Re: Watering a baobab tree

Leo Schordje Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:39 pm

Andre your advice is excellent.

To help us cold winter temperate growers focus on the key points you provided. I will restate what I see as the key factors governing whether a baobab needs to be watered.

Baobab grows during WARM weather, in regions of summer rain. When the temperature is above 18C (roughly 68 F) it will grow. When temperatures are below 18 C (even just at night) the plant will think the dry season is coming and begin to drop its leaves.

When there are no leaves on the tree, don't water. The tree is dormant.
When the new shoots show, it is time to water. Keep the tree above 18 C, or 68F even at night to keep the tree growing for enough weeks and months to mature twigs and shoots. Because Billy Rhodes has leaves all winter, he waters all winter, he must be keeping his baobab warm enough that it is staying in active growth. If you are in a cold climate, you should keep your baobab warm and sunny for at least 4 months or more a year to get some new growth every year.

As to when to quit watering. When half the leaves have yellowed and fallen, time to quit watering. The tree thinks a drought is coming.

If you want to 'force' a schedule on a tree, use temperature to signal to the tree when it is time to grow or go dormant. I have a nice light garden with good quality light. I could see keeping a baobab growing 9 months, then chill it below 18 C or 68 F and dry it out, so that it gets a rest, then resuming heat 3 months later, and beginning watering as soon as the tree has put out shoots and leaves.

Andre, did I get it more or less right?

Randy_Davis Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:00 pm

All,

This has been a great thread on Baobab's and their care for us Northerner's not used to working with this material (A. digitata specifically). I have a young tree 5 or 6 years old that I have treated as far as watering as has been suggested and it has worked quite well for me. My tree is growing in a 3 gallon plastic container and has been allowed to grow freely without any pruning. I'm getting very close to the time to do the first root pruning on it and would very much like to get some experts here on the appropriate methods to eliminate the large root tubers etc..... It would be fanastic to see some progression pic's on the process if anyone has some that they would like to share! hint hint!!!!!!!

ta ta for now,
R

Andre Beaurain Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:15 pm

Leo, I think you are getting the idea. ThumbsUp

I would stop watering with the first yellowing and wilting of the leaves.

Randy, we can thank Plantfever for this thread.

Rootpruning must take place during dormancy.
Cutting of the Taproot should be avoided as far as possible. Only when you remove a plant form nature is this neccesary! And who's gonna do that!! I'll kill them!! Suspect

I have noticed that a Baobab that was grown in a pot since a seedling will have its Tap root curved in the pot. This can be used as part of the stem!
Shake of all dry soil, and using a dowell, Do NOT spray with hose. Do NOT wet the roots.
Ofcourse we all know to sterilize the Tool. Neutral

Cut and then dust the wounds with Sulphur. (remember to wear a mask)
After cutting the roots, the tree cannot be potted immediately.

Rest it on a shelf under roof. Not in the dark! The bark is still sensitive to light. At least 72 hours. This can extend to a week or even TWO!. Nothing will happen to the resting Baobab, except forming a callous over the wound. Once the wound is dry it can be planted in DRY potting medium. Wait. Do not water yet.
For spring.
Which should be another month, at least.
When you see green leaves budding... then go for gold, I soak the Pots in a water with fertilizer added to it.
I also Foliar feed them at night when the sun goes down. Baobabs actually photosinthesize on the bark aswell. This stomata opens at night, to prevent moisture loss during the day as in Cactussus..... Arnt they amazing!!

Airlayering a Baobab is another story. If you strip the bark off, it will grow back!! Its a race then between root an bark! But another day...

Zimzamzim Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:08 am

Andre Beaurain wrote:

I have a baobab from 1969, its still in its juvenile stage.

Interesting that - mine from +/- 1980 is also in it's juvenile stage - will it ever 'grow up'?

Andre Beaurain Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:35 pm

...only when it has a huge rootsystem or caudex,

so when you plant it in the ground it will....

but I think keeping it as a juvenile in bonsai, is the point, because compound palmate leaves arnt desirable in Bonsai.

Conny Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:12 am

Hello

Happend to find this forum, and have a question about my Baobab, hope that´s okey.
I also live in Sweden and also planted this last summer (july). A month ago my Baobab suddenly stopped growing, like stepped on the brakes. This is the first time I ever grow anything, or even own a plant, so I´m quite nervous about it all. However, some of the leaves now are half brown/yellow, the leaves at the top are still all green. We are in the middle of winter here right now, with -10 outdoors. What I´d like to ask is if my Baobab is acting normal, or if it´s about to die? I read somewhere that they drop all leaves quickly(?) when going dormant, mine doesn´t, this far it has dropped like 3 of 20. Shouldn´t all leaves have fallen now, if it is dormant?

Edit: I stopped watering it some weeks ago, shortly after it stepped on the growing brakes, was this correct? (If it´s not dying on me...)

Thankyou in advance!

Watering a baobab tree - Page 2 IMAG1161

Andre Beaurain Tue Jan 29, 2013 6:52 am

Dear Conny.

That your Baobab still have leaves on, is not a good sign, it should have lost it in Autumn. when you should have stop watering, but I guess keeping it indoors confuses the tree.

The browning of the leaves in your picture is not the normal browning in Autumn. Those leaves look sick. Either its from cold, or it could have Red Spider Mites, or you have a rot in you roots. Cheq underneath the leaves for ver tiny little red spots, if you use a lighter and burn the undersides quickly, one can see the spiders better if they burn black.

If you watered your tree during winter, I can almost guarantee that you have rot in the roots!!

Anyway, I would defoliate the tree, throw the leaves in the fire, do not add to compost. Pull it out of the ground and inspect the roots and caudex. Do NOT use water to rinse of the soil!!! If it is soft and pulpy...... you are f*&%ed, run away. (If so I will give advise later, let me know)

If it is nice and firm, plant it back in a very very dry sandy soil mix and leave it till spring.

I think anyway it gets to little light if I look at the SIZE of your leaves!!

Dont feel bad, I ve killed MANY baobabs and I'm a Horticulturist! That you try it with your first tree.....you've got Balls my friend!!

Try something much easier... like Portulacaria afra or Crassula arborescens.

Love and light
Andre

Conny Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:22 pm

Thank you Andre for the answer, very greatful! Even though it wasn´t the answer I was hoping for... Crying or Very sad

Guess I will look like a fool now, but I had to google the term defoliate. How do I perform that, manually just pulling the leaves off? Even the "healthy" ones?
I have now looked under the leaves but can´t see any red dots, neither black dots after treating with lighter. However, I find some suspicious web in the pot, see picture nr 1.

About root rot and watering, I thought it was okey to water as long as the tree grew, a mistake obviousely. However, I am 99% sure that I will mess up the roots if I lift it out of soil, so I´m very afraid to perform that action. IF there is root rot, the tree is already doomed, isn´t it? Really like my tree, so I guess it just comes down to how I want to finish it, leave it to a slow painful death or just throw it away right now... Crying or Very sad

Isn´t there any other way if there is root rot? Can some of the root still be okey? Does root rot spread? How about putting heat under the pot to dry it out completely? And hope for the best, that some root are okey? The pot mixture right now is 2/3 soil 1/3 sand and some Leca.

Now I will look stupid again, but do you mean my leaves are large or small?

However, here are some more pics, so you can have a look at the whole situation. I ask again (eventhough I probably already got the answer), do I really have to pull it out of soil? pale

If so, how do I do that the most secure way? And you mention very dry soil, I won´t be able to find that here in a quickey...

Lower section

Middle section

Top section

Andre Beaurain Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:04 pm

....no, I think that is probably just a cold burn on the leaves, its was to close to the cold window?

If it was a rot, more leaves would have looked like that. I think you are save.

Your leaves are very Big, too lightly coloured and too floppy. This all is just an indication of not enough light.

Stop watering, give it more light. You tree needs a Winter soon. It still thinks its summer!

Does it sit in temperature controll?

Andre Beaurain Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:46 am

Dear Conny

First of all, thats amazing growth for a tree that is only six months old? You germainated it from seed in JULY? Wow.

I think you problem is with the temperature in your house. The soil temp. needs to go below 18 degrees so that the tree will know its winter. Now the tree sits in a house with 24-27 degrees and thinks, wow what an awesome long summer.

You need a cool house. I dont know what you can do to keep the soil cooler, what does everyone else do???

Next summer, leave the tree out untill the air get colder, when the leaves brown, then bring it indoors.

I think Defoliate your tree, and keep it in bright light, dont think because it doesnt have leaves on, you can leave it in the dark!, it will die. Baobabs has chlorophyll on their bark!

Andre Beaurain Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:52 am

Conny....you know how to defoliate, right?

Don't ever pull the leaves off!
Cut them off and leave the petiole. It will fall off by itself.

Conny Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:24 am

Andre,

About keeping the tree cold. I have a small storage space through a door in my flat that is uninsulated = much colder than inside flat during winter. However, maybe the temperature will drop too low in there, I´ll put a termometer inside today and see how cold there is now. Can you give me a lower limit, how cold can there be at most?

No I don´t know how to defoliate, never done such a thing, but now understand that I should cut them of. All of them, if I understood right.

About next summer, as mentioned I live in a flat without balcony or garden = problem to keep it outdoors. That would mean that I have to place it by someone else, that would be complicated as I want to do the watering myself. About the growth, I maybe overdid the watering and fertilizing a little Very Happy

When I planted the seed a read that it should go dormant sometime, didnt know exactely when, but thought "hmm, better get this thing going, and going fast, so it big before first doramcy"... I planted it in that big pot as soon as it had it´s two first tiny leaves, so it has had good space to grow in from start.

So about next summer, can I keep it indoors if I add growing light?
And about the soil in the pot not being completely dry yet, should I perform the frigthening replant you mentioned earlier, to "secure" it from root rot? (if it´s not already present...)

Thank you again for your wonderful answers! And apologizes to original poster for hijacking your thread. Embarassed

Plantfever Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:34 pm

Hello,

I am bringing up this tread again. Is there anyway to see the difference of a tree being dead or in "sleep mode"?

My baobab tree is all bone dry and have stayed that way a few months now. I am starting to think that it is over. Should I try water it?

Thanks

tap pi lu Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:09 am

Hi everyone.
very interesting discussion.
I also need to find out about the Baobab tree.
April 2013 from Angola a friend sent me 20 seeds Baobab Tree
I planted 5 seeds in the soil at the time, but until last March 2013, two of which germination, the rest does not work.
I added 5 seeds sown immediately after 1 week is new, only 1 of them germinated.
so now I have 2 members Baobab germinate in a week though sowing time between 2 times 1 year apart
I live in the capital Hanoi give me the best advice to train them to become beautiful bonsai
thanks everyone.

rps Sun Apr 07, 2013 7:41 am

This is a great thread. Thanks to PlantFever for starting it and to all the contributors.
Andre, you should write a book on baobab --- seriously. I don't know if I'll ever grow one, but I'd definitely read your book. Oh, and BTW, awesome avatar. flower

Peace to all,
Bob

Andre Beaurain Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:44 am

Conny wrote:Andre,

About keeping the tree cold. I have a small storage space through a door in my flat that is uninsulated = much colder than inside flat during winter. However, maybe the temperature will drop too low in there, I´ll put a termometer inside today and see how cold there is now. Can you give me a lower limit, how cold can there be at most?

Baobabs cannot even handle a little forst. I would say between 10 - 13 degrees C, nothing lower than that.

No I don´t know how to defoliate, never done such a thing, but now understand that I should cut them of. All of them, if I understood right.

You havnt done this....I think its time for yours to budd again!

About next summer, as mentioned I live in a flat without balcony or garden = problem to keep it outdoors. That would mean that I have to place it by someone else, that would be complicated as I want to do the watering myself. About the growth, I maybe overdid the watering and fertilizing a little When I planted the seed a read that it should go dormant sometime, didnt know exactely when, but thought "hmm, better get this thing going, and going fast, so it big before first doramcy"... I planted it in that big pot as soon as it had it´s two first tiny leaves, so it has had good space to grow in from start.

You can keep Baobabs in small containers for years...they love it!

So about next summer, can I keep it indoors if I add growing light?

Yes you can, one warm light and one cool light, but I'm NOT the expert here, never done growing indoors.
And about the soil in the pot not being completely dry yet, should I perform the frigthening replant you mentioned earlier, to "secure" it from root rot? (if it´s not already present...)

No, its only a year old. If the soil has excellent drainage then, leave it. Stop watering in Autumn, this should give you enough time to dry the soil. Don't transplant if there isn't any budds

Thank you again for your wonderful answers! And apologizes to original poster for hijacking your thread.

Love and light

Andre Beaurain Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:48 am

Plantfever wrote:Hello,

I am bringing up this tread again. Is there anyway to see the difference of a tree being dead or in "sleep mode"?

If its Dead it will turn into pulp very very quickly! Feel the trunk at the bottom, is it firm?

My baobab tree is all bone dry and have stayed that way a few months now. I am starting to think that it is over. Should I try water it?

Bone dry in Winter..... thats what they like! You should raise the temperature above 18 Degrees C, this will make it budd, when you see green, then soak it thoroughly.

Thanks

Love and light

Andre Beaurain Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:02 am

tap pi lu wrote:Hi everyone.
very interesting discussion.
I also need to find out about the Baobab tree.
April 2013 from Angola a friend sent me 20 seeds Baobab Tree
I planted 5 seeds in the soil at the time, but until last March 2013, two of which germination, the rest does not work.

Which Baobab is this? I assume its digitata?

I added 5 seeds sown immediately after 1 week is new, only 1 of them germinated.
so now I have 2 members Baobab germinate in a week though sowing time between 2 times 1 year apart

I am blond, I dont understand this sentence?

I live in the capital Hanoi give me the best advice to train them to become beautiful bonsai
thanks everyone.

What is your weather like, min and max temperatures?
Did they go dormant in Winter, how big are they?

Love and light

Andre Beaurain Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:09 am

rps wrote:This is a great thread. Thanks to PlantFever for starting it and to all the contributors.
Andre, you should write a book on baobab --- seriously. I don't know if I'll ever grow one, but I'd definitely read your book. Oh, and BTW, awesome avatar.

Peace to all,
Bob

You are tooo kind. If I write a book.........No tats knot gonna happin Laughing

Thanks for the compliment.

Love and Light my friend.

tap pi lu Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:28 am

where I live is that between the spring turns to summer. I think that my 2 young baobab tree has had a good start. I planted them on rooftops, where sunny, windy, and even mosquitoes Laughing

Thank you for your comments. I will update the image to your

Plantfever Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:41 am

Thanks again for your reply Andre Beaurain.

Would you like to explain a bit further this line that you wrote, how to check this: "If its Dead it will turn into pulp very very quickly! Feel the trunk at the bottom, is it firm?"

Anyway, I think the darkness will fall soon. I noticed today that either my mother or my sister has watered it a bit, since the soil is a little wet. If the baobab wasn't dead until now it probably will die now then. Better luck the 3:rd attempt perhaps.

Thanks

Plantfever Fri May 03, 2013 9:52 am

I just want to update with saying that It is alive Very Happy

It has new green leaves. I am watching it everyday!

To anyone who wants to answer this question: Is it ok to crop off the old dried out leaves? I took them off.

Thanks.

Andre Beaurain Fri May 03, 2013 4:02 pm

Plantfever wrote:Thanks again for your reply Andre Beaurain.

Would you like to explain a bit further this line that you wrote, how to check this: "If its Dead it will turn into pulp very very quickly! Feel the trunk at the bottom, is it firm?"

Baobabs are the worlds larges succulents, when succulents die, they rot very quickly because of the wood, which are actually just vascular bundles of tissue. So it will become brittle and soft.

Anyway, I think the darkness will fall soon. I noticed today that either my mother or my sister has watered it a bit, since the soil is a little wet. If the baobab wasn't dead until now it probably will die now then. Better luck the 3:rd attempt perhaps.

.........always look on the bright side of life....

Thanks

Sorry guys, that I only reply now, but have been very busy lately, no time for fun stuff, ......O wait, my job IS fun. Shocked

Andre Beaurain Fri May 03, 2013 4:08 pm

Plantfever wrote:I just want to update with saying that It is alive It has new green leaves. I am watching it everyday!

Hooray!!

To anyone who wants to answer this question: Is it ok to crop off the old dried out leaves? I took them off.

...no sooner said than done... Its absolutely fine, usually plants that tend to hold onto their dead foliage, use it as a blanket in winter protecting itself from cold.

Thanks.

Now you must replant, the time for you has come my friend, bite the bullet and do it, do not fear as you enter the valley of darkness......
Use a well drained soil mix with added grit.

Love and light

Plantfever Fri May 03, 2013 8:16 pm

Thank you Andre Beaurain for your tips and advice. Smile

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