Cercidiphyllum spp. (C. japonicum Sieb & Zucc. and C. magnificum Nakai) are native to Asia (Japan and China) and are used as a specimen ornamental shade trees. Micropropagation has proven to be successful with C. japonicum. Nodal encapsulation was evaluated using C. japonicum and C. magnificum. The focus of this study was to determine if alginate encapsulation is viable and to evaluate the range of sodium alginate concentrations by comparing 0%, 2.5%, 2.75%, or 3.0% (w/v) alginate over cold storage incubation (5 ± 1°C) in darkness for periods of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The effect of species, alginate concentration, and duration of cold storage on microshoot growth were analyzed after 4 weeks incubation (23 ± 1°C) under light on multiplication medium in order to determine an appropriate encapsulation procedure. Both species responded similarly to alginate concentration and cold storage periods, producing significantly greater shoot growth with 3.0% sodium alginate, whereas, shoot growth of both species was enhanced with increasing cold storage time.