Anybody defoliated yet?

[john tapner]

I have five PJFs and defoliate when repotting. My rule-of-thumb has always been to wait for the night-time temps to reach 16c which is now. I have a large Trident which I defoliate around Christmas. Generally one defoliation on the Trident is enough but I I have done it twice due to leaf burn. However this can be detrimental as the new flush of leaves can burn very easily before they harden off so extra care must be taken.

John T

[Jow]

As it seems a lot of the folks here practice defoliating, I was wondering if you could elaborate on how you feed and water during defoliation. Do you feed more, remove food or do nothing? I have a trident that is starting to get close to a stage where defoliation will help build final ramification and was wondering if i should remove food during the re budding? It makes sense for me to super feed up to defoliation and then remove food after defoliation until new growth hardens, then re-apply. Does anyone have an opinion on this?

[kcpoole]

From what you are all saying and looking at your geographical areas, I think I will err on the side of caution, keep feeding my trident and do it in mid December. I could consider partially defoliating it but when the big job was done any new leaves would be removed and I don't want to stretch the friendship. I'm Sydney, not Rockhampton or Brisbane and more patience seems a better thing.

Problem I see is that you then have new leaves in the hottest part ofd our summer!
I would do now so they can harden off before then

Ken

[Pup]

As it seems a lot of the folks here practice defoliating, I was wondering if you could elaborate on how you feed and water during defoliation. Do you feed more, remove food or do nothing? I have a trident that is starting to get close to a stage where defoliation will help build final ramification and was wondering if i should remove food during the re budding? It makes sense for me to super feed up to defoliation and then remove food after defoliation until new growth hardens, then re-apply. Does anyone have an opinion on this?

Jow , I use a normal feeding resume, up till defoliation. Then I cut back on Nitrogen using a low N feed .Or use an Auxin till they are hardened off.

Pup

[Asus101]

Considering I already have temps of 36+ I defoliate now on all my figs.
I wont water any different, the heat will remove a lot of moisture. As for fertiliser? I'll just top up my rapid raiser late feb when the temps are sitting back at a steady 40. If the last two years are anything to go by, most will start small amounts of regrowth from then.

[alpineart]

Anyone defoliated Japanese Maple more than once in a season?[/quote]

Hi Grant , i have successfully done Japanese Maples up to 5 times in a season on a regular basis without any adverse effect .Currently on the second defol' and wire on several chop tops from last season .I have pushed maples to 6 and they die , i conducted the tests for personal experience as i had some healthy but poor quality starters . I have a big desert ash on the second trim and will wire after the 3rd .Both these trees are only on their second season of training .Cheers Alpine

[Grant Bowie]

Wow you guys have been busy while I have been busy all day defoliating and delumping an Ash new to the collection.

Some basic rules of thumb.
Before you defoliate fertilize well as part of an ongoing regime.
Dont defoliate a sick tree.(Too stressfull and you will either kill it or get a poor leaf out)
Dont over fertilize a sick tree with the intention of defoliating. (Mild fertilizer for a year and then assess next year)

New leaves will harden off quickly to the heat and sun of summer but be sensible and give some cover if you live in an extreme environment of heat or wind.

Interesting to hear about the multiple defoliation of the Japanese maple. I am not getting a lot of elongation of the Japanese maple after the tip pinch of buds in early spring in Canberra, so hence just one defoliation last year. The tree had been repotted that year and was in good health.

More experiences welcome!

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

An Update from Canberra,

The Port Jackson Fig I defoliated on 8th October has burst new leaves today 8th November, so just 31 days, and I left it inside as it has still been cold outside overnight, with no direct light ( we still had a doona on the bed last night). Today however the sun is out and hot finally. I should put it outside now and will defoliate again this year as it has done so well. Canberra is NOT Fig central yet but I will work on it once I work out the Canberra weather.

So today 8th november I am defoliating Japanese Maples, 1 in a bonsai pot just potted this spring and 3 in 12"300mm pots not repotted this year. I will assess and maybe multiple defoliate this year to see how far I can push my own trees.

Grant

[Bretts]

Thanks for the update Grant.
I will be sure I take down dates for anything I defoliate from now on.

The Queensland umbrella tree I defoliated when I repotted a month or so ago has some nice small leaves on it at the moment been in leaf for a couple of weeks. Will have to wait and see how big they get it is the second year I have done this.

I am considering defoliating a large hornbeam this year. Maybe a partial defoliation.

I have a question. Say you don't need to defoliate but you want to work on branch structure. As in pruning the tree back to direct strong growth where you want it. Would it be a good idea to do this about the same time as you would normally defoliate?

I still have trouble directing my cutters to the lower branches first and then the upper branches as to get the bottom branches growing. I often just prune the upper branches and try to let the lower ones grow.
I would like to here any thoughts on this?

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Brett,

I haven't defoliated a Hornbeam yet although I have one tree I would like to eventually(Carpinus betulus). Literature says it can be done in mid summer (Japan) but your conditions are not exactly Japan. Do you know what type of Hornbeam? Also it needs to be in peak health before you try.

Anyone here defoliated Hornbeam and if so with what results?

If defoliation on your type of Hornbeam in your area works it would help with balacing the growth in the tree.

[lowlegs]

should be all good just give it a half dose of seasole everytwo weeks it helps with budding my ficus go well with defoliating and have them in full sun up till about 1then they are semi shaded for the rest which helps with keeping the leaf scale down,where im getting at is you could place your ficus outside now in a shaded area and gradually bring it into partially full sun

[lowlegs]

beig in canberra maybe making a mini glass house would help if you are going for more growth and ariels roots

[cactuscandy2004]

I am relatively new to bonsai techniques, and defoliation.
I notice reading through this subject there are a wide range of trees listed, i.e. Figs/Ficus, Ash, Elms, Maples, Liquid amber to mention a few.

Could someone please specify if other species, i.e. Olive, Jade, Lillypilly, Quince, Hawthorn, Willow can be included.

Cheers Cactuscandy

[simonm]

what are the advantages of defoliating?

[Bretts]

The advantages as I understand it is that it gives a new flush of growth so it can be like getting too growths in one season also it often results in smaller leaves some say it can give better Autumn colour but that would be dependent on the climate species and growing conditions. The colours are hidden under the green of the leaf all through the growth season we only get to see them when the green goes. My guess is that the healthiest growth produces the best colours. Maybe some people get healthier growth after defoliating.
There are also many levels of defoliation from complete defoliation. Partial defoliation to direct growth to non defoliated part of tree. Individual leaf defoliation. Be zen like and each day cut of the largest leaf on your tree
That's in my layman's terms Simon.

It is European Hornbeam I was thinking of Grant. It is pretty healthy I trimmed the top back to try and encourage lower branch thickening and as usual the top is pushing out buds pretty quick again. I haven't touched the Mid size Japanese Hornbeam yet As that is meant to be going Literati this year I might try a style and defoliation and see what happens. The leaves have reduced a fair bit already from normal pot training.
Next cool patch I will give it a go.