My Brazilian Rain Tree, What to do?

[IndorBonsai]

So my Brazilian Rain Tree has been sulking for over a month now. It only opens its leaves early in the morning. It dosent seem to like living in a pure inorganic soil (sifted sand and lava rock, all large particle).

[url=https://img20.imageshack.us/I/bztree1.jpg/][img]https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6049/bztree1.jpg[/img][/url]

What do I do with my Bonsai when I have trouble making them happy?
I put/plant them into long fiber Sphagnum Moss.

I am thinking I will have to re-pot my Brazilian Rain Tree into sphagnum moss. This tree has been more work than my Serissas have been, I planted both my serissas into sphagnum moss and they have been easy care since.
I bet moving this tree into sphagnum moss will cure it from whatever it's problem is.

I will keep you posted, Let me know what your thoughts might be about my tree.

[Gnome]

Jason,

As you probably have gathered by now I concentrate primarily on temperate species. I have never owned this species.

It dosent seem to like living in a pure inorganic soil (sifted sand and lava rock, all large particle).

Since you say the particle size is large perhaps you are not watering it frequently enough.

I bet moving this tree into sphagnum moss will cure it from whatever it's problem is.

Rather than use 100% inorganic or 100% Moss why not use a blend? The only trees I use straight inorganics with are Pine and Juniper.

Make sure to keep us posted, whatever you decide.

Norm

[IndorBonsai]

Thanks Norm,

Yesterday the leafs stayed open all day long, It was a cloudy/ overcast day and topped out at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I am thinking maybe it doesn't like the sun, and prefers a shady location. Before I re-pot it I think I will try placing it in a new shady area and see how it does.

I will keep you all updated on this because I know that information on the Brazilian Rain Tree is hard to find and not very useful. Any information that is from first hand experience is the best. So I will use my tree to help get some useful information out there about how to care for a Brazilian Rain Tree

[bonsaiboy]

If the tree was recently repotted or had its roots pruned, or moved into brighter light from a darker area, the leafs may lose more water then they are able to gain, thus causing them to close.

[Gnome]

If the tree was recently repotted or had its roots pruned, or moved into brighter light from a darker area, the leafs may lose more water then they are able to gain, thus causing them to close.

Excellent observation, sorry I missed it.

Norm

[IndorBonsai]

On Wednesday June 17 2009 I re-potted the tree into long fiber sphagnum moss. Look at it now When I re-potted it, the roots looked good, no root rot, but barely any new growth.
[url=https://img194.imageshack.us/I/bz12.jpg/][img]https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6529/bz12.jpg[/img][/url]

It seems very happy now. If you have trouble with your Brazilian Rain Tree you might want to try re-potting it into long fiber sphagnum moss.

Also I found that my tree does better placed in a area that gets morning sun and shade/filtered sun for the rest of the day. From the reading I have done on these trees, they say that the trees like full sun, but mine does not like full sun.

[Gnome]

Jason,

I'm glad to hear that your tree is coming around, it has responded nicely.

Norm