Brazilian Rain Tree growing indoors

[remist17]

I have been growing a Brazilian Rain Tree in doors and under T-8 light fixtures for 4 years now. I was hoping someone on here might also be growing these. I am having a hard time getting significant leaf growth to form on this tree. I know if I had it outside the leaf growth would be better. I read these can be grown in doors and decided to try it.

I am not sure if I am fertilizing enough or the incorrect material. Right now the tree is around 21 inches tall with a 1" dia trunk.

Thanks

 

[Poink88]

I've read BRT can be grown indoors but there is no substitute to outdoors and natural sunlight. It may survive but not really thrive like it would outside.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I have been growing a Brazilian Rain Tree in doors and under T-8 light fixtures for 4 years now. I was hoping someone on here might also be growing these. I am having a hard time getting significant leaf growth to form on this tree. I know if I had it outside the leaf growth would be better. I read these can be grown in doors and decided to try it.

I am not sure if I am fertilizing enough or the incorrect material. Right now the tree is around 21 inches tall with a 1" dia trunk.

Thanks

How close is the light? How often are you watering? How often do you fertilize and how much?

It would be best to get the tree outdoors in the summer, but summer's just about over anyways.

 

[jkd2572]

I have two that will be over wintered in my office this year. This will be the first time. I have over wintered a Texas ebony in my office. They are quite similar. It will grow a little during those months, but nothing like when I take back outside. Do you have the ability to put it outside during the warmer months? I'm thinking that's where you will see the explosive growth.

 

[A Random User]

Outside please...

 

[Beng]

My friends had a brazilian rain tree indoors for the last 10 years no problem. With a good eye and a consistent fertilizer regimen during certain times of the year you can do it no problem. He would put it outdoors for about one month every fall and it would loose its leaves. When he moved to arizona he kept it indoors year round no problems. That was 6 years ago he's now in seattle doing the same thing. He uses a metal halide and humidifiers.

 

[A Random User]

My friends had a brazilian rain tree indoors for the last 10 years no problem. With a good eye and a consistent fertilizer regimen during certain times of the year you can do it no problem. He would put it outdoors for about one month every fall and it would loose its leaves. When he moved to arizona he kept it indoors year round no problems. That was 6 years ago he's now in seattle doing the same thing. He uses a metal halide and humidifiers.

So what you are really saying is that in the last 10 yrs he has spent thousands of dollars in
utility bills to try and keep something growing in an environment that it wasn't meant to grow in ???
What, does he wok for NASA ???

 

[jkd2572]

What like keeping trees that are supposed to be 30 feet tall 30 inches....

 

[ml_work]

I have a BRT that I keep inside year round, a small one for 6 years and the other a bit larger for the past 3 years. They are in front of a full length 6' window, about 6 hours a day full sun. They are Very picky, if I move them as much as a foot to the side, they will and have dropped most of the leaves. Then after a few weeks will start to come back. I did a test last summer with the older one, I had cut the top back pretty hard and put outside for the summer. Full sun first half of the day and shade from noon on. It grew like crazy and I let the shoots go, hoping to get some size on them. By end of summer when it was time to bring it in, it had not done much more than it had in the past inside. So this year I have both inside, as I really like the way the leaves open and close day and night. With the bonsai hobby taking such long time between working on most trees, the BRT is one I can see do something everyday.
With your under lights, I would give them as much time as possible outside, but would leave them in the same place, not in and out daily. Also when you cut the brances, they will die back another inch or so from the cut.

Hope this Helps!

 

[jkd2572]

Thanks for the info guys I have two I plan to over winter this year in the house in bright conditions. The second I'm Much more great full for the info.

 

[Beng]

So what you are really saying is that in the last 10 yrs he has spent thousands of dollars in
utility bills to try and keep something growing in an environment that it wasn't meant to grow in ???

Yep, pretty much.

 

[A Random User]

What like keeping trees that are supposed to be 30 feet tall 30 inches....

Ummm.... Keeping trees at 30 inches tall doesn't effect my utility bill !!!
Kind of a big difference ???

 

[remist17]

Thanks all. Like I said I have had this tree almost 4 years inside now. It is growing well but not as well as I would like. I understand outside is the best, but I am leaving these inside.

I fertilize every month with a slow release fert either miracle grow or osmicote. I am thinking to add in liquid every 2 weeks like my outdoor trees.

Currently it is getting 13 hours of light. The bulbs are T8 with sun and coolwhite bulbs. Three light fixtures dual bulb set up. This tree sees direct light from 2 of the three fixtures. The bulb is about 3 inches from the top of the tree.

 

[Poink88]

Thanks all. Like I said I have had this tree almost 4 years inside now. It is growing well but not as well as I would like. I understand outside is the best, but I am leaving these inside.

As long as you are aware and accept the consequences (slow growth) then that is fine.

I fertilize every month with a slow release fert either miracle grow or osmicote. I am thinking to add in liquid every 2 weeks like my outdoor trees.

Monthly? Please check the slow release fert instructions. You may be over feeding your tree as it is. I apply mine only once a year.

 

[remist17]

As long as you are aware and accept the consequences (slow growth) then that is fine.


Monthly? Please check the slow release fert instructions. You may be over feeding your tree as it is. I apply mine only once a year.

Are you saying you only ferilie once a year? Or put the slow release on once a year and then do liquid fertilizer

 

[Poink88]

Are you saying you only ferilie once a year? Or put the slow release on once a year and then do liquid fertilizer

I meant I apply slow release only once (or twice) a year. Liquid fert every 2 weeks (except during peak of summer here and once temps dip below 40*F)

 

[A Random User]

Let me just say... that if you guys who live up north can, and are willing
to do what it takes to grow tropicals in your environment... then Kudos
to you !!! I understand the fascination with working with these type of
plants, their fun !!! I don't know if I would if I lived where you did... But
Hey, this doesn't meant stop doing it !!!


I wonder if for those of you who might own a house with a yard, if it wouldn't
be better trying to get some type of green house, where the plants could still
receive plenty of light during the day, cause even when it's cold out often the
sun is still shining. Obviously the green house would have to be heated, but if
it is small, it could probably be done with a small space heater...

Then at night, when it gets the coldest and the leaves are closing anyways,
bring the tree in.

Which brings up another curious point... do you guys leave these lights on all
the time ? Or turn them off at night ? And has anyone done any experiments
with what works better ???

 

[jkd2572]

He said earlier he gives it 13 hours of light.

 

[coh]

I have two suggestions for the original poster...(1) make sure you're changing your bulbs regularly, as they do lose some light intensity over time (2) if you only have lights above the plants, you might try adding a fixture to provide light to the sides of your trees as light intensity drops off very rapidly with distance.

Otherwise...I have had the same problems (worse, actually) with tropicals and am probably going to be phasing them out. I've tried more light (metal halide), warmth, moisture, but still my trees struggle at best (and decline, really) over the winter.

Generally, I've seen recommendations to leave the lights on for 14-16 hours per day.

Chris (another frustrated grower of tropicals in the north)

 

[A Random User]

I have two suggestions for the original poster...(1) make sure you're changing your bulbs regularly, as they do lose some light intensity over time (2) if you only have lights above the plants, you might try adding a fixture to provide light to the sides of your trees as light intensity drops off very rapidly with distance.

You bring up a really good point as well... and that is that by the laws of nature, trees will always want to grow tall if at all possible... so majority of the strongest growth of the tree
will always be at top. Problem with this is that it makes it very hard when growing bonsai,
seeing that you are always having to try and balance out the growth anyways, even under
normal outside lighting conditions.

Without any side lighting... the lower branches will grow weaker due to the lack of lighting.
Unless of course you are doing a flat top style...

Anyone tried leaving the lights on 24/7 to see the results ???

Normally, like anything else I would assume that it would need some sort of rest period...
But, who knows ???