try??) I have a few questions.
1. In zone 9a, what do I do with them in winter?
2. When can I put the in a bonsai pot?
3. What's the best soil to use?

 

[Maiden69]

Search results for query: bald cypress

www.bonsainut.com

Start reading there...

 

[Colorado]

1. Put the pot on the ground and make sure it does not dry out. I have wintered BC outside in Denver with little to no protection so zone 9 should be a breeze.
2. When they’re the appropriate size.
3. I recommend and use akadama but there are many, many options.

Good luck!

 

[Bertyfly]

Thank you! Here is a quick pic for "appropriate" size. Should I wait for a little more girth?

 

[Maiden69]

I wouldn't use akadama on a BC until it is the size you want and you want to slow down its growth. The link I posted have all the threads by @Mellow Mullet for BC, from seedlings to full size. All the information is there, with hundreds of pictures. More information than anyone could answer here in a single post.

 

[hinmo24t]

they loves water. doesnt akadama hold onto very little of it? would have to water it 3 times a day to suffice its watering

mines growing okay in nursery soil. next year ill move it into perlite, compost, and oildry pellets. 30% each

 

[Colorado]

Yeah, those are pretty small, I think they need some time before they’re ready for a bonsai pot. I wouldn’t waste the akadama until they’re ready to go into a pot. I’d just use a pumice based grow-out mix until then.

 

[Maiden69]

they loves water. doesnt akadama hold onto very little of it? would have to water it 3 times a day to suffice its watering

mines growing okay in nursery soil. next year ill move it into perlite, compost, and oildry pellets. 30% each

akadama is great for trees into refinement, but not for development. even Ryan says that and he uses 100% akadama on bald cypress. I am running an experiment right now. One BC in the grow bed with inorganic bonsai soil and another in the same soil but with the post immersed 1/2 way in water. After 3months I pulled the one from the one from the grow bed and placed it inside a 5 gal bucket with water and then into the grow bed. The one in water quadruple the growth of the one in the grow bed. 2 weeks in the bucket and the bark is already splitting from growth at the base.

 

[Bertyfly]

This is all very helpful. Thanks again. Development stage is where I'm at. Patience. Breathe.