First Bonsai - Brazilian Rain tree

[CDF]

Hello - before people say, I know I should've started with an easier tree when stepping into the world of bonsai. However it was a present and I am a determined soul. I bought this from a nursery in the beginning of September. I have been through the ringer trying to solve this through my own research ( I know, another mistake). I water every 2-3 days. I live in Nebraska. This is an east facing window, and I mist the tree once to twice daily. I'm currently watering with diluted bonisa super thrive as new growth looks healthy albeit very slow. The leaves have looked like this for about a month now and are falling but not fast at all. I was told by the greenhouse manager that I was under watering and have developed the schedule I'm currently using. The bottom of the tree leaves started to open and close normally and looked healthy, however they are starting to get yellow tips on a few of them now.

This is my first post on this site (any plant site in general so I apologize if I did this wrong). Any advice will help although I feel like I have read 50 different versions of what is the best course of action during my own research lol.

 

[Russ1]

BRTs are one of the easiest trees to grow just give them a lot of light, you may need more than the window this time of year.
They are not real fussy about soil but do better in a well drained granular soil, keep them warm like 70 degrees f for the winter and slightly on the moist side. Only fertilize maybe once a month for the winter. It is normal for leaves to yellow and fall when light has been reduced and they will also fold up when the photo period changes abruptly, it messes with their circadian rhythm, but will adjust eventually. They will also fold if too dry. You don't really need to mist them. They do love heat and best time to repot is the hottest time of year allowing at least a month to six weeks to recover before the weather cools below 70 and days get too short. I have root pruned, defoliated and re-potted when it was 104 deg. Keep them above 55 deg when outside for the summer.

 

[BonsaiPoppie]

They are an easier tree to grow. Here where I live , I keep them outside almost all year long. If it gets colder than 45' degrees I bring them into my shed. They are just starting to turn yellow. And yes, welcome to the Nut site.

 

[CDF]

BRTs are one of the easiest trees to grow just give them a lot of light, you may need more than the window this time of year.
They are not real fussy about soil but do better in a well drained granular soil, keep them warm like 70 degrees f for the winter and slightly on the moist side. Only fertilize maybe once a month for the winter. It is normal for leaves to yellow and fall when light has been reduced and they will also fold up when the photo period changes abruptly, it messes with their circadian rhythm, but will adjust eventually. They will also fold if too dry. You don't really need to mist them. They do love heat and best time to repot is the hottest time of year allowing at least a month to six weeks to recover before the weather cools below 70 and days get too short. I have root pruned, defoliated and re-potted when it was 104 deg. Keep them above 55 deg when outside for the summer.

Thank you. I do have a picture of my grow light in the first picture. So I should only water with the fertilizer one water or use the whole gallon once a month in the winter? I only have an east facing window for natural light. They have just been yellow for a while without falling off. I've only had it for 2 months so I haven't repotted and have never done so before. It's been in a soil mix from the greenhouse and I forget the exact layers but it seems to be the recommend. It drains really fast everytime I water. I wasn't watering it enough and now I might be too much and maybe giving too much fertilizer? I used 1/8 a teaspoon for the gallon I'm using right now since it seems to have good growth right now just slow.

 

[Russ1]

I do have a picture of my grow light in the first picture. So I should only water with the fertilizer one water or use the whole gallon once a month in the winter?

If you are talking about that tall lamp, i think it may be to far away, at least it looks that way from the picture.
I would aim to get that light about 6-10 inches above the tree, could be even closer depending on the lumens or minimum 500 foot candles at 1 foot. Also what is the temperature youare keeping it at. If you are keeping it close to a window the temperature can be much colder there.
Growth will slow down with too little light and keeping it too cool. I keep my lights on for 14 hrs. When / if you prune it leave a 1/4 to 1/2 inch stub from the last leaf node to prevent die back, then you can cut the stub off as it dies back.