AusBonsai

Hi

Need some advice on defoliation.

Have googled node, bud and petiole - so I am that clued.

However - no trouble defoliating my maple or any tree with a defined petiole just leave as much petiole as possible?

So here are two others - an elm and a banksia how do I approach these two, pinch, pluck, cut ?

Have heard on the elm, cut to leave a fraction of the leaf ? ? and the banksia pull the whole clump or pluck each leaf ??

You may be able to point me to another thread (could not find one) or help me here and maybe comment on other trees which
are not that easy to decide how to get the leaves off.

Don't necessarily want to defoliate now just want to know how.

Thanks David

Hi Dave,
Mate the idea of cutting the leaves of is that you don't damage the delicate branching and destroy the new growth which you want to come up and quick, with the elm just cut the leaf off complete but be careful not to damage your tree, with the banks, no idea, sorry, but in the bush they get burnt off, so I suppose what's the dif, just cut away, but remember less water.

Mick

Does anyone completely defoliate their banksias?
If so when?

Gerard wrote:Does anyone completely defoliate their banksias?
If so when?

This question was posed just recently, I have started what Grant has been doing for a long time I hope I am quoting correctly,
Cut off the large leaves and pinch the younger ones, do not defoliate.

Elms I defoliate when I want to improve the ramification, as I find that most of my elms reduce by themselves. I have 4 types of elm.

Defoliation should be used for more than just leaf reduction. When you need to thicken part of the branch structure, or the trunk. The branches that are in the area that you want thickened should be left while all others areas defoliated.

If you wish to thicken a branch defoliate all except that branch or branches, ramification you cut back to a set of two leaves, let them grow and cut them back to the next set of two leaves. Noting the direction you wish the new twig to go so you have a fine tracery of twigs.

I hope this helps you,cheers Pup

Thanks Pup,
exactly what I wanted to know

Hi Guys and thanks,

Here is a pic of my Chinese Elm I defoliated only about 5 days ago.

I cut as close to the leaf as possible and in some cases left a millimeter of leaf on the petiole.

And now have buds on EVERY branch and twig.



For experienced bonsaiers no doubt you have seen this many times, but for me and I am sure for many
other newcomers this mini episode of nature is quite special.



Cheers
David

I defoliate or partially defoliate my banksia every year at this time. Banksia make multiple growths from each point so as the trees bud up you will need to go over them and reduce the buds to 2 at each point. I think there is a big advantage in defoliating serata every year in order to achieve good ramification and a denser foliage mass.
Craigw

craigw60 wrote:I defoliate or partially defoliate my banksia every year at this time. Banksia make multiple growths from each point so as the trees bud up you will need to go over them and reduce the buds to 2 at each point. I think there is a big advantage in defoliating serata every year in order to achieve good ramification and a denser foliage mass.
Craigw

Thank you for that information Craigw. I have been working on my natives over the last couple of days. Ficus have had partial defoliation as need to thicken, some branches and some ramification needed. So I was wondering about my Banksia, as I have only been working with this tree for 3 years, so very new to me.

I will defoliate it later in the week as we are experiencing high 30s at the moment and as usual in the west dry.

Again thanks Craigw, Pup

cuwire wrote:However - no trouble defoliating my maple or any tree with a defined petiole just leave as much petiole as possible?

I recently read this by D. Koreshoff regarding complete defoliation: "If the stork is thick or very long, make sure at least half to three quarters of the stalk is removed. This is important, as it has been found that enough photosynthesis (i.e. the manufacture of sugars) may be carried out i the stalk so as to inhibit the regroowth of leaves"

Waltron wrote: I recently read this by D. Koreshoff regarding complete defoliation: "If the stork is thick or very long, make sure at least half to three quarters of the stalk is removed. This is important, as it has been found that enough photosynthesis (i.e. the manufacture of sugars) may be carried out i the stalk so as to inhibit the regroowth of leaves"

I will take this on board thanks Waltron - I defoliated a maple at the same time as my elm it had almost excessive petiole.
Has no significant action as yet.

I just keep finding that defoliation is not that simple.

Thanks
David