First Brazilian Rain Tree. Advice?

[Paul F.]

I just got this tree as a gift....Its a little battered from shipping. Leaves are a bit beat up. My main question is that there is just plain dirt under what looks like akadama? (not sure what kind of rock it is) Should I re-pot it in a bonsai mix? and if so, should I wait a while (weeks, months?) for the tree to acclimate to my zone?

Thanks in advance

Paul

 

[Lorax7]

That doesn’t look like akadama to me. It looks more like gravel. Is it rock hard or can you crumble it if you try to squish it with your fingers (especially when it’s wet)?

 

[RobertB]

I would definitely just try and keep alive and let it recover for a while before any work!!!!!

 

[Tieball]

I agree with @RobertB let it return to health before doing anything.
Yup....the soil looks poor...does it drain well after a thorough watering though?

 

[Clicio]

I just got this tree as a gift....

Let it grow.

 

[Paul F.]

I agree with @RobertB let it return to health before doing anything.
Yup....the soil looks poor...does it drain well after a thorough watering though?

I just got it today. I haven't watered it yet but I doubt it will drain well. I lightly watered the rocks with a watering can just to get them moist. I didn't give it the full on soaking yet. I'm afraid, very afraid.. lol

 

[Random User]

Yep, listen to Robert... and just because it's not in "bonsai soil" doesn't mean that it won't do well in it, I've found that mine don't really like having their roots messed with too much, but that might just be a coincidence with a number of other factors.

Once it's beginning to show good health, refer to people who are closest to you.

 

[Paul F.]

Once it's beginning to show good health, refer to people who are closest to you.

I really don't have any one close to me who knows about this stuff..

 

[Random User]

From what I know most BRTs come from Florida area, so there should be plenty of people who have them.

But what I meant was listen "most closely" to the people here in B'nut who are close to you in zone and climate sense. Many of us have them as an indoor plant, and that info might not be relevant to growing it outdoors in FL.

There are a number of people here that have good advice, but the BRT will tell you what it likes and dislikes... you'll see what I mean in a week or two.

 

[Paul F.]

From what I know most BRTs come from Florida area, so there should be plenty of people who have them.

But what I meant was listen "most closely" to the people here in B'nut who are close to you in zone and climate sense. Many of us have them as an indoor plant, and that info might not be relevant to growing it outdoors in FL.

There are a number of people here that have good advice, but the BRT will tell you what it likes and dislikes... you'll see what I mean in a week or two.

Sounds good..I appreciate it.. I guess time will tell. I'd really hate to keep in the soil it's in now but regardless I'll have to wait a bit to change it up.

 

[Paul F.]

I would definitely just try and keep alive and let it recover for a while before any work!!!!!

. Is it rock hard or can you crumble it if you try to squish it with your fingers (especially when it’s wet)?

It's hard. It won't crumble.

 

[Lorax7]

It's hard. It won't crumble.

It is rock then, not akadama. Akadama is a light beige when dry, a medium tan when wet, and is squishable because it is a volcanic clay.

 

[Random User]

This is one of those instances that you might have to break from the best practices and risk loosing the plant... like I said, I found that mine didn't like having their roots messed with.

Before you do anything read this entire article... it might help.

https://adamaskwhy.com/2014/04/12/bunjin-brazilian-raintree/

 

[sorce]

Did the leaves perk up yet?

Sorce

 

[LanceMac10]

Awesome!!!!! You got a nice shaped lil' lady!!!

 

[WOOB]

Get rid of the bar branch on top, I think the one on the right looks like there is a branch below? If you use some rooting compound and all it will root and you have a new tree. It is dirt its cheep to grow in and doesn't need as much watering but will is crap and will kill the tree in the long run. In NJ I repot after I defoliating in Early July depending on the weather. I would fertilize the hell out of it wait till it starts growing and repot. They are great trees my favorite!

 

[choppychoppy]

So I've got a couple raintrees and am also in Florida. About as far away from you as possible in Florida haha but that's all right. You can prob find some photos of decent raintrees I've posted before. Anywho my absolute strongest recommendation would be to do absolutely nothing to this tree for at least a month or 6 weeks. Then it should be showing you its health. If its good it will be growing like a weed. That will be the middle of the summer and a good time to then take care ofm the roots and soil. You can also start to prune a bit then if this is the tree size you ultimately want. If you want a bigger tree you can at that time plant it out and grow it. Just give it good sun and water for now. I keep my raintrees pretty moist.

 

[LanceMac10]

So I've got a couple raintrees and am also in Florida. About as far away from you as possible in Florida haha but that's all right. You can prob find some photos of decent raintrees I've posted before. Anywho my absolute strongest recommendation would be to do absolutely nothing to this tree for at least a month or 6 weeks. Then it should be showing you its health. If its good it will be growing like a weed. That will be the middle of the summer and a good time to then take care ofm the roots and soil. You can also start to prune a bit then if this is the tree size you ultimately want. If you want a bigger tree you can at that time plant it out and grow it. Just give it good sun and water for now. I keep my raintrees pretty moist.

You think that long? I'm thinking a week, two tops!
I'd want to address the soil sooner than later. Just starting out learning to water is pretty easy with good soil....this stuff can be a problem.

 

[leatherback]

Soil is way less of an issue than the way you water it. If you know you have dense soil, ensure you water well (I find lukewarm water helps to penetrate organic soil better) and wait a bit longer than normal to water again, so the soil gets a change to dry up a bit.

 

[Paul F.]

Did the leaves perk up yet?

Sorce

Oh yea.. She's looking good...