Brazilian Rain Tree - my first Bonsai

[DanielBRT]

At the end of last week, my first ever Bonsai arrived! She’s still a little grumpy from shipping.

The retailer I bought it from said it’s planted in a 50/50 mix of pine bark fines and their base substrate of 60% Sphagnum Peat Moss, 20% Perlite, 10% Crushed Dolomite for acidity balance, 5% Rooting Agent ,5% Mycorrhiza

Since I am so, so green in the world of Bonsai, I do need some guidance. I had months to do research before it arrived but now that she’s here I’m second guessing all my research.

Is the soil mix adequate? I’ve read BRT’s are naturally in a more sandy substrate.

I watered on Saturday, it is now Tuesday. As of this morning, the soil is still damp and spongy. Does this point to too much moisture retention from the soil? I was expecting to be watering every 2nd day or so.

I don’t know if there is less water uptake right now due to the tree still being upset from shipping or if the water demand is significantly less than I expected for this species.

I have her placed in a very large east facing window. So she gets direct sunlight for the first couple hours each morning then basically 0 direct light for the rest of the day. Is this ok?

My plan is to leave her untouched for the rest of the growing season then prune off any hardened off unwanted growth before winter. I’d really like to thicken the trunk

 

[Colorado]

Welcome! I’d put it in a south facing window if you have one available. I had a BRT a few years ago and it did great in full sun outside. But the east window will probably be fine too if that’s all you’ve got.

Have fun!

 

[DanielBRT]

Welcome! I’d put it in a south facing window if you have one available. I had a BRT a few years ago and it did great in full sun outside. But the east window will probably be fine too if that’s all you’ve got.

Have fun!

Thanks! Unfortunately, I’m in a condo so that’s imposssible.

Fortunately, however, I have full floor to ceiling windows across my entire condo. All east facing.

I know bonsai are a different beast on their own, but I do want to note that these windows have allowed me to grow basically anything I want.

I have a cactus that has grown up to about 4 feet, a yucca that has tripled and I’m able to grow dracaenas like mad

I know none of this means anything whatsoever for my ability to grow bonsai in it, but perhaps I’m just naively optimistic!

 

[Colorado]

Thanks! Unfortunately, I’m in a condo so that’s imposssible.

Fortunately, however, I have full floor to ceiling windows across my entire condo. All east facing.

I know bonsai are a different beast on their own, but I do want to note that these windows have allowed me to grow basically anything I want.

I have a cactus that has grown up to about 4 feet, a yucca that has tripled and I’m able to grow dracaenas like mad

I know none of this means anything whatsoever for my ability to grow bonsai in it, but perhaps I’m just naively optimistic!

Sounds like it should work great! Like you, before I got into bonsai I grew many cacti and succulents. I’ve found that the horticulture overlaps quite a bit. I think your BRT will do great

 

[DanielBRT]

Sounds like it should work great! Like you, before I got into bonsai I grew many cacti and succulents. I’ve found that the horticulture overlaps quite a bit. I think your BRT will do great

Great to hear! I’ll update this thread as she grows!

 

[Carol 83]

Welcome to the forum! Brt's are fun trees. If water pools in the bottom of that drip tray when you water, make sure and dump it out. They don't like to be sopping wet.

 

[DanielBRT]

Welcome to the forum! Brt's are fun trees. If water pools in the bottom of that drip tray when you water, make sure and dump it out. They don't like to be sopping wet.

Great advice! Thank you!

 

[DanielBRT]

Based on the tree arriving by mail last Thursday, how long do you think is a reasonable amount of time for the tree to recover from shipping? More specifically at what point should I worry if water uptake hasn’t increased

 

[trigo]

Just give as much sun as you can and it will probably be okay. I would remove the sphagnum around the trunk.

 

[DanielBRT]

Thanks! I removed the sphagnum the day at arrived, shortly after this photo was taken

 

[DanielBRT]

Here she is in the morning sun!

 

[DanielBRT]

Today marks 6 days since it’s needed water.

Chopstick test came up moist. Soil feels moist.

I’m wondering if low water uptake is due to it being fresh out of shipping and it’s still upset

OR

Perhaps my window isn’t providing near enough light like I thought it would.

Considering a grow light above it

 

[rockm]

Stop worrying. It's fine. Make sure the soil stays moist and not wet. If it's not dropping leaves or showing signs of stress, Leave it alone otherwise. Fussing, futzing around and worrying with a tree is one of the primary causes of tree death for beginners.

 

[DanielBRT]

Stop worrying. It's fine. Make sure the soil stays moist and not wet. If it's not dropping leaves or showing signs of stress, Leave it alone otherwise. Fussing, futzing around and worrying with a tree is one of the primary causes of tree death for beginners.

Thanks! Will do

I haven’t moved it or watered it as I knew being frantic would just cause me more issues

I’ll just monitor soil daily

 

[OrenjiIroNoNeko]

A BRT let's you know quicker than most if it's unhappy. Leaves will turn yellow and drop quick, but generally it recovers quickly as well.

 

[Russ1]

New here but been growing BRTs in the North East for over 25 years, wish I had a window like that but they have done well, no window, under Fluorescent shop lights with 5k bulbs and now LED 5k shop lights. The more light and humidity the better during winter but again during winter I struggle to keep it above 40%. If they dry on occasion for short periods don't panic, I have had no issues with that. They will fold up their leaves when unhappy or too dry and also at night. I do put them outside or in the greenhouse in summer but when the temps start dropping below 55 at night I bring them in for fall/winter/spring. I use a soil mix of Turface/Sand/Pine Bark screened to around 1/8" but this year changed to Pumice/Lava/Pine bark with about 15% Turface.. I also have used pure Long Strand Spagnum to grow smaller ones in.. in small plastic pots.. and have used chopped spagnum, about 5% added to the soil mix. They are not real fussy but the soil needs to drain well, no potting Mix. Also make sure to rotate the tree in the window so it will not grow towards the light in one direction. Where I am they tend to yellow and drop leave around march but will produce new leaves in a couple weeks. You can help it by defoliating around that time, leave the stem (petiole), if it is healthy and it is a good time to see the framework and prune, and wire, though older branches don't like wiring as much as young branches. If you prune leave 1/2 inch or so after the last node/bud for die back then prune that piece off after it dies back. It may also have to adjust to your day length if it came from another area, you can tell when the leaves start folding at night. I've been repotting in mid july when outside but thinking of moving that back a couple weeks, climate change is real and is changing our weather pattern here.

 

[DanielBRT]

Thanks for this! I never thought to rotate it in the window.

It’s been a couple weeks since it arrived now. It shed a lot of yellow leaves at first but now it’s pushing out new growth. I’m starting to get the hang of it’s watering needs too!