Yes, it would be expected that it needed a winter dormant period in order to be able make another flush of growth next spring. I do not know the particulars with this species but typically when deciduous trees and shrubs do not mature a growth flush and set dormant buds on the ends they have no way to resume growth the following year.

Dawn redwoods need to have a dormancy period.. It will probably live through the winter indoors, but it is risky and not advisable. If it were me, I might try to bury it in the ground, if it isn't frozen yet, mulch it, hope for the best?

J

Thanks for the replies so far. The tree looks like it would in the middle of summer - green and lush. Would it be too much of a shock to put it outside right now? (highs are in the 20's -30's and lows are in the teens - 20's)

Would it be better to start off in the garage for a while before going outside? The tree only cost me $2 but I'd still like to see it live.

thanks

Could you keep it in the garage all winter, hopefully go gradually dormant, then plant it in the spring?

What would happen if it was kept indoors all Winter then planted in the Spring? Would the tree survive and then grow normally in 2012?

If you put the tree outside, the cold and sun would kill the needles quickly. Would the tree have developed the new buds for next Spring yet? Would the tree behave like a tree that had it's early Spring buds killed by frost then next year? ... assuming the tree survives, but trees are pretty tough.

I suppose one way or another it is an experiment.

Get it outside or where it is cold now. It needs to drop its leaves and go dormant, just like any other broadleaf diciduous tree. Yes I know my spelling is horrible, but you get it. Its too warm, and too DRY indoors for it all winter. Put it in a very cold basement, or outside, pref when the temps are above freezing, and let it go. it should be fine even with freezing temps.

I have dalt with this before...if you keep it inside it will eventually stop growing and start looking haggard, with yellowing foliage tips, around late january or february. After it does this, put it in the fridge for a few weeks and it will recover. A zone 4 winter when it has not had time acclimate will most likely shock and lower its "immune system", leaving it open to poor health and disease. I have personally seen this before. Either way, its going to need a dormant period of cool temps. It does not necessarily need to be freezing or below, but it needs at least 40 f.

I'm gonna go against the grain a bit and suggest AGAINST putting it straight outside. Its not ready for the cold and if it is put straight outside into a cold environment now, it might die.

I had some Single-leaf pinyon seedlings shipped to me from Oregon or California (I don't recall which state honestly) to Elko last fall. It was already growing cold here, but it was obvious that the seedlings thought it was still a good season to be growing since they were still flush. I made the mistake of putting them straight outside, and they didn't make it. Unfortunately, I didn't have any other options, no garage or basement to get them acclimated.

I'd go with a chilly garage first, to get it on the road toward dormancy. If you can encourage it to go dormant first, then put it outside, that'd be a better route.

Three things...

1. If you put it outside now, it will be killed. It is in a physiological state for growth, not dormancy.

2. Although DRs benefit from a dormant period, they aren't as dependent on it as you think. I have seen the species growing in West Palm Beach where it gradually loses some foliage and stops growing for a short while in winter, but is exposed to mostly very warm temps year around. They don't grow as well there, but do survive. Keeping it inside until spring, then planting outside will be o.k. It will eventually begin shedding the existing foliage and may look weird for a while, but by next fall should be normal.

3. I grew seedlings in the greenhouse that were kept inside for more than a year. They did fine in the end.

All the input is interesting..I find it intriguing that no one really knows for sure what will happen! Again, the tree is not in my possession but is at my friend's house. I have forwarded on all the info to him and I'll assume he will take the easier way out and keep it inside until Spring. I'll try to post a follow up this Spring / Summer to let everyone know what happened.

I have an old night stand in my garage complete with timed light bumb and a heating mat. It keeps a couple lantana cuttings going for me till April.

I bet your friend's metasequoia would appreciate some time in a cool garage but still getting some light. If I had a timer I would use the light to heat it also. Not crazy like. Probably even add a half hour of darkness a night so it just didnt get a 20degree night in right off the bat.

I wanted to follow up with everyone - my friend told me today that the Dawn Redwood did NOT survive the winter in his house.

He laughed and said, "oh yeah, it turned brown, dropped all it's needles and died over the winter".

He laughed?? It sounds as if your friend is not someone who should be trusted with a tree or any other living being (slight exaggeration. :p ) I bet you don't give him another one! (Next time you are tempted, keep it for yourself. :-D )

Holly

"All" four of my Dawn Redwoods are brown right now. I have two small ones in pots, one on the porch, one in a modified box in the garage, both are brown as the ones in the yard. The big trees I can see the buds on. I'm curious if the young fellas just have smaller buds I am not noticing.

yeah .. they do go brown and lose all the leaves/needles ... they are deciduous ...

i hope he didnt throw out a tree that was simply in dormancy ... lol

whatever.. he was pushing the limits.. and does not seem at all upset about it ... he had fun.. good enough ...

ken

Bringing outdoor plants into unspecialized indoor environments seems to be a semi often attempted idiocy.

In the houseplant section; 'Can I grow Ilex aquifolium indoors' *Facepalm*

It's not so much 'can you' as examine the entirely one sided bizarre need or shortsighted planning. The OP above 'I gave....still in his living room' QED