Brazilian raintree flat top

[c54fun]

From time to time I let the tree grow like it wants. Looks like crap but I think its good for the tree.
This is a bad picture but I let it do this each year a couple of times. Gets much worse than this picture shows. I think its very good for the tree to just let it go wild and build it up a bit. I will try an remember to take a picture of it this summer "gone wild"

 

[Lobaeux]

Thanks so much @c54fun , great pics and great explanation. I'm going to have to start cleaning up one of my trees, although I'm letting it just grow wild. The trunk is thickening and getting muscular, really impressed by it.

 

[choppychoppy]

what's the secret to get the leaves so close together on a BRT?

I defoliated mine, it came back quite quickly.

I would recommend NOT to defoliate Raintrees if you want them to be thick and lush - like this one.

 

[Lobaeux]

That one looks fantastic! Here's a pic I just took of the one I defoliated earlier this year.

 

[c54fun]

Looks healthy, keep up the good work. I see a flat top in its future

 

[c54fun]

Going to let this tree grow out this year. Just now starting to grow again. I think its good to let them go wild every now and then I may also see what it would look like with the top domed instead of flat. Can always flatten it out later.

 

[c54fun]

17 days later from above picture letting it grow out.

 

[c54fun]

Getting thicker by the day.

Sun coming up this morning. Watering more this year and things are growing well.

 

[c54fun]

Decided to trim up and look over this tree today. Trimmed and a little wire. I didn't spend much time on it, just wanted it shaped up.

 

[c54fun]

Its hard to tell in a picture but this tree is getting a lot bigger since putting it into a bigger pot.


This is when I was first trying to style it.

 

[Stickroot]

Its hard to tell in a picture but this tree is getting a lot bigger since putting it into a bigger pot.
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This is when I was first trying to style it.
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Looks really good!
I love the pic from below, nice branch structure.
It's come along way, great work!

 

[c54fun]

Thanks stickroot,
Its great to be able to look back at older pictures and see how far the tree has come. Hate seeing some of my old trees that didn't make it.

 

[JudyB]

looking really good. I love the shot up into the canopy, really shows it off well.

 

[c54fun]

Thanks Judy. Yes, the upwards shot really shows the bends made in the branches. I've been really over bending the smaller raintree after seeing what the bigger one does in time. For a flat top over exaggerating the bends looks good on down the road.
This is the little one I'm also working on. Wire cuts in super fast.

 

[Lobaeux]

I'm really enjoying this tree @c54fun. The wire cuts in so fast, I agree.

 

[Tieball]

Its hard to tell in a picture but this tree is getting a lot bigger since putting it into a bigger pot.
View attachment 149906
View attachment 149907
This is when I was first trying to style it.
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Nice work. I like the lush green color. Healthy....you're doing something right. Are the snakes in the first photo real?

 

[c54fun]

Nice work. I like the lush green color. Healthy....you're doing something right. Are the snakes in the first photo real?

Thanks Tieball,
Fake snakes help keep some of the critters and birds away.

 

[Tieball]

Thanks Tieball,
Fake snakes help keep some of the critters and birds away.

Cool!......Does it seem to work somewhat?
I'm part critter I think....if I approached your bench I would like back away slowly and not touch anything.

 

[c54fun]

Cool!......Does it seem to work somewhat?
I'm part critter I think....if I approached your bench I would like back away slowly and not touch anything.

Seems for the most part they work pretty good.
I just forget the snakes are there. Was showing a girl my trees when all of a sudden she jumps, screams and starts waving her arms yelling omg omg.

 

[c54fun]

Middle of July drinking plenty of water but still growing.