Jaboticaba Defoliation

[coltranem]

I moved my Jaboticaba indoors a few weeks ago it is in my grow tent where it is 70 F and about 50% humidity. It is pushing a lot of new growth. When would be a good time to defoliate I'd like to encourage some buds further back on the branches

 

[Anthony]

Sub-Tropical - should rest from Christmas until February,
Probably best for late Spring / Summer - temperatures above 70 deg.F
day or night.

Normally before a defoliation - one month of feeding.
To build up inner strength.
Nothing when buds appear and become leaves.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[coltranem]

@Anthony is the no fertilizer after defoliation to keep small internodes?

 

[Anthony]

Coltra,
The combination of full sun exposure, and the feeding
will often make the tree produce it's max of buds.
These buds tend to be so numerous that two situations
occur -
[1] The leaves are smaller.
[2] You often have to knock buds off where not needed.

No 2 we see often with the Tamarind. Have to use a bamboo
skewer to remove over abundant budding.

You may have to ask Clicio [ Brazil ] if the Jaboticaba is self
defoliating.
Normally one yearly defoliation is all that is needed.
So this defoliation can actually fit into the tree's life cycle
and Bonsai training.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[petegreg]

Generally for the species that need to be brought indoors for winter I would say... do not expect miracles. This time of a year is... ok for survival.

I'd put any planning aside. Any messing with trees. What will grow is usually not worth to keep. I'd let it grow for health, strength and maybe some thickening. And moving it outside in spring I'd prune back to last years growth. Saying, generally. I hate to sound negative, but winter is usually very challenging time to get our trees through.

 

[petegreg]

... the notes from pigheaded indoor grower.