Young dawn redwoods winter protocol?

[Forsoothe!]

i meant to mention, my redwood is getting cold garage with little light! i didnt think they want or need light in winter. they lose all their leaves

Once again, a simplistic view, that trees without foliage don't need light in winter, is only partially true. At the end of the built in quiet period for each species, trees will begin to expand buds in anticipation of the next growing season. It continues until the foliage comes out whether or not there is enough light to produce chlorophyll in the leaves, so the leaves come out anyway light greenish-yellow. If they are put out directly in the sun the leaves get sunburned, -crispy. Of course, just because the tree needs sunlight and you put it outside on warm days, the nights can still be too cold for the foliage overnight, like when it freezes or there is a frost, so they need to come back in overnight, then back out the next day, for as long as the weather takes to be right for the foliage that is there, AKA the bonsai two-step. So, as usual, things are not as easy as postulated.

Left outside in the sun, they are acclimated to cycles and don't bud out too early, or as early, with some notable exceptions like the stone fruits and unpredictable freezes/frosts later than normal in spring. Nothing is dead sure.

 

[Forsoothe!]

I have 11 mice feeding stations outside that I load with bait this time of year. The mice load up their burrows with free stock for the winter...

 

[power270lb]

A better strategy is to set them on the ground, but not in the position they will be finally left at. Roots at air temperature are not as good as roots in contact with the earth which greatly modifies the temperature swings, day to night. I see from the ABS club listing that the 4 people who are into bonsai in NJ live about as far apart as possible and that the closest club to you is in Farmingdale, NY 46 miles from you, crosstown, which probably means a bridge too far.

I have a friend who lives closer but he's also fairly new but much more experienced than I. The transition indoors I'm not a fan of. I started indoors and loved it but summer sun oh my. I have three strong grow lights and trying to get the best sun for them as well but all I have is an east facing window with maybe a few hours of light. May have to pony up for another grow light. My Fukien tea hasn't given me a single problem all summer. Inside three days and it's yellow.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Get used to it. It'll come back after it's finished punishing you for disturbing it.

 

[power270lb]

Get used to it. It'll come back after it's finished punishing you for disturbing it.

Lololol did that inside last year until I figured out it just needs water everyday because it's in mostly inorganic soil. Any grow tents you recommend? Decent size, I have my lights hanging from the ceiling but trying to maximize sun/lights/space is a chore. Have sheets of mylar I have yet to put up. Basically my plants are fine without the sun ATM. The east window on good days gets sun from 7ish-12ish. Would it be better just putting mylar all around or moving the tables to the window and putting mylar around leaving space open for the window?