Cutting of leaves

[bizzer]

Hey all. Long time reader, time poster.

I don't know if I'm asking a simple question that I just haven't been smart enough to find yet. Honestly probably the case. What I'm asking about is something I was told when my mother in law bought me a fig last year as a b day press. To train the leaf to grow smaller you can cut the leafs by 50%. Is this true? I have another tree that I'm working on too and in both cases I would really like to see a smaller leaf in denser proportion. I am using the pinching method for back budding to impoverished densness. Thanks for any tips

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[shibui]

If you search defoliation you will find lots of posts.
Rather than cutting half of each leaf we generally cut every leaf off the tree ( cut the leaf off but leave the stalk) . When the tree has no leaves it grows new shoots from the base of every leaf stalk. That means you get lots more new twigs which will have lots more leaves so the new leaves tend to be a bit smaller than the ones you have cut off. With figs it is also important to cut off the bud at the tip of very shoot when you cut the leaves. Pinching the shoots will also achieve the same result but it might take a few more years to get to the same results.
It is important that your tree is healthy before defoliating. Only defoliate if you have been feeding and watering well this season.
Figs are summer active trees. Only defoliate figs in warmer weather when they have time to grow new leaves before winter. Feb might be a little late in cooler climates but should still be ok in warmer areas like Gold Coast.

Partial defoliation is also valuable. If you want a branch to grow or thicken do not cut the leaves on that branch but cut all leaves from the rest of the tree.
Sometimes lower branches of some trees are weak. Cut leaves off all upper branches but leave lower branches with leaves. upper branches will lose some strength and the areas where you have left leaves will get stronger.
Cutting leaves is not a magic bullet. Also need to provide other care - pinching, pruning, feeding and repotting at appropriate times to get good results.

[bizzer]

I have looked at deflation but nothing that I thought was what I was looking for. But thank you your advise is along the lines of what I was thinking. And I was going to ask about timing for the fig. So being on the goldy I would be able get away with a heavy trimming? What do you think about a lemon scented tea tree?

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[shibui]

Depends what fig you have. I believe that Ficus benjamina is a bit more touchy but if you have F. rubiginosa or macrocarpa should be ok to do anything.

I have looked at deflation but nothing that I thought was what I was looking for

try DEFOLIATION - need to spell right for computer search - 87 pages of posts to look at on Ausbonsai

Lemon scented tea tree: Should have naturally smallish leaves so I don't think defoliation will be much use. Heavy trimming: Not sure whether these shoot on bare wood. They will usually grow new shoots from the base of leaves so only prune where there are healthy leaves until you know whether it will shoot on bare wood or not. Timing for pruning natives: now is good. Prune any time they are growing. Warmer weather is best so now should be fine.

[bizzer]

Yeah both of them are growing strong and shooting well that's why I ask. It feels like a good time to be playing with the foliage. I'm not sure what species of fig it is. I may attempt to take some good pics tomorrow and get some guidance from the id threads. Thank you for your time and advice. Oh and I will double check my spelling when searching lol cheers

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