Brazilian Rain Tree Leaves Not Opening - BRT

[Paradox]

I bring mine inside when it starts to get below 50 degrees.
That is what I was told by the guy that grows them and whom I got my best BRT from.
They are tropical trees, they dont like cold
They might be able to tolerate it briefly but too much and they wont survive

 

[LanceMac10]

Hahahahaha are you serious?! I know I'm a relative newbie to this, but that's impressive. I had no clue they were that resilient. I figured a tropical tree needed just that... Tropical temps.

It was just in such rough shape I was grasping at straws not to lose it. I saw the temps hitting 62 for the soil around 8pm and figured it was probably dropping too low at night and stressing it out even further. Clearly, that's probably not the case. I'm gonna get it off the heat mat, lift up the wood that it's sitting on, and put it back on its stand with a humidity tray underneath which it's always done well with. It's gotta be the moisture that was causing it the first time with too compact of soil and then again with the moss.

Lance's two trunk Raintree

Going to repot shortly. Anyone have thoughts on either of these two pot selections. I'll have to be pretty aggressive to get it into the square one.:eek::D Going out to cut it back some.....:cool:

www.bonsainut.com

 

[LanceMac10]

3-21-18...janky T-5's and I might as well live in an igloo.....

 

[cairolip21]

3-21-18...janky T-5's and I might as well live in an igloo.....

View attachment 353504

That's gorgeous!

Alright I'm glad to have a bit more faith in trusting it without the heat mat. I'm gonna keep an eye on the soil temp, room temp, humidity, and how often I need to water it and hope for the best. Back to the basics for now.... Thanks everyone!!

 

[LanceMac10]

That's gorgeous!

Alright I'm glad to have a bit more faith in trusting it without the heat mat. I'm gonna keep an eye on the soil temp, room temp, humidity, and how often I need to water it and hope for the best. Back to the basics for now.... Thanks everyone!!

Thank you.


@Paradox has some nice BRT's so check out her threads for good care tips. Might be a similar "zone" as yours?

 

[cairolip21]

Thank you.


@Paradox has some nice BRT's so check out her threads for good care tips. Might be a similar "zone" as yours?

Perfect... Will do! I just jumped to his page and he's in Long Island too. Same zone exactly. Thanks for the connect and for your advise!

 

[LanceMac10]

Perfect... Will do! I just jumped to his page and he's in Long Island too. Same zone exactly. Thanks for the connect and for your advise!

He is a she...Sandy. And, too boot, she has had a lot more exposure to high level training.

 

[Paradox]

@cairolip21

Please put your location on your profile so it shows like it does under mine and LanceMac's avatars.
This will be a big help for anyone giving you advice. Often advice is location dependant

You and I are both in NY but NY is such a big state that there some significant differences in weather across the state

 

[cairolip21]

He is a she...Sandy. And, too boot, she has had a lot more exposure to high level training.

Oops! I didn't read the profile or delve much further than seeing LI. I look forward to connecting with her. Thanks again!

 

[cairolip21]

@cairolip21

Please put your location on your profile so it shows like it does under mine and LanceMac's avatars.
This will be a big help for anyone giving you advice. Often advice is location dependant

You and I are both in NY but NY is such a big state that there some significant differences in weather across the state

Hi Paradox, thanks for the advice and for the tip on location. You and I are both in Long Island actually! I may have to pick your brain a bit more on things as I get more involved in the hobby. I'll edit my profile now.

 

[LanceMac10]

3-15-20 defoliated..


3-23-20...brussels sprouts..


4-5-20...who can make this kitty purr.....

 

[cairolip21]

View attachment 353525
3-15-20 defoliated..

View attachment 353527
3-23-20...brussels sprouts..

View attachment 353528
4-5-20...who can make this kitty purr.....

Wow! How often do you defoliate? Every few years?

 

[Paradox]

Wow! How often do you defoliate? Every few years?

if the tree is healthy and vigorous you can defoliate once a year

 

[cairolip21]

if the tree is healthy and vigorous you can defoliate once a year

That's exciting. After mine stress-defoliated it came back beautifully. I'm looking forward to when I can manually do it yearly.

 

[Paradox]

That's exciting. After mine stress-defoliated it came back beautifully. I'm looking forward to when I can manually do it yearly.

I have had one freak out and self defoilate, usually when I let it dry out too much.
You dont necessarily have to defoliate it every year. I dont do it every year, only if its necessary

 

[cairolip21]

I have had one freak out and self defoilate, usually when I let it dry out too much.
You dont necessarily have to defoliate it every year. I dont do it every year, only if its necessary

What determines if it's necessary? Is it mainly for ramification for the BRTs too?

 

[Carol 83]

View attachment 353492




Lose the moss, the rock and the heat mat....that's the "Real".....

You're right, I should have not responded. I will defer to those as yourself that have more experience with them.

 

[Paradox]

What determines if it's necessary? Is it mainly for ramification for the BRTs too?

I defoliate in the spring when I need to wire the tree.
Sometimes I let the tree grow out too much and I have to cut back hard which doesnt completely defoliate the tree but it takes off a lot of foliage.

Defoliation does not create ramification. Selective pruning does
In Brazilian rain trees, defoliation can stimulate back budding as does pruning

 

[cairolip21]

I defoliate in the spring when I need to wire the tree.
Sometimes I let the tree grow out too much and I have to cut back hard which doesnt completely defoliate the tree but it takes off a lot of foliage.

Defoliation does not create ramification. Selective pruning does

Ok that makes sense.. thank you!

 

[cairolip21]

You're right, I should have not responded. I will defer to those as yourself that have more experience with them.

I think that response was to someone else for something else.
Thanks for your advice on this. I think me getting too worried and trying to fix things was what started all of this the first time around. I've gotta be a bit more patient.