The Joy of Defoliation

Bill S

Masterpiece
Messages
2,494
Reaction score
28
Location
Western Massachusetts
USDA Zone
5a
Will I am away from the cleaning chemicals now, and I'm still not crazy about the scoop - so I say give it to Irene -, but a thought I didn't reply with to the other thread is that with a fuller foliage I think it will fill in the scoop area better, and you are working to correct that now so I await the results of a fuller crown for this tree, maybe I can be swayed to better appreciate the scoops.

I have some of these in developement and I am hoping that I didn't think of defoliating them because they are not ready for that yet ( growing out for size), but I also think it's partly the "tropical" tag I put on them, that for some reason just didn't click until reading this thread, that defoliation is a good procedure for these too.
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
Suthin is very strong with ficus, and while he was here he made a couple of suggestions, one of which I knew and another that was totally new to me.

When you are defoliating, use that time to prune back. Remove all the leaves and the branch terminals to where you'd like to continue building the branch. It will give far better ramification.

The one that is new to me is for when you are moving the tree outside in spring or inside in fall. Defoliate at that time and avoid losing a lot of leaves. The new leaves that come out will be more suited to the environment they are in rather than their opposite.
 
Messages
2,774
Reaction score
31
Location
Michigan, USA
USDA Zone
5
I deal mainly with Retusa now and strangely enough, I suffer no leaf drop when changing environments. I love that species.


Will
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
Retusa doesn't suffer it the same way nerifolia or benjamina do. The only one I have is retusa, and it never drops a leaf. They will burn a bit in spring, though.
 
Messages
2,774
Reaction score
31
Location
Michigan, USA
USDA Zone
5
I had a nerifolia once, the cursed thing dropped its foliage if you walked too close to it, strangely it lasted a whilein my compost pile before it was buried with other unwanted garbage. ;)


Will
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
I had a nerifolia once, the cursed thing dropped its foliage if you walked too close to it, strangely it lasted a whilein my compost pile before it was buried with other unwanted garbage. ;)


Will

So how do you like the Rianne? Isn't that the one that's as brittle as glass? And how do your wiandi handle the leaves?
 
Messages
2,774
Reaction score
31
Location
Michigan, USA
USDA Zone
5
I think Rianne translates as "clip and grow" and you can not wire them, at least I can't...even if you get the wire on, the slightest pressure snaps them like a fresh carrot.
 

milehigh_7

Mister 500,000
Messages
4,920
Reaction score
6,096
Location
Somewhere South of Phoenix
USDA Zone
Hot
Ficus Benjamina

How do Ficus Benjamina respond to defoliation? Anyone care to share lessons learned?
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
While not the best specimen for bonsai, benjamina are readily available and take the bonsai techniques well. You can defoliate a healthy benjamina during the growing season without trouble in most cases.
 
Messages
2,774
Reaction score
31
Location
Michigan, USA
USDA Zone
5
While not the best specimen for bonsai, benjamina are readily available and take the bonsai techniques well. You can defoliate a healthy benjamina during the growing season without trouble in most cases.

It might be the climate difference, but in my experience, Bennies do not like losing all their leaves, I would recommend partial defoliation only, at least in my zone.



Will
 

susieq14114

Yamadori
Messages
55
Reaction score
29
Location
Gulf Coast of Florida
I would like to ask a silly question....
I am not new to bonsai by any means, but I have not practiced defoliating much and am not sure of the proper technique. Do you use scissors and cut the leaves off by the stem? Do you just pull them off with your fingers? Can one of you just describe your method in detail for me, please.
Thank you.
 

Vance Wood

Lord Mugo
Messages
14,002
Reaction score
16,911
Location
Michigan
USDA Zone
5-6
Will is correct, you leave the stem. In some cases there are trees that have such small petioles that it is necessary to leave a small portion of the leaf as well, but never pull off the leaves this tends to destroy or damage the new buds you are trying to encourage to develop. Also you should make sure the tree you are working with can be defoliated, there are some that cannot. The Lace Leafed Japanese Maples, Hornbeams, Beech and Linden are a few that you cannot defoliate with out creating a serious problem or death.
 

susieq14114

Yamadori
Messages
55
Reaction score
29
Location
Gulf Coast of Florida
Thank you....
Many many years ago I was taught to cut the leaf off leaving the stem and a small part of the leaf. We were working on elms in that workshop. If I remember correctly, they said to do this in June or later... I have more tropicals than elms at this point. Mostly malpigghias and a few fukien tea. I know that you do everything in the hottest part of the year when working with them.

So I could go ahead and defoliat both my elms and the tropicals now, here in Florida..... I should probably get busy. Thank you Will and Vance.
 
Messages
2,774
Reaction score
31
Location
Michigan, USA
USDA Zone
5
Wow, almost two years since this thread was started and defoliation time is right around the corner again.

Due to a early contest I want to enter this year, I'll be defoliating my ficus while they are still inside and under lights. I'll update this thread with new photos when I do this.



Will
 
Messages
2,774
Reaction score
31
Location
Michigan, USA
USDA Zone
5
Oh yes, the Retusa is a remarkable ficus indeed! I really do need to take some new pictures.
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
Here is a shot of my retusa defoliated from July. Sorry about the loose wire end on the right.

P1012734a.jpg
 
Top Bottom