Lorax7 Brazilian Rain Tree #1 progression

[Lorax7]

Nursery stock prior to working on it (2018):


Fall 2021:

 

[Forsoothe!]

2nd photo is without redeeming value.

 

[Lorax7]

2nd photo is without redeeming value.

It’s not going to help much for contemplating design, but it does at least document that the tree has been repotted and it has grown. I agree that I do need to take another photo from the side to show structure.

 

[Pixar]

Please take another photo for my sake

 

[leatherback]

You growing this in 5B? What do you do in winter with this biggun??

 

[Lorax7]

Current side view

 

[Lorax7]

You growing this in 5B? What do you do in winter with this biggun??

I have an unfinished basement, so it goes down there under lights. That said, I am running up against self-imposed indoor space constraints and am planning to downsize the collection of tropicals and other trees that can’t fend for themselves in the great outdoors. Fortunately, our local club’s annual auction swap meet thingy is coming up soon. This one’s a keeper, though.

 

[Lorax7]

Did a trunk chop right before bringing it indoors. I want to work on getting some more taper on the trunk line and also want to thicken up the trunk some. Will let it grow wild for a while.

 

[Lorax7]

Cut into the wound from the trunk chop to shape it and get back to green edges and sealed with cut paste.
Spring 2022:

 

[Lorax7]

Cut into the wound from the trunk chop to shape it and get back to green edges and sealed with cut paste.
Spring 2022:
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[Lorax7]

Put some wire on a couple branches:

 

[Lorax7]

Wired it.

 

[Lorax7]

My BRT always looks rather sad in the spring when it’s first coming out of the house into the garden, but it perks up pretty quickly.

 

[Lorax7]

As usual, the BRT exploded with new growth once I got it outside in full sun.

 

[Lorax7]

Did a bit of carving with the Dremel to smooth out the spots where previous trunk chop and branch removals were done so the callus can roll over the deadwood more easily and produce less obvious scars when it’s done. Also did a bit of branch selection to avoid future inverse taper issues. Left stubs where I cut green branches in order to allow for dieback.

Before:




After:

 

[Lorax7]

Gave the BRT a trim today to get ready for it to come inside for the winter.

Before:





After:

 

[Lorax7]

It was looking quite sad and the branches were mostly barren when I first brought it outside this spring, but it is springing back to life now.

 

[nutboi]

Really enjoying following this progression

 

[Lorax7]

Repotted it:

 

[nutboi]

What type of soil are you using while going for maximum growth like this? Thanks!