A different plant

[mbasden]

I have a brazilian rain tree that I think may make a good companion plant for my orchids, but so far I have not been able to keep the leaves from falling. I would like some feedback from some of the folks in Florida where I read the plant gets big and beautiful and remains evergreen. Some input please?

[adespo]

Where are you located?

[mbasden]

I am in Beulaville, NC close to the coast

[sandra]

I'm in Fla. but sorry, I've never heard of or have seen these. I don't get out much.

[pikevi]

Aren't Brazilian raintrees (Pithecellobium tortum or P.saman) or monkey trees huge?

Do you intend to keep them indoors? If I recall my basic knowledge of plants of the rain forest s or tropics, they prefer 'dry' air ,high light and very little water ( rainforest and little water??). Anything else would make them drop their leaves.

NC may not be a suitable place for them to be grown outdoors. But I am not sure.

They have beautiful flowers though. I think P.saman has pink and white flowers.

[mbasden]

I have them indoors for now and this coming spring I will put them outside. The weather here in the summer is appropriately neo-tropical but our winters can be cold.

[mbasden]

The plants I purchased are small for now but they will get big I'm sure.

[PhalPal]

mbasden please update your profile so we will know where you are. Growing conditions vary greatly and it is impossible to give sound advice without this little piece of information. Thanks!!

[pikevi]

mbasden: I checked on the 'net. They can grow huge, like 15-20 metres.

But that is OK. I also have potentially 'huge trees' like Neem( Azadirechta ), Mango( Mangifera),Avocado(Persea) and a few banana shrubs.

I will enjoy them as long as I can.

Good luck with yours.