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Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 1st, 2013, 12:59 pm
by Sockcutter
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Hey I just started up some jmaple bonsai, and defoliate them all, a while back, as you can see, but one of them the leaves have not grown back to full size, initially before defoliation they were about twice the size of what they are now.. Is there something wrong with my tree? What should I do?
Thanks
Re: Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 1st, 2013, 1:17 pm
by shibui
Hi Sockcutter,
Defoliation is one technique used to make leaves smaller but is usually used on more established trees. Why have you defoliated such young stock?
If one has regrown very much smaller leaves would suspect it has a fungal infection. Treating with a fungicide would not do any harm and might cure the problem if I am right. It may get over it without treatment but may not.
for future reference only strong, well fed trees should be defoliated.
Re: Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 1st, 2013, 1:19 pm
by Scott Roxburgh
Why did you defoliate?
Re: Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 1st, 2013, 1:35 pm
by Sockcutter
Thanks, yeah I bought some grafted ones that were about 2metres tall from a nursery, and have cut them back, the top 3. The others I defoliated them I read somewhere that it acts as a second season, so I thought that meant if I defoliated them it would add another seasons growth :/ rookie error haha
I'll go get some fungicide too, the one in the bottom left is very stunted with most internodes about 5mm long, so it had quite small leaves to begin with, but they are too small and aren't opening up properly so there must be something wrong.
Feel free to add any more tips because I only just got these and don't know much about them. Thanks
Re: Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 1st, 2013, 1:39 pm
by Sockcutter
Re: Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 1st, 2013, 2:09 pm
by Mojo Moyogi
Hi Sockcutter, "what do you mean by just started up"?
Cheers,
Mojo
Re: Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 1st, 2013, 5:58 pm
by Sockcutter
More or less I started a collection.. To develop them I guess. Bought a few different types and sizes and they are my "starting point"

Re: Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 1st, 2013, 9:48 pm
by shibui
You mention these are grafted varieties. Do you know the name of the one with the small leaves. There are some dwarf varieties that have little leaves and very compact growth. If this is one of then maybe there is nothing wrong at all. This could be its natural growth habit.
Re: Japanese Maple advise please
Posted: March 28th, 2013, 8:20 pm
by Nos72
Wait until next spring and don't defoliate young trees
I learned the same lesson this year because I have spent far too much time away from AusBonsai
