Make leaves smaller?

[snh06]

Hi everyone,

I am a first time bonsaier, I have a Port Jackson Fig that I have just potted, but I would like to make the leaves smaller. I am not sure how do to this, should I cut all the leaves off now and train it with copper to the shape I want. Will this make the leaves come back smaller? I have looked at two books and haven't found the info. It doesn't have many leaves, about 12, but they are large and the plant is very small. It doesn't have any trunk action yet either.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Heidi

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Heidi and welcome. Sounds like you need to get a few more leaves first before worrying about defoliation. Wait for it to get a bit warmer and the fig has grown a bit more first. In answer to your question yes defoliating will make for smaller leaves. But you only worry about that once everything (trunk and branches) are the size you want as defoliation slows down growth. You should join a bonsai club to get some good first hand info.


Tony

[toohey]

Hi,
I love Port Jackson Figs and I have had one for 30 years.
The bgest advice that I could ever give is to join a club.
Why? Year 29 was the first year I joined a club and had ever wired my tree.
Luck more than knowledge ensured its survival and figs are pretty hardy too.
Now, even in Coffs, is early to repot as figs like warmer weather.
Leaf defoliation does make the leaves smaller, but should be done around October and could be done again in February (around about depending on location & weather)

Check out the Ficus book by Leong at Bonsai South Sydney Website.

Best advice: You won't know how much you can learn until you join a club. The best thing with Bonsai Clubs is that people are just so friendly and helpful.
Good Luck

[kcpoole]

Check out the articlke on Wiki re defoliation
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... efoliation
This applies to all trees, not Just ficus

You should not Repot or defoliate a ficus it the overnight temps are below about 16 degrees C either as they take far too long to shoot again

Ken