# Is my Bald Cypress alive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Horticulture\ **Created:** [July 15, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554 "2020-07-15T21:59:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mfennell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Mfennell](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Mfennell)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/1 "2020-07-15T22:00:00Z")
I acquired this Bald Cypress from an estate in April ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/b/bc99caffb6d7490465076c903d16907a11c5815d.jpeg) . I was told it still may have some life in it. It was largely ignored for 5 years and was extremely pot bound. I transplanted it in pumice, pearlite, orchid bark and a small amount of potting soil mix (20% maybe). It is very well watered and drains really well. Thus far all I have gotten is a profuse quantity of suckers around the base of the tree. I have attached a photo below. Other than continue to pray, is there anything else I should consider doing? I live in Southern California. Mitch ---
**Author:** ![MartyWeiser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@MartyWeiser](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/MartyWeiser)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/2 "2020-07-15T22:42:15Z")
I am pretty sure it is alive due to the suckers at the bottom. However, I think you are going to end up with an interesting lightening struck style tree where the main trunk is a jin. ---
**Author:** ![Mfennell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Mfennell](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Mfennell)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/3 "2020-07-15T22:54:48Z")
😳 well that will be interesting. Any suggestions about how to encourage actual branches? ---
**Author:** ![MartyWeiser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@MartyWeiser](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/MartyWeiser)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/4 "2020-07-16T00:37:39Z")
This year I would let it grow to gain strength. Early next spring I I would prune it back leaving some of the woodier bits - leaving more than you want from the design - and start wiring them up. I would envision a clump style tree where it sprouted from the roots after lightening killed the main trunk. As part of that I would plan to do some major carving - perhaps splitting the trunk from the top for 1/3 - 1/2 the height. I think you can tell a really neat story with this tree. Not the traditional bald cypress story, but the atypical stories can be among the best. ---
**Author:** ![Mfennell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Mfennell](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Mfennell)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/5 "2020-07-16T01:05:32Z")
Thanks for you input Marty. I never thought of the design elements you described and I can see that the possibility of a striking bonsai are possible. Hopefully I don’t kill it off in the process. I am still looking for signs of strength. ---
**Author:** ![Bonsai\_Bentley](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai_bentley/32/7792_2.png) [@Bonsai\_Bentley](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Bonsai_Bentley)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/6 "2020-07-16T05:44:22Z")
That looks like asparagus fern foliage, not BC. ---
**Author:** ![Mfennell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Mfennell](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Mfennell)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 6:34am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/7 "2020-07-16T06:34:52Z")
I will post an up close photo of the foliage tomorrow. It would be quite a surprise to me if it is a fern. ---
**Author:** ![MikeK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@MikeK](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/MikeK)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 7:02am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/8 "2020-07-16T07:02:55Z")
I’m with @Bonsai_Bentley, looks like type of asparagus fern to me too. Not sure that it is actually a fern vs. the common name. There’s a bunch of Asparaus spieces that have common name of Asparagus Fern ( Asparagus virgatus, A. aethiopicus, A. macowanii are a few). Maybe scratch around a bit and see if it is connected to the trunk (or has a rhizome or corm, which the asparagus ferns do) ---
**Author:** ![Keith-in-UK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@Keith-in-UK](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Keith-in-UK)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 10:58am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/9 "2020-07-16T10:58:29Z")
I don’t know if it’s a fern or not but a I’m pretty sure the growth isn’t BC. Have you watched the BC partial defoliation stream? ---
**Author:** ![Mfennell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Mfennell](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Mfennell)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/10 "2020-07-16T15:17:05Z")
No I have not seen that stream but I will start watching it today. Thanks for the heads-up. The fern diagnosis is interesting. When I brought the tree home and started watering it, the suckers started coming from the base of the tree (eg appeared to be growing out of the roots of tree). I removed them hoping that whatever strength they were using would be directed to the top of the tree. After repotting the suckers began appearing again; even after reducing the rootball by 50%. As I said, I will take an up close photo today of those… whatever they are. ---
**Author:** ![Mfennell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Mfennell](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Mfennell)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/11 "2020-07-16T15:34:00Z")
![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/2/22ac15f043dfb85cb2d95a6081069eb335235594.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/5/5dbea2527142c55cfb51ebf8b7ba1d6b4611c6ed.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/9/9723f92876ba6befe71217d9105502b60539fb9b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Keith-in-UK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@Keith-in-UK](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Keith-in-UK)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 10:57am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/12 "2020-07-17T10:57:35Z")
Have you scratched the trunk to see if there is any green anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![Bonsai\_Bentley](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai_bentley/32/7792_2.png) [@Bonsai\_Bentley](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Bonsai_Bentley)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/13 "2020-07-17T13:23:28Z")
That’s definitely not bald cypress foliage. Looks like the Sprengeri variety of asparagus fern. > **[Tips for Growing the Tropical Asparagus Fern Indoors and Outdoors](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/houseplant/asparagus-fern/)** > > Find essential tips for growing asparagus fern, a herbaceous perennial that is grown as a houseplant or outdoors in a warm climate. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/c/c10d428f06aa986f4b9064a74a882b83009ecb15.jpeg) Bald cypress foliage ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/a/afdd6b9d9f83da9c8c3f1f145d744ca78afdb53c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Mfennell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Mfennell](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Mfennell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/14 "2020-07-17T15:04:03Z")
I did. Sadly I am not finding anything. ---
**Author:** ![Bonsai\_Bentley](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai_bentley/32/7792_2.png) [@Bonsai\_Bentley](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Bonsai_Bentley)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/15 "2020-07-17T15:44:47Z")
> [@Mfennell](#): > > I will post an up close photo of the foliage tomorrow. It would be quite a surprise to me if it is a fern. Just to be clear; it looks like a volunteer fern growing from underneath a dead BC trunk. Sucks because that would have been a sweet BC. ---
**Author:** ![Mfennell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Mfennell](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Mfennell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-my-bald-cypress-alive/6554/16 "2020-07-17T16:02:01Z")
Thanks for all your information guys. I am convinced now that this is indeed a fern and the the tree is a goner. My final question is, could the fern have played a role in the trees demise? As I said, this growth was evident when I brought the tree home but I cut it back before transplanting. Thanks again, Mitch