Building new Apex for BRT

[aaa_yush7]

Hey Folks, i am trying to build a new Apex for my BRT. I pruned all the leaves and branches from the apex area and have been eagerly waiting for new growth for over a month and half now. Any suggestions ya’ll got? Should i remove more stubs to promote new growth? Suggestions are appreciated. TY!

I am pointing to stub on the third picture

 

[ZombieNick]

There is a good chance that whole leader is dead now. Typically, we cut back to a node where we already have growth. In most species, cutting off all the leaves on a branch will cause it to dieback. You will probably need to ditch the branch you cut back and pull up one of the lower branches as the new leader.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

The top has turned brown which means it has likely died back to where it has a greenish/grey color and is still alive. You might get some backbudding in that part that is still alive assuming it doesn’t die back any further. When you prune BRT’s the branch will usually die back as far as the nearest node. It is best to only cut back as far as the nearest bud and leave a stub about 1/2” long there to allow for the dieback.

 

[aaa_yush7]

i pruned it more, does this look better @WNC Bonsai

 

[aaa_yush7]

left a stub next to the nearest node or should I prune it further down to the next node?

 

[Russ1]

Don't know where you are or climate there but if it's warm enough it should bud back. They love heat and humidity. I cut one back mid June, experiment, also cut half the root off and potted it up. It just did nothing until this past week but yet I did another one July 4 and it is already pushing new growth. I also defoliated the trees. The weather has been tropical, hot & humid, June was cool, low 60's at night except for the last few days of June then it was 100 F and 116 F in the Greenhouse.

 

[leatherback]

It looks like you have a thornless variety here. If that is the case, be aware they respond VERY different from the thorned ones. As you already noticed: Backbudding is way less reliable, and it will drop the top if it is too weak. Wiring .. it does not seem to accept as readily as the more vigourous thorned one..