Rain Tree Yellow Leaves

[Paradox]

Here is a good reference to use when thinking about Fabaceae Trees and Nitrogen Fixation.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6305480/

Important take away:
"Leguminosae (Fabaceae) is the third largest family of angiosperms with 750 genera and around 19,500 species (The Legume Phylogeny Working Group, 2013). Most legumes can establish a mutualistic association with alpha- and beta-proteobacteria to obtain biological nitrogen (reviewed by Andrews and Andrews, 2017; Sprent et al., 2017). Rhizobia are soil bacteria known for being able to establish symbiosis with legume plants. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) can be carried out once rhizobia are established inside the cells of root nodules formed from newly differentiated tissue in the roots of host plants. The host plant provides the microsymbiont with dicarboxylates together with other nutrients, in exchange for fixed nitrogen in the form of ammonium and amino acids (Udvardi and Day, 1997). Nitrogen-fixing legumes contribute to nitrogen enrichment of the soil and therefore are valuable in improving soil fertility. "

This was the reason farmers would rotate crops, particularly before fertilizers were able to be mass produced and applied. Put a legume in a field that grew something else to replenish nutrients into the soil. Typically they were small legumes, like beans, not trees.

Still not sure BRT is one that fixes nitrogen.

 

[BonsaiBlacksmith]

This was the reason farmers would rotate crops, particularly before fertilizers were able to be mass produced and applied. Put a legume in a field that grew something else to replenish nutrients into the soil. Typically they were small legumes, like beans, not trees.

Still not sure BRT is one that fixes nitrogen.

It will, but you need to have the right soil conditions and introduce the bacteria, since bonsai spend most of their life in a pot not in the Earth.

 

[Ken Duncan]

When I first got my BRT I would have to bring it indoors for winter and it would constantly drop leaves all Winter. For the last 5 years are so I pruned off all of the leaves before I moved it inside. This also gives me a chance to prune off unwanted growth.
It is fully leafed in about 3 or 4 weeks. This year I also root pruned and repotted it.
It does not drop leaves until it grows for a few months but it does need pruning off long growth from time to time.

 

[SFDrake]

When I first got my BRT I would have to bring it indoors for winter and it would constantly drop leaves all Winter. For the last 5 years are so I pruned off all of the leaves before I moved it inside. This also gives me a chance to prune off unwanted growth.
It is fully leafed in about 3 or 4 weeks. This year I also root pruned and repotted it.
It does not drop leaves until it grows for a few months but it does need pruning off long growth from time to time.

Nice tree!

 

[BonsaiBlacksmith]

When I first got my BRT I would have to bring it indoors for winter and it would constantly drop leaves all Winter. For the last 5 years are so I pruned off all of the leaves before I moved it inside. This also gives me a chance to prune off unwanted growth.
It is fully leafed in about 3 or 4 weeks. This year I also root pruned and repotted it.
It does not drop leaves until it grows for a few months but it does need pruning off long growth from time to time.

That is an amazing Bonsai of a BRT, how old is it?

 

[Ken Duncan]

It was started as a cutting in the mid 90’s.

 

[Carol 83]

It was started as a cutting in the mid 90’s.

Beautiful tree.

 

[TimberLakers]

Glad you got the relief you were seeking on the condition of your BRT.

I got one about 18 months ago, so second winter with me. Last winter I got 100% leaf drop when the temps got down to seasonal low (40-45ish).

Last year the buds pushed in 2-3 weeks when temperatures warmed. Expecting similarly this year - leaves started turning this week.

Going to keep it inside for 1-2 weeks a sunny window given we're near freezing.