Repotting help with my BRT

[SFDrake]

You guys have been a big help here at b-nut getting this tree back to good health. New growth all over, and solved the yellowing foliage issue. Now I'm ready to tackle this nursury soil crap (if you can call it that, I think it's all roots). I have cheap bonsai training pots from Amazon (photo provided) that I think will work, and some generic bonsai soil from my local bonsai nursery. My questions are;
Is it the right time of year here in zone 10, as growing season is pretty much all year?
Should I bare root it or treat it more like a juniper?
Will putting it in this pot now hinder slow down trunk development?
Should I get a different pot/container? Any advice helps, thanks!

 

[Rodrigo]

You guys have been a big help here at b-nut getting this tree back to good health. New growth all over, and solved the yellowing foliage issue. Now I'm ready to tackle this nursury soil crap (if you can call it that, I think it's all roots). I have cheap bonsai training pots from Amazon (photo provided) that I think will work, and some generic bonsai soil from my local bonsai nursery. My questions are;
Is it the right time of year here in zone 10, as growing season is pretty much all year?
Should I bare root it or treat it more like a juniper?
Will putting it in this pot now hinder slow down trunk development?
Should I get a different pot/container? Any advice helps, thanks!View attachment 585650View attachment 585651View attachment 585652View attachment 585653View attachment 585654

We typically repot tropicals during the summer when they're growing the most. I'm not too familiar with Florida weather but as far as I understand, although there is no "Winter", trees still slow down a bit during the winter months while continuing to grow slowly. If I were you I'd wait until it's growing mode strongly in a couple of months but let's see if anyone else from your zone can chime in. You can bare root tropicals

As far as the pot, terracotta, wood, or clay pots are typically better because they let moisture and oxygen in better than plastic but if that's all you have it definitely works (I have two trees in the same type of plastic pot as your picture). My concern would be more in the stability of the tree considering how tall the tree is compared to how short the pot is. Just make sure you secure it in a way that the tree doesn't move after you repot.

And about the development slowing down, yes it will. By default putting it in a smaller pot will slow down the trunk development so we typically only put trees in bonsai pots once we're happy with the trunk girth. If you want it to keep gerting thicker, I'd recommend repotting into a wooden box for a few years. If you're happy with your trunk now then by all means repot into a bonsai pot now so you can start working on the branches

 

[SFDrake]

We typically repot tropicals during the summer when they're growing the most. I'm not too familiar with Florida weather but as far as I understand, although there is no "Winter", trees still slow down a bit during the winter months while continuing to grow slowly. If I were you I'd wait until it's growing mode strongly in a couple of months but let's see if anyone else from your zone can chime in. You can bare root tropicals

As far as the pot, terracotta, wood, or clay pots are typically better because they let moisture and oxygen in better than plastic but if that's all you have it definitely works (I have two trees in the same type of plastic pot as your picture). My concern would be more in the stability of the tree considering how tall the tree is compared to how short the pot is. Just make sure you secure it in a way that the tree doesn't move after you repot.

And about the development slowing down, yes it will. By default putting it in a smaller pot will slow down the trunk development so we typically only put trees in bonsai pots once we're happy with the trunk girth. If you want it to keep gerting thicker, I'd recommend repotting into a wooden box for a few years. If you're happy with your trunk now then by all means repot into a bonsai pot now so you can start working on the branches

Thanks! I'm more interested in repotting just for the health of the tree, and still want to develop more. Probably going to try the wooden box for a couple years.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

The plastic rectangle pot in the photo is bigger than the pot the tree is currently in. It is acceptable as a step up to continue to size up your rain tree. You could use the plastic pot for a season if you don't have time to build a grow box or find an Anderson flat for growing out this tree. Then step up to a larger container the next year.

 

[Rodrigo]

The plastic rectangle pot in the photo is bigger than the pot the tree is currently in. It is acceptable as a step up to continue to size up your rain tree. You could use the plastic pot for a season if you don't have time to build a grow box or find an Anderson flat for growing out this tree. Then step up to a larger container the next year.

My apologies, I didn't realize the plastic pot was bigger than the current pot so @Leo in N E Illinois is correct. My statement on the plastic vs wood is still true but it's not that big of a deal if you're still developing the tree

 

[SFDrake]

So i built this. 10x12 4"deep with quarter inch drainage holes

 

[SFDrake]

Got my raintree out of that tiny nursury pot and into its grow box with some new spoil. Cut a few thick roots out and trimmed the rest back. Got the nabari cleaned up some. Going to add some hooks for guy wires. Think I did ok....

 

[SFDrake]

Threw on a few guy wires, now crossing my fingers and hoping i didn't off this little fella...

 

[XSpringer]

Looks good, I typically defoliate with repotting and root work, let us know how the leaves hold up.

 

[MHBonsai]

Looks great! Good work bare rooting and sorting the roots now while it has plenty of energy. Protect from wind for a while.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Did you do 1/4” holes or slits for drainage? If holes seems a bit small but can’t tell from pictures nor how many.

 

[SFDrake]

Leaves are drooping and some have fallen off.....should I worry? Watering once a day and it is in afternoon shade

 

[SWfloirda]

What does it look like first thing in the morning? Mine look great for the first few hours, then they droop off and on all day. More if it's windy. It's been very windy on this side of the state. If there's a lot falling off I'd be worried. But if they're just droopy from time to time I think it's normal.

 

[SFDrake]

What does it look like first thing in the morning? Mine look great for the first few hours, then they droop off and on all day. More if it's windy. It's been very windy on this side of the state. If there's a lot falling off I'd be worried. But if they're just droopy from time to time I think it's normal.

Its sulky in the morning as well. Leaves are still green but all hanging down. I am now watering twice a day with the same result. Hoping little buddy peps up soon....

 

[SFDrake]

 

[Zac]

I believe your supposed to wait a couple weeks after repot to fertilize

 

[SFDrake]

I'm thinking I might get it back into organic soil for now to save it...

 

[Paradox]

What has the temperatures been like where you are located?

I usually repot my BRT around 4th of July here when temperatures are 70 or above.
Timing is probably earlier for you since you are in a warmer area.

I also put mine in a pretty open and inorganic mix.
I dont recall seeing mine droop so much though

 

[SFDrake]

What has the temperatures been like where you are located?

I usually repot my BRT around 4th of July here when temperatures are 70 or above.
Timing is probably earlier for you since you are in a warmer area.

I also put mine in a pretty open and inorganic mix.
I dont recall seeing mine droop so much though

Its been above 70 at night and mid 80s during the day

 

[Rodrigo]

What has the temperatures been like where you are located?

I usually repot my BRT around 4th of July here when temperatures are 70 or above.
Timing is probably earlier for you since you are in a warmer area.

I also put mine in a pretty open and inorganic mix.
I dont recall seeing mine droop so much though

I agree with @Paradox that tropicals are usually repotted in the middle of summer but Florida climate is very different.

As far as fertilizing now, since it's organic I don't think that's the issue. Organics are less "aggressive" than chemical fertilizer and it usually takes time for them to start breaking down anyways, unlike chemical fertilizer that is absorbed right away.

I'd honestly just leave it alone and be patient for now. Mine droops when it's very hot or needs water so I think it probably has to do with it being a relatively large tree that just got it's roots pruned so it's conserving moisture by closing the leaves while it can restabilize the roots.