So this BRT typically hangs out on my south facing window sill. I watered it once a week and it with a top of a pebble tray. She was doing really well. Almost too well and popped out SO MANY leaves and shoots. I pruned it a few times no problem. Several times I left it in a dry spell and some of the leaves turned yellow. I made the terrible mistake of pruning off ALL the leaves.
Anyhow…ChatGPT says i have a chance to revive it since there is still some green left (I tried scratching the bottom and some of that has green too. What do you guys think?
FYl it's in its original potting mix.
1st pic is so we can mourn together.
by icecream-eggs
3 Comments
First: stop asking chat gpt
Second: don’t scratch the trunk, the green part is call the cambium and is where the sap is going up and down, the nutrients and the water. The more you scratch it the more you damage your tree.
Third: why did you cut all of the leaves?
If you are lucky it can grow back but to me it’s look hard
Pruning of all the leaves is absolutely no problem for BRT. Mine in winter frequently drop all their leaves by themselves. You will experience die-back on the rbanches from what I can tell. But if you did not let it dry out, pruning back strong is no issue for BRT. It should sprout again.
I am with u/Public_Entertainer48 to not ak chatGTP, and stop scratching the skin on your tree. It indeed exposes the cambium ( which does not transport nutrients and water though; worse: It is the only layer in the tree where thickness growth occurs)
Personally, I never have luck with these as a bonsai. But if you have had this plant in warm temps & regularly watered (like, daily or every other day in this size pot) for at least a couple weeks and it hasn’t sprouted any new growth at all then it’s a goner.
Edited to add: I HAVE had a BRT that looked like this, with all its leaves gone, come back to life. But they’re fast growers and if nothing happens after three weeks with proper care and conditions it likely won’t ever happen.