Wilting Metasequoia

[Elrathia]

Hello, brand new member and anxious first time redwood caretaker! I got my Metasequoia ("Maia") mid to late January 2025, and for the last few months it has been thriving. It put out teeny green needles consistently which have been dark green and straight.

I kept Mia's pot on my nightstand about three feet from my window (indirect sun) and that seemed to be good enough until about a week ago, when I noticed the needles were looking sad. (see photos)

I've moved the tree to the windowsill for more direct light, but so far no dice. I potted the tree with a bonsai specific soil with a drainage layer. I water weekly until the tray below is full, with water treated with conditioner. I have not yet added any worm dirt fertilizer.

So what's happening here? More sunlight? Outside time? More/less water? Ritual sacrifice? Any help you all can give would be appreciated!

 

[andrewiles]

It really, really needs to be outside. Your window may seem bright but that's just your eyes adjusting -- it's actually getting less light than a shady spot outside. And this species can't grow well in shade.

What do you mean by "with water treated with conditioner"?

That kind of wilting usually means a root issue. My guess is the soil dried out completely in the last few days. Dawn redwood needles will wilt and die very quickly if the tree runs out of water. The soil should never be allowed to dry out completely with this species. If that's not the issue I'd guess it's some consequence of the tree not getting enough light.

Good news is that some of the needles still look ok, so it may pull through. Just get it into a spot outside. Start in dappled shade first, to help it adjust, then gradually move to as much sun as you can.

 

[Elrathia]

It really, really needs to be outside. Your window may seem bright but that's just your eyes adjusting -- it's actually getting less light than a shady spot outside. And this species can't grow well in shade.

What do you mean by "with water treated with conditioner"?

That kind of wilting usually means a root issue. My guess is the soil dried out completely in the last few days. Dawn redwood needles will wilt and die very quickly if the tree runs out of water. The soil should never be allowed to dry out completely with this species. If that's not the issue I'd guess it's some consequence of the tree not getting enough light.

Good news is that some of the needles still look ok, so it may pull through. Just get it into a spot outside. Start in dappled shade first, to help it adjust, then gradually move to as much sun as you can.

Thank you so much for your advice! I've done finger checks on the soil and it's never been totally dry, though I should probably keep it saturated. By treated I mean I use aquarium water conditioner for my plant water (mostly for my fern).
So it looks like a sunlight issue! I'll pop Maia outside then, and water daily to accommodate for evaporation. Fingers crossed I don't kill it!

 

[rockm]

Hello, brand new member and anxious first time redwood caretaker! I got my Metasequoia ("Maia") mid to late January 2025, and for the last few months it has been thriving. It put out teeny green needles consistently which have been dark green and straight.

I kept Mia's pot on my nightstand about three feet from my window (indirect sun) and that seemed to be good enough until about a week ago, when I noticed the needles were looking sad. (see photos)

I've moved the tree to the windowsill for more direct light, but so far no dice. I potted the tree with a bonsai specific soil with a drainage layer. I water weekly until the tray below is full, with water treated with conditioner. I have not yet added any worm dirt fertilizer.

So what's happening here? More sunlight? Outside time? More/less water? Ritual sacrifice? Any help you all can give would be appreciated!

It is dying because of lack of light and low humidity

Dawn redwoods is not an “indoor” tree. You are seeing why.

Outside this species is extremely hardy. Indoor conditions are extreme for plants of any sort. Extremely dimly lit even next to a window. Extremely low humidity comparable to a desert because of central ac/heat systems designed to draw humid out of circulated air.

Get this outside of it will die

The Effects of Different Outdoor Environments, Sunglasses and Hats on Light Levels: Implications for Myopia Prevention - PMC

Lack of outdoor time is a known risk factor for myopia. Knowledge of the light levels reaching the eye and exposure settings, including sun-protective measures, is essential for outdoor programs and myopia. We evaluated the impact of sun-protective ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Elrathia]

Thank you! I skittered outside and set it up in the sun. Hopefully this gets the poor little thing back on its...feet? It's only about a year old according to the nursery, I'd hate to be a seedling killer.

Will provide status reports.

 

[Dav4]

So... there isn't a tree species on the planet that would prefer growing inside your home. Some will tolerate the conditions offered inside, but none will really thrive and most will weaken and die within a year or two. Metasequoia glyptostroboides is one of my favorite tree species in general. Considered a prehistoric remnant, the species dates back to tens of millions of years ago. It's adapted itself to warm summers and cold winters, as in potentially cold hardy down to -30 F, and it wants full direct sunlight for at least 8 hours a day. It loves growing near water, but will tolerate drought once established. It'll grow well throughout much of the continental US. I'd move this one out into a shady spot that might get some dappled sun and slowly increase its sun exposure over the next 2-3 weeks as it hopefully grows new needles. The needles that grew inside are going to burn to a crisp if you plunk it out into direct sun, but subsequent needles will be more sun tolerant.

 

[Elrathia]

I expect there will be some growing pains as it is exposed to real light, but I'm glad to know that new needles may grow provided I do this right. As it will be outside in KS sun/humidity, would you all recommend I move to daily watering?

 

[rockm]

I expect there will be some growing pains as it is exposed to real light, but I'm glad to know that new needles may grow provided I do this right. As it will be outside in KS sun/humidity, would you all recommend I move to daily watering?

Water when it needs it. You will have to learn when that is. Watering on your schedule is not a great thing to do. You have to water in the trees schedule

 

[Elrathia]

Understood. I typically do daily soil and tray checks anyway, so that will hopefully assist me in learning Maia's changing needs. Thank you again.

 

[Bigsnap]

Hello,
im new here and i have a Metasequoia glyptostroboides forest too.
I have it now for 4 months and it is going pretty well. The watering schedule of this kind of tree is pretty weird and we have to adapt with it.
It may need water every 3 days if the air humidity is high and the temperature is low but it may need to be watered up to 2 times per day here in Greece in Summer time..
Last week that the temperatures were high and air humidity pretty low i was watering it 2 times per day..
It is not a hard tree but you should learn its language..
These are my trees at the moment. When i bought it in February they had no leaves.
What is the situation now with your tree?