Repotting guide

When & how to repot Dawn Redwood 'Gold Rush' (Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Gold Rush')

Also called Gold Rush dawn redwood, golden dawn redwood.

More about dawn redwood 'gold rush'

About Dawn Redwood 'Gold Rush'

Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Gold Rush' · also called Gold Rush dawn redwood, golden dawn redwood · flowering

A golden-leaved form of the deciduous dawn redwood, a living-fossil conifer. Feathery sprays of soft needles emerge bright chartreuse-yellow, hold their gold through summer in sun, then turn coppery-orange before dropping. Fast-growing and upright-conical, it makes a luminous specimen tree. ('Gold Rush' and 'Ogon' are the same clone under different names.)

Mature size: Slower and smaller than the green species, reaching roughly 10-15 m tall and 4-6 m wide over time.

How to tell dawn redwood 'gold rush' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For dawn redwood 'gold rush', watch for these signs:

Thick roots out of the drainage holes, or circling the surface and lifting the plant.
The pot dries out unusually fast and dawn redwood 'gold rush' wilts between waterings it used to shrug off.
The plant is visibly top-heavy and tips over easily.
Stalled growth and small new leaves over a full season — though with a big specimen, top-dressing is often the better first response before a full repot.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot dawn redwood 'gold rush'

Every 2–3 years; top-dress in the in-between years. Dawn Redwood 'Gold Rush''s growth habit — fast-growing deciduous conifer with a strongly upright, narrowly conical form and a buttressed, fluted trunk with age. — sets the pace. A golden-leaved form of the deciduous dawn redwood, a living-fossil conifer. Feathery sprays of soft needles emerge bright chartreuse-yellow, hold their gold through summer in sun, then turn coppery-orange before dropping. Fast-growing and upright-conical, it makes a luminous specimen tree. ('Gold Rush' and 'Ogon' are the same clone under different names.)

What size pot to step dawn redwood 'gold rush' up to

Move up exactly one pot size. A heavy dawn redwood 'gold rush' dropped into a vastly bigger pot sits in a reservoir of wet soil its roots cannot reach, which rots them and destabilises the plant. In the years between repots, lift off and replace the top 3–5 cm of soil (top-dressing) instead — it refreshes nutrients without the shock of a full repot.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot dawn redwood 'gold rush'

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for dawn redwood 'gold rush'. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting dawn redwood 'gold rush'

Consider top-dressing first. If dawn redwood 'gold rush' is not badly root-bound, scrape off and replace the top 3–5 cm of soil instead — far less shock for a big plant that hates moving.
Get help and one size up. For a full repot, choose a pot just one size larger. A heavy plant needs two people and a stable, free-draining pot.
Ease it out on its side. Lay the plant down, slide the pot off, and gently loosen the outer roots. Do not bare-root a mature specimen.
Repot at the same depth. Add fresh deep, moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil beneath and around the rootball, keeping the original soil line. Firm it so the trunk is stable and upright.
Water and leave it put. Water thoroughly, then leave dawn redwood 'gold rush' in the same spot and light — moving and repotting at once is what makes it drop leaves.

Aftercare

Leave dawn redwood 'gold rush' in exactly the same spot and light it was in before — moving and repotting at the same time is what makes a big specimen drop leaves. Water it in well, then let the top of the soil dry before watering again so the larger volume of fresh soil does not stay sodden. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for dawn redwood 'gold rush'

Dawn Redwood 'Gold Rush' wants deep, moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil. Prefers humus-rich, consistently moist loam and tolerates wet sites and stream banks. Performs poorly on thin, dry or strongly alkaline chalk soils, which can cause chlorosis. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting dawn redwood 'gold rush' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot dawn redwood 'gold rush'?

Every 2–3 years; top-dress in the in-between years for dawn redwood 'gold rush'. Fully repot dawn redwood 'gold rush' only every 2–3 years; in the in-between years just top-dress the top 3–5 cm of soil. Step up one pot size in spring with deep, moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil. It is heavy and hates being moved, and a vastly oversized pot holds water against the roots and rots them.

What size pot does dawn redwood 'gold rush' need?

When is the best time of year to repot dawn redwood 'gold rush'?

Should you top-dress or fully repot dawn redwood 'gold rush'?

For a big, heavy dawn redwood 'gold rush', top-dressing — replacing the top 3–5 cm of soil — is the gentler option most years, with a full repot only every 2–3 years. A mature specimen sulks and drops leaves when fully repotted, so do it as rarely as the roots allow.

Should you fertilise dawn redwood 'gold rush' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting dawn redwood 'gold rush'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.