Brazilian Raintree repot help!!

[Joshuaskwarek]

I just repoted this Brazilian Raintree about two days ago from organic pre-bonsai soil into a very well draining tropical bonsai soil I was told after I repoted to defoliate. in the following days after the repot have started to notice some yellowing on the bottom leaves of the tree and I’m curious to see if I should defoliate at this time Have been keeping out of the sun and in bright indirect light. Also curious to see how long I should wait for full sun after defoliation. Please help any recommendations are very much appreciated

 

[Carol 83]

Maybe the more experienced BRT growers can speak to the necessity of defoliating after repotting. I repotted 4 last summer, I didn't defoliate them. 3 of them never batted an eye, but one of them dropped nearly all of it's leaves. I thought I was going to lose it, but it bounced back after a few weeks. I wouldn't worry too much about the yellow leaves.

 

[leatherback]

Interesting.
I repotted one of last years seedlings yesterday, and did in fact defoliate (Well.. Cutting of 1 ft long branches back to stumps.. ). My big one I just lifted to see how rootbound it was, and decided it could for for a few months. Look forward to seeing answers to the need to defoliate these.

 

[roberthu]

Interesting.
I repotted one of last years seedlings yesterday, and did in fact defoliate (Well.. Cutting of 1 ft long branches back to stumps.. ). My big one I just lifted to see how rootbound it was, and decided it could for for a few months. Look forward to seeing answers to the need to defoliate these.

Curious how long it takes for new leaves to grow out after defoliation in your experience? Thanks.

 

[Clicio]

Well, I see no reason whatsoever to defoliate a sapling, specifically a BRT.
Even in a mature tree, defoliation serves the purpose of a new flush of smaller leaves or to provide better ramification inside the tree.
Well, BRTs don't need smaller leaves and ramification is easily achieved by clip and grow techniques. I only wire BRTs to lower or reposition branches but even this light wiring is not needed if it is pruned carefully.
What @leatherback did is not defoliation; BRTs pruned to stumps happily sprout back, allowing a new structural plan for the tree.
Your young stem is definitely not a thick trunk, so I would refrain from defoliating.
As a side note yellow leaves are always happening in BRTs, usually nothing to be worried about.

 

[leatherback]

Curious how long it takes for new leaves to grow out after defoliation in your experience? Thanks.

About three hours in @Clicio s yard, from what I understand. In mine, 2-3 weeks

 

[leatherback]

And 2 minute s ago:

 

[leatherback]

 

[Clicio]

This below is one of many, a young sapling grown from seed, I guess the same batch as @leatherback 's .
It is in training to become a little tree someday. Never defoliated, always in black plastic pots, has some yellow leaflets sometimes, in dappled sun, PLENTY of water, Biogold during the growing season.
Clip & Grow most of the time, as said before, some wire to reposition main branches.
It would be interesting to compare seedlings of the same age grown in the tropics versus grown in Germany; I guess there is NOT a big difference.
When grown up, in three ou four years I will pinch new growth to make the inner foliage denser.
LOOK AT THOSE ROOTS!