Brazilian Rain Tree Update

ponies77

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I posted last week about my 3 year old Brazilian Rain Tree. Its leaves were turning yellow and falling off. The census was that it was stressed and I decided to water it a little more than usual. Its still in my patio receiving partial sun, but those darn leaves are falling off at an alarming rate. No pests that I can see.
 

florida_bonsai

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Are the leaves staying closed during the day (not enough water) or open at night (to much water)?? Have you switched the environment you keep it in recently or has the weather changed?

Brazilian rain trees can be really picky and even small changes to their environment can cause them to drop leaves but more often than not they bounce back.

Also, I don't know if you pruned it recently but if you cut back to close to a main branch the whole tree can perish due to die back. This happened to a friend of mine recently and the tree didn't recover.
 
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I posted last week about my 3 year old Brazilian Rain Tree. Its leaves were turning yellow and falling off. The census was that it was stressed and I decided to water it a little more than usual. Its still in my patio receiving partial sun, but those darn leaves are falling off at an alarming rate. No pests that I can see.

The tree is stressed... this is why the leaves are falling off. Pest will not do this.
So, then we need to understand why this is happening...

A tree will usually drop it's leaves as a way of preserving itself from dying.
It does this because there is an imbalance in the tree's natural cycle of photosynthesis.
Leaves take in light and draw up moisture/nutrients from the roots. When there is an
insufficient amount of water, that is needed to complete the cycle, the tree will recognized
this and as a survival mechanisms, it will try and save itself, by shedding leaves.

Since cold is not a factor right now, there are only a couple of reasons why then
this might happen. The first, being that the tree is overwatered, and the roots are
rotting and not allowing the intake of water. Their has been damage done somewhere
in the tree, that is preventing or hindering the flow of nutrients. Whether through a
possible disease, or trauma, such as a severe cut, bend, or cutting of roots. Or Lastly,
through a lack of proper watering and to much sun.

So, for us to help you... and since we are in the middle of the hottest part of the year,
in Florida... bright and sunny, remember... Did you allow this tree to go un-watered for
any amount of time ??? How often were you watering it before this started happening ???
Once a day, twice a day, every other day, every other other day ??? Now be honest...

Since we know that it was in the full sun, and you have now moved it to the partial shade,
does it still get any direct sun ??? You say you have increased the watering... to how much ???

Lastly, what kind of soil is it in... a regular nursery soil, ie. dirt, and possible pine bark...
Or is it in a Bonsai Soil, with lava rock, pine bark, pumice etc...
 

Paradox

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Also how big is the pot that it is in. I have 2 BRT up here and one is a much larger tree in a much larger pot. The smaller one has to be watered almost 2x as often.
 

ResQmedic

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The same is happening to mine. Very slowly however since i got it. The leaves are not yellowing though, just slowing shedding off.
 

JudyB

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BRT's can drop their leaves with a change of placement. If you just got it, that could be why. Do you have it in a sunny location? If it's in a good well draining soil, keep it moist, they like water. But if it's in organic soil, be more stingy with the water. If the leaves start turning yellow, you know it's over-watering most likely. Are you seeing new buds in the crotches of the branches and at the tips? Usually if they are shedding for no reason, they are replacing old leaves. So if you see those buds, don't worry, it'll be pushing new growth soon.
 

mat

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A BRT dropping leaves in Port St Lucie in September seems like more cause for alarm than one dropping leaves in Pennsylvania in January.

Mine both totally defoliated themselves a month or so ago after the first "cold" spell. I think they didn't like the 40 degree shifts we had some days. They're now just about fully leafed out again, and the new sets of leaves seem tougher against temps in the upper 40's and 50's.

During the summer, they should be going full steam ahead - long shoots extending with plenty of green leaves.
 

ResQmedic

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BRT's can drop their leaves with a change of placement. If you just got it, that could be why. Do you have it in a sunny location? If it's in a good well draining soil, keep it moist, they like water. But if it's in organic soil, be more stingy with the water. If the leaves start turning yellow, you know it's over-watering most likely. Are you seeing new buds in the crotches of the branches and at the tips? Usually if they are shedding for no reason, they are replacing old leaves. So if you see those buds, don't worry, it'll be pushing new growth soon.

No new leaves, just slowly falling, still green. I read somewhere to mist them often? Leaves are closed at night and open all day however.
http://i.imgur.com/ASKTp2q.jpg
 
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JudyB

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I never mist mine. Really, no teensy new buds anywhere?
These are tough trees, I've seen mine come back from near death once. Make sure you're watering properly, and the light situation is good. And be patient, see if you do get buds.
 

Paradox

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Mine have been inside under their lights since mid October. They have lost alot of leaves because, I always seem to be cleaning them up. But they are also putting out new shoots. They let me know when they need water when they dont open their leaves in the morning every few days. I water them and they are fine a few hours later.
 

JudyB

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Normal indoor temps, nothing special for me. We keep the house around 62-68.

Maybe you should consider starting your own thread for this BRT, instead of staying here on ponies thread. Although ponies hasn't been here since Sept, so probably doesn't really matter too much.
 

Skinnygoomba

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I have forced air heat, so I've been running a humidifier right by the trees this winter. They seem to really appreciate it (along with all of the wooden things in the house and the people).
 

Paradox

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Night time temps are about 65 deg F, under the lights during the day it gets 75-80 deg F.
 

mat

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I move mine inside (heated to 65) if temps are predicted to be in the low-to-mid 40's at night.
 

ResQmedic

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Hey i just wanted to update, i bought a grow bulb for a lamp i had and with use during the day has improved greatly the problem i was having
 

JudyB

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That's great. Maybe you could post a pic sometime I'd love to see it.
 

fraser67

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Glad to hear it. Mine drops all it's leaves when I move it inside in the fall, and again when I put it back outside in late spring. A little nerve wracking at first:eek:
 
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