Native to Brazil’s most beautiful rainforests, the Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai is a hardwood bonsai specimen worth your consideration. This plant has elegant leaves that furl together in the evening before opening up in the morning.
It produces gorgeous white or pink flowers, each of which releases a tantalizing aroma. Along with species like the Powder Puff, Tamarind, and Acacia tree, this plant belongs to the Leguminosae family.
While it can be grown outdoors, it is one of the best bonsai species you can grow because it is well-adapted to being grown in a container, too.
Interesting Facts about Brazilian Rain Tree Bonsai
Height: 14 inches
Width: 10 inches
Sunlight: Full sunlight
Flowering Time Length: Daily
Lifespan: 100+ years
Scientific name: Pithecellobium tortum
Types of Pithecellobium Tortum
Although there’s really only one kind of Brazilian Rain Tree plant, there are several others that are closely related to this tree that do well when grown as a bonsai subject. In fact, there are more than 12,000 species in the legume family with the Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai.
Growing Brazilian Raintree Bonsai from Seed or By Propagation
Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai can be grown from seeds and cuttings. You can also grow this plant through the process of air-layering.
How To Care for Brazilian Rain Tree Bonsai
Sunlight
When kept indoors, the Brazilian RainTree bonsai must be exposed to a lot of light. The ideal location will be a sunny position that does not experience temperatures lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it gets colder than this, the tree needs to be taken indoors and placed in a window that receives good southern exposure.
Watering
You should never allow the root ball of the Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai to dry out completely. This plant likes to be kept moist! When growing this plant indoors, put the plant on a tray with some wet gravel or spritz it on a regular basis with a spray bottle. This will allow the plant to stay moist without leading to problems with root rot.
Fertilizing
You can use a liquid fertilizer to feed this tree, ideally once per week during the growing season and once a month during the dormant periods of the winter.
Potting and Repotting
Your Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai will need to be repotted once every two or three years. When you do this, prune the roots and transplant your tree into a well-draining soil mix. This will help the tree avoid root rot.
Pruning a Brazilian Rain Tree Bonsai
You should prune your Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai only occasionally, perhaps just once every three to four years. When you do this, you will want to leave a small stub behind.
This will prevent die-back. You can trim the shoots of the tree on a more regular basis, however.
Pests and Diseases
Resistant to most diseases and pests, you likely won’t find any issue with your plant unless it is already weakened by poor conditions. It can occasionally be attacked by nematodes, which create visible root nodules that then become integrated within the roots. If this happens, you can use a nematicide.
There are some other pests that occasionally bother the Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai too, including spider mites, aphids, and whitefly. Again, these can be controlled by ensuring proper soil conditions and using various pesticides to control their spread.
Where to Buy Brazilian Rain Tree Bonsai
You can purchase Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai at most garden supply stores and from specialized nurseries.
In most cases, buying from a retailer that specializes in bonsai is recommended, so you’ll receive a plant that is best-suited for container growing.
*Photo by [email protected]/depositphotos
