Defoliation time

[bonsaiboy50]

Spent the day starting to defoliate my figs. I defoliate most figs once a year about this time. I usualy leave them untill they have there first burst of spring growth as i have found that if you do it too early the new growth is too vigerous causing larger leaves and courser internodes. Have read on some post that others defoliate two or three times a year. I have never done it more than once. If anyone has any experience in multiple defoliations of figs I would love to hear about it .

[ozzy]

Thats freakin awesome , what type are they?

[bonsaiboy50]

Ozzy, Only know them as Queensland small leafe figs. Maybe someone more up with botanical names can fill in the blanks.

[Jamie]

mate,

if these are just ready to go into pots... WOW! I hope to one day have trees like this, how long have they been in development/training?

mate your technique obviously works defoliating just the once, the proof is in the pudding right there!

I have defoliated several times in a year without to much hassle, up here we only have a small slow growth period though. one fig I had defoliated four times over this year is healthy and strong growing, I did feed heavy before every defoliation for at least two weeks prior. was there anything specific in info that you want to know bout multiple defoliation?

jamie

[craigw60]

Had a busy day there ? Nice line up of figs.
Craigw

[Taffy]

Bb50, if your figs have green leaf petioles and the sheaths covering the shoots are green then they are generally Ficus Obliqua. If they have pink/red petioles and (sometimes) pink/red sheaths on the shoots then they would be Ficus Eugenoides.

[bonsaiboy50]

Bb50, if your figs have green leaf petioles and the sheaths covering the shoots are green then they are generally Ficus Obliqua. If they have pink/red petioles and (sometimes) pink/red sheaths on the shoots then they would be Ficus Eugenoides.

Tman, According to your description all my figs are "Ficus Obliqua" Thanks for the info.

[bonsaiboy50]

mate,

if these are just ready to go into pots... WOW! I hope to one day have trees like this, how long have they been in development/training?

mate your technique obviously works defoliating just the once, the proof is in the pudding right there!

I have defoliated several times in a year without to much hassle, up here we only have a small slow growth period though. one fig I had defoliated four times over this year is healthy and strong growing, I did feed heavy before every defoliation for at least two weeks prior. was there anything specific in info that you want to know bout multiple defoliation?

jamie

Jamie, The large single fig has been in training for about 20 years but only in a bonsai pot for about 4 years. The other line up of figs range from about 5 to 15 years in training. I develop all my figs in pots or tubs to develop the size and style I am happy with before placing in a bonsai pot. This can take many years and many changes in styling before I am happy with them. I have found that figs develop much better in tubs than bonsai pots. i feel it is much better to "bonsai" a larger plant than to try and make a bonsai out of an underdeveloped one . Does that make sense??

[Terry]

Here are some that I defoliated three weeks ago. If all is well, they will get the same treatment in December

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[kcpoole]

Hey Dog, Why all the grafting tape on the last one?
you trying to fuse several?

Ken

[Terry]

heaps of aerial roots that I'm hoping to fuse with main tunk

[Glenda]

heaps of aerial roots that I'm hoping to fuse with main tunk

I have two I am doing the same thing to

Glenda

[Jamie]

gday busta

nice work, your trees will come up well with time, if you dont mind me saying, that first tree you have shown, would you consider cutting the branches all back hard, doing this will give the tree more natural tapered branching and give a better ramification in the long run, that way a few years down the track when it is ramified you wot go I wish I cut those branches back hard years ago

jamie