Sad BRT! (not really hopefully)

[Tofi_Bonsai]

Sad looking BRT..

I did some pruning and wiring on my rain tree a few weeks ago, as it was just taking up way too much space...

It ended up throwing a fit and started dropping almost all its leaves. They have since slowly started growing back but it looks so spindly now... Lol

Here's hoping it fully recovers!

 

[Russ1]

They will do that especially when not actively growing strongly.
Wiring with sharp bends under not ideal conditions will make the leaves drupe for awhile and lose leaves.
Give it lots of light and warmth.

 

[Tofi_Bonsai]

They will do that especially when not actively growing strongly.
Wiring with sharp bends under not ideal conditions will make the leaves drupe for awhile and lose leaves.
Give it lots of light and warmth.

If I was smart, I would have done this back before it came inside for the winter.

I think I'll have to add another grow light to the mix honestly. Temperature wise the room stays pretty warm and I run a humidifier frequently.

Thankfully the branch off to the back sexually retained it's leaves and it's starting to turn into a nice pad shape now.

 

[Russ1]

If I was smart, I would have done this back before it came inside for the winter.

I think I'll have to add another grow light to the mix honestly. Temperature wise the room stays pretty warm and I run a humidifier frequently.

Thankfully the branch off to the back sexually retained it's leaves and it's starting to turn into a nice pad shape now.

I recently did the same, on a smallish BRT not under my best lights, wired some branches with sharp bends, one has recovered and the other is getting there, took a few weeks.
Slow growth inside = less sap flow = longer recovery time, also they tend to drop leaves to adapt to lower lighting.
Two big ones i have that are under much brighter lights do much better and are retaining the leaves that grew outside this summer and growing well.

 

[Tofi_Bonsai]

I recently did the same, on a smallish BRT not under my best lights, wired some branches with sharp bends, one has recovered and the other is getting there, took a few weeks.
Slow growth inside = less sap flow = longer recovery time, also they tend to drop leaves to adapt to lower lighting.
Two big ones i have that are under much brighter lights do much better and are retaining the leaves that grew outside this summer and growing well.

Yeah I think I'll get a stronger light for it.

 

[Paradox]

If I was smart, I would have done this back before it came inside for the winter.

I think I'll have to add another grow light to the mix honestly. Temperature wise the room stays pretty warm and I run a humidifier frequently.

Thankfully the branch off to the back sexually retained it's leaves and it's starting to turn into a nice pad shape now.

In my experience, they respond better if wired in the spring. I always prune mine before bringing them in for the winter because they usually are bushes after being outside all summer.
It should recover, just keep it watered when it needs it and if you are seeing some growth, give it a little fertilizer

 

[Russ1]

I always prune mine before bringing them in for the winter because they usually are bushes after being outside all summer.

I have to prune my big BRTs every 2 weeks, even thru the Winter. They can grow 6-8 inches in just a few weeks.
And yes wiring is best done in late spring and summer. I don't normally wire my big trees in winter but smaller trees/cuttings i do a little at a time and not the whole tree at once.

 

[Tofi_Bonsai]

I have to prune my big BRTs every 2 weeks, even thru the Winter. They can grow 6-8 inches in just a few weeks.
And yes wiring is best done in late spring and summer. I don't normally wire my big trees in winter but smaller trees/cuttings i do a little at a time and not the whole tree at once.

Hopefully a lesson learned that doesn't cost me most of or the whole tree.

 

[Russ1]

Hopefully a lesson learned that doesn't cost me most of or the whole tree.

My second branch is now recovering, took about 1-1/2 weeks.
Look close at the leaf node where the old leaf connected/s to the branch, you should see tiny green bumps (the new leaf bud) starting to form.
That may take a week or two to happen. Give it lots of full spectrum, 5000 to 6000 Kelvin light like for 14 hrs a day if you can. Keep it slightly on the moist side, not soaking wet but not dry.

 

[Paradox]

Ill just second the need for supplemental lighting. Just putting it in a window will not be enough.
Mine go under 6 full spectrum bulbs that are 32 watts each 5600-6000K.
They will grow for me all winter except for a small semi dormancy period in January and February where growth slows down to nothing.

 

[Tofi_Bonsai]

Ill just second the need for supplemental lighting. Just putting it in a window will not be enough.
Mine go under 6 full spectrum bulbs that are 32 watts each 5600-6000K.
They will grow for me all winter except for a small semi dormancy period in January and February where growth slows down to nothing.

View attachment 620205

There's already a grow light above it, but I'm realizing it won't be enough to properly get it through the winter.

I'm going to add a second light soon.

 

[Russ1]

Ill just second the need for supplemental lighting. Just putting it in a window will not be enough.
Mine go under 6 full spectrum bulbs that are 32 watts each 5600-6000K.
They will grow for me all winter except for a small semi dormancy period in January and February where growth slows down

Four 42 watt, 5000 k, Barrina 4 ft lights above my 2 biggest trees.
These replaced 3 5000 k LED shop lights from the previous year and almost triple the foot candle power.
The trees are still filling in after complete defoliation and heavy pruning in mid July but are growing vigorously.

 

[Russ1]

These are some of my smaller trees under 2 of the Barrina lights and a close up of one ~ 3-4 inch tall BRT.