Brazilian Rain Tree - BRT - from seed, a progression

[Clicio]

I decided to create this thread to record the progression of a BRT from seed, one from a batch of 20 or so. Some culled, most given as gift.

I sowed in sand in the winter of 2018, it sprouted in the beginning of October.



After 10 days it was going well. Shade, humidity and watering.



In July 2020 I pruned it and lightly wired the future branches.



In August 2nd I checked the bottom of the black plastic pot and decided it was time for a bigger pot.



[Sequence below]

 

[Clicio]

So after carefully taking it out of the old pot, the root system was a big happy surprise.
Plenty of white tipped fine roots.

1-) The rootball



2-) the sides



3-) the lower wall of roots



4-) under the trunk



So after scratching the sides with a wooden chopstick and the bottom of the root mass to loosen it, I trimmed the longer tips and repotted it in a bigger but shallower black plastic training pot.
This thread will be updated from time to time.

 

[Clicio]

@leatherback aren't yours approximately the same age as this one? I don't quite remember the exact time you have sowed your BRT seeds.

 

[leatherback]

Juli 2018:


I am thinking about repotting. We are about to get a 2 week heatwave, 32C +. Might be a good moment to repot?

 

[Clicio]

Juli 2018:
I am thinking about repotting. We are about to get a 2 week heatwave, 32C +. Might be a good moment to repot?

So they are from the same batch of seeds as mine above.
Yes, by the end of the summer, if there's no chance of frost in the next 60~90 days.
In fact most tropicals here are repotted either in spring or by the end of summer. So if it is an up-potting it is quite safe now.

 

[leatherback]

Nah, of the five shown, 4 are still alive. 3 are in one pot and I wanted to separate them; Before winter hits I probably want to get rid of 2 or so because of indoor space.

 

[Carol 83]

Where did you get the seeds @Clicio ? Looks like a fun, rewarding project.

 

[Clicio]

Where did you get the seeds @Clicio ? Looks like a fun, rewarding project.

They are restricted here in Brazil due to extinction protection laws, but we can buy fresh seeds in batches of 30 or so.
Pretty cheap, like U$10

 

[Carol 83]

I'll have to check on them here, see what's available. Thanks. Awesome progress on yours in such a short time.

 

[BrazilianMoistWood]

What would happen in you planted 3 seedlings all close together to try and fuse the bases then once tall enough, given that they are still soft enough to work, did a braid and let them grow and fuse together that way, would that be aesthetically pleasing to the eye? How would the trunk grow given the nature of the rain trees already growing twisty and fluty?

 

[Clicio]

What would happen in you planted 3 seedlings... did a braid...

Well, I don't really know if they fuse, I guess no. On the other hand I don't think braided trunks are related to bonsai, in other words I hate them...

 

[BrazilianMoistWood]

I think it would make the trunk look unique, one it gets old enough, if one does die, it would be a cool deadwood pattern going down which you don’t see on brt very often. As for it not being bonsai, as long as you keep it styled and in a proper bonsai pot it would still be bonsai? I suppose it wouldn’t represent a smaller version of a naturally grown tree seen in nature but who knows, maybe someone grew a braided brt in Brazil many moons ago we just don’t know about

 

[leatherback]

I think it would make the trunk look unique, one it gets old enough, if one does die, it would be a cool deadwood pattern going down which you don’t see on brt very often. As for it not being bonsai, as long as you keep it styled and in a proper bonsai pot it would still be bonsai? I suppose it wouldn’t represent a smaller version of a naturally grown tree seen in nature but who knows, maybe someone grew a braided brt in Brazil many moons ago we just don’t know about

Why would you do it?
Not everything in a bonsai pot is a bonsai. A braided plant would rarely quality imho

 

[Mapleminx]

I’m so jelly of both your BRT’s but maybe slightly more jelly of @Clicio as he has easy access to seeds.

 

[leatherback]

I’m so jelly of both your BRT’s but maybe slightly more jelly of @Clicio as he has easy access to seeds.

can't get you seeds. But I cuold get you a rooted cutting later in spring probably.

 

[Mapleminx]

can't get you seeds. But I cuold get you a rooted cutting later in spring probably.

 

[Clicio]

Well, I am posting some relevant info about BRTs.
Apparently despite all its differences such as slower growth, larger leaves, and absence of thorns, the "thornless BRT" and the "regular" BRT are indeed the same species, with some variations.
The botanical name of the species was updated also, from Pithecellobium tortum to Chloroleucon tortum.
After some new research:


It is native of the savannas and tropical coastal rain forests of Brazil:

 

[Clicio]

UPDATE:

The tree is doing well and thickening.
Better photos as soon as it stops raining.

 

[MattE]

Hows the progress of the trees ?

 

[Clicio]

Hows the progress of the trees ?

I will take some pictures today.