Dawn Redwood wilting out of the blue.

[NashsMan]

My Dawn Redwood is much smaller (18" tall, 1/2" trunk) here in 7A . We had a very cool spring, but many days in July that were 85-90°. Mine is in a colander above ground with no saucer with pumice & coco coir (1:1). It's in full sun until about 2 PM and gets watered around 9 or 10 AM. I fertile with fish emulsion once a week and Osmocote once a month. It's perfectly happy.
So, I don't think it's the heat that's getting to yours. Maybe too much water?
Mine came from a friend's back yard where they grow like weeds!

 

[MGTT]

Similar to PerryB, mine are in more/less full sun from around 8am until 5-6pm.

Again, both are in 100% DE. And I only water if the ‘soil’ is dry at the 0.25-0.5” mark.

Interestingly, I over potted the one in the wood box and it struggled a little last year. It’s better this year, but next Spring I’ll repot and cut down the box a little.

The one in the grow bag is doing great. I probably should have repotted this year but let it go. The bag is full of roots and they’re popping up on the surface.

Sooo, my limited experience is telling me that they don’t mind a fair amount of MI Sun, and don’t necessarily require a lot of water here (and, maybe, don’t mind being a little pot bound??)
(I’m actually considering moving the wood box one to an area of more sun to see how it’s affected).

And, to be fair, I don’t see the same kind of growth that people South of us get. If I had more space, I’d probably put one in the ground to see how much that helps trunk thickening and height.

Again, just my observations, hopefully they will help with your diagnosis.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Similar to PerryB, mine are in more/less full sun from around 8am until 5-6pm.

Again, both are in 100% DE. And I only water if the ‘soil’ is dry at the 0.25-0.5” mark.

Interestingly, I over potted the one in the wood box and it struggled a little last year. It’s better this year, but next Spring I’ll repot and cut down the box a little.

The one in the grow bag is doing great. I probably should have repotted this year but let it go. The bag is full of roots and they’re popping up on the surface.

Sooo, my limited experience is telling me that they don’t mind a fair amount of MI Sun, and don’t necessarily require a lot of water here (and, maybe, don’t mind being a little pot bound??)
(I’m actually considering moving the wood box one to an area of more sun to see how it’s affected).

And, to be fair, I don’t see the same kind of growth that people South of us get. If I had more space, I’d probably put one in the ground to see how much that helps trunk thickening and height.

Again, just my observations, hopefully they will help with your diagnosis.

Interesting. How do you winter the one in the grow bag? I've seen those & liked the bags but then I think about winter.

 

[MGTT]

I’ve an unheated enclosed porch, and I set everything on the floor. But, if I stored them outside, I would treat them like any other pot.

I’m on the fence for using these ‘non-in ground’. I did these as a trial with a number of trees, some responded well, others are so so. I do think the roots like the extra air they get through the material, but these bags are very light and the smaller diameter ones tend to fall over in the wind. Additionally, I did not tie the trees down. It may be possible to tie them in, but unless reinforcements are added, it may be non effective.

 

[Dav4]

Hot, dry winds will dehydrate new bald cypress and dawn redwood foliage in a day. If only new foliage is affected, that’s what I’d think is the cause.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Hot, dry winds will dehydrate new bald cypress and dawn redwood foliage in a day. If only new foliage is affected, that’s what I’d think is the cause.

Thanks Dav4 unfortunately it's the whole tree. The speed in which it went from healthy to crispy has me thinking I over fertilized it.

 

[Dav4]

Thanks Dav4 unfortunately it's the whole tree. The speed in which it went from healthy to crispy has me thinking I over fertilized it.

Yeah, that’s more than just a bit of wind burn. Hopefully, it’ll push a second crop of foliage for you in a week or so.

 

[Oz_Fox]

Hot, dry winds will dehydrate new bald cypress and dawn redwood foliage in a day. If only new foliage is affected, that’s what I’d think is the cause.

This might be the case for mine, the day or so before it wilted was the first storm of the year we had with strong enough winds to blow over one of my unanchored trees (not the dawn redwood), so far the older growth has remained stable.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Yeah, that’s more than just a bit of wind burn. Hopefully, it’ll push a second crop of foliage for you in a week or so.

My fingers are crossed. I suppose as a newbie I shouldn't get so attached to these trees, but I'm hoping like hell I didn't kill this one.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

This might be the case for mine, the day or so before it wilted was the first storm of the year we had with strong enough winds to blow over one of my unanchored trees (not the dawn redwood), so far the older growth has remained stable.

That's good news! Just make sure you keep it well watered, and you should be back in business. Looks like it's finally going to get hot around MI next week so stay vigilant.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

It's starting to get crispy dry foliage now. As of now I'm blaming myself for giving it to much miracle grow this past Monday. Although I am questioning this, since it doesn't look like normal fertilizer burn to me. It's my first redwood so I don't have much experience with it to actually know what fert burn would look like. Pretty bummed out & I just hope it doesn't die.

Doubt a normal dose of miracle grow fertilizer under normal conditions wouldn’t hurt a Dawn a lick.

Yet to a sick tree, its flat out asking for trouble.

If it were me, I’d get another Dawn, and not make this mistake again.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Oz_Fox]

My fingers are crossed. I suppose as a newbie I shouldn't get so attached to these trees, but I'm hoping like hell I didn't kill this one.

It’s my first year and I agree one of the hardest parts is not getting attached to the new trees. I got this thing as a toothpick on Amazon my first month into bonsai with no clue, thought there was no way it would survive after going straight outside in January and here it is today, I trimmed the wilted growth fairly certain @Dav4 called it correctly with the hot wind burn.

I’m very sorry for your loss, I hope this one gets as big as yours was one day!

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Doubt a normal dose of miracle grow fertilizer under normal conditions wouldn’t hurt a Dawn a lick.

Yet to a sick tree, its flat out asking for trouble.

If it were me, I’d get another Dawn, and not make this mistake again.

cheers
DSD sends

I'm going to wait it out and see if this one comes back to life first.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

It’s my first year and I agree one of the hardest parts is not getting attached to the new trees. I got this thing as a toothpick on Amazon my first month into bonsai with no clue, thought there was no way it would survive after going straight outside in January and here it is today, I trimmed the wilted growth fairly certain @Dav4 called it correctly with the hot wind burn.

I’m very sorry for your loss, I hope this one gets as big as yours was one day!

It's not dead yet.

Alice in Chains said it best

"In the darkest hole, you'd be well advised
Not to plan my funeral before the body dies, yeah"

 

[Damart81]

Experiencing the same issues with the interior branches, it has been 100 - 107 degrees every day. I now have it in water, it only receives morning sun 6-2pm.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Follow up as promised. I did the scratch test today, and it failed. Not to mention it has no signs of new buds. Went to the nursery and looked at some new ones, but couldn't decide on the ones in my price range (under $200) . They had a bunch of expensive $500+ ones, but not many starter ones like they had before. I did see two I like but didn't pull the trigger. I'll think on it a bit, then make a decision.

 

[Srt8madness]

500+!? Those would have to have some serious taper and bonsai technique applied to command that kind of price.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

500+!? Those would have to have some serious taper and bonsai technique applied to command that kind of price.

It's a bonsai nursery not a HD or Lowes, it's billed as the largest bonsai nursery in MI. The expensive ones are huge old ones, forest plantings, big trunks, 10-12" diameter & up plus lots of work already done. The $100-$200 dollar are 3-4 feet tall with varying degrees of established branches with 2-4" trunks at the base, & of course supply and demand. Not many for sale locally. I did notice the price went up from last year & the nursery has gotten bigger and more popular.

 

[Srt8madness]

It's a bonsai nursery not a HD or Lowes, it's billed as the largest bonsai nursery in MI. The expensive ones are huge old ones, forest plantings, big trunks, 10-12" diameter & up plus lots of work already done. The $100-$200 dollar are 3-4 feet tall with varying degrees of established branches with 2-4" trunks at the base, & of course supply and demand. Not many for sale locally. I did notice the price went up from last year & the nursery has gotten bigger and more popular.

That makes a LOT more sense

 

[Oz_Fox]

I picked up a new one this weekend for $200!