Managing Portulacaria Afra Branch Thickness

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Question about managing branch thickness on a fairly mature portulacaria afra... Let's say you have a first branch that's half an inch thick near its base, but you have a third branch that's 3/4 of an inch thick near its base. And you want that first branch to be a hearty soul, much thicker than those above him. In this instance, might one defoliate that thicker third branch and otherwise manage it (while watching it closely) to allow the slightly thinner lower branch to catch up and even overtake it?
 

MrWunderful

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Question about managing branch thickness on a fairly mature portulacaria afra... Let's say you have a first branch that's half an inch thick near its base, but you have a third branch that's 3/4 of an inch thick near its base. And you want that first branch to be a hearty soul, much thicker than those above him. In this instance, might one defoliate that thicker third branch and otherwise manage it (while watching it closely) to allow the slightly thinner lower branch to catch up and even overtake it?
You could, but I would just remove the branch. Overcoming reverse taper in branching is difficult. Adding more taper to branching can be pretty easy to do with large sacrifice runners, and healthy portys will eventually bud close to where you need it.
 

penumbra

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On P afra I think there is a chance you might lose a branch that is abused ... so to speak.
 

sorce

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Pics!

I think the largest risk is either branch becoming too thick for the trunk during the swap.

Swapping is just a matter of bud counting/health.

If your health is high, via other sacrifice stuff, you can keep the top near naked and get it done quicker.

If your health is ok, it'll take longer.

If you're attempting to get it done while the entire rest of the tree is being styled and pruned, it can be a waste of time.

A lotta high sacrifice stuff will allow you more time before anything gets too thick.

I reckon these will grow new branches, usually that'll make anything look much better, total control.

Sorce
 
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I reckon these will grow new branches, usually that'll make anything look much better, total control.

I agree with @sorce on this. However, with your short growing season outdoors you might find that growing a new branch out to a final caliper of a half an inch is a couple years' project. If you don't want that, then I would prune the overly large branch back hard to work on taper and movement while the lower branches are allowed to catch up. I am torn on whether you should defoliate. I have a few that I am working on, and defoliating a branch seems to produce a profusion of budding as it appears the plant is directing energy there to recover from being munched on. Just a theory.
 
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Wow... You guys are giving me a lot more advice than I anticipated. Much appreciated! I took some photos but they aren't good at showing the different limb sizes (due to perspective/distance). So, I hope this video gives a better view. My main concerns are:
  • That thicker (third or 4th) branch needs dealt with. You'll see it on the right, just above the one with the guy wire.
  • There's that V trunk-split just under the top canopy that's thicker than the lower branches, and there's some reverse taper. How to deal with that to end up with better taper and a new leader?
  • Happy to turn any trimmed branches into cuttings for new trees, of course, but hoping to keep tree style similar to how it has been established.
  • Not against "hiding" unbalanced branch widths or reverse taper if it's the only way to maintain the style. (Basically, I don't want to chop the top and turn it into something radically different.)
  • Any additional critiques or suggestions appreciated!
 

sorce

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Ah!

That's not even anything I'd worry much about.

Should be an easy swap.

Nice!

Sorce
 

sorce

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Thickness swapping.

Sorce
 
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Thickness swapping.
So you're literally talking about (through defoliating, bud-counting and managing health/sacs) building up the bottom to catch up and overtake the thicker branch(es) above?
 

sorce

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So you're literally talking about (through defoliating, bud-counting and managing health/sacs) building up the bottom to catch up and overtake the thicker branch(es) above?

Isn't that what we're talking about?🤔

Sorce
 
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I'll take that as a yes. We... or, at least myself and one other person... were also considering the merits of pruning the large branch. Appreciate the advice! Yet again you teach me something!👨‍🎓
 
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