Benefits Of Defoiliating?

ChrisM

let me start by saying that i am better with pines and need some brushing up with trops and sub-trops. the forum provides a great resource which i am truley appreciative of. now the question, i have a ficus too little that i have a question about. i have read that defoiliating will help with the size of foliage, but does it provide any other benefit to the overall tree health/look? my tree is quite healthy and has done well all winter, losing a couple of leaves here and there, but with spring right around the corner, i don't want to be behind the curve if i can do anything to make it a better tree now. any advice on this topic appreciated in advance.

chris

Advertisement

Travesty34

Defoiliating of your tree will help keep the leaves proportional to the trunk size. When I do my Ficus retusa, I remove all the oversize leaves, which ends up to be about 2/3 of the total foilage.In about 2 weeks you should see a noticable amount of growth. Only do this if your tree is healthy!!Do not fertilize until you start to see the newer growth. This practice does not provide any other benifit other than leaf size reduction, that I am aware of. I have never done a Ficus Benji this way, only retusa's, so maybe wait for more response before acting.

__________________
Travesty34 - GW - Profile

Jerry Meislik

Defoliating a Ficus produces smaller leaves, and increased ramification. It also weakens the tree.
If your tree is happy this summer you could defoliate if these objectives are desired.
Jerry

__________________
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.us/

Adam_MA

Check out This Link
Should have everything you need to know about defoliating your ficus


Adam

Adam_MA

hehehe
That's funny I started my reply and by the time I posted it not only was I beaten by 2 other people, but one of them who's site I linked you to.

BTW Great site Jerry I visit there often!


Adam

clrosner

If I read correctly, you mentioned a Ficus Too little, which if I am not mistaken is a Ficus Benjamina.

Defoliating the Benjamina, in my opinion, is a tough thing to do, unless you leave at least one leaf on the end of every branch.

Defoliation is usually to reduce the size of the leaves in comparison to the trunk size. Ficus Benjamina leaves are usually small to begin with, so I do not see the need. Or am I missing something?

__________________
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com

Bart Thomas(deceased)

I agree totally with Carl. Doing this on a benjamina is much riskier than many other types of ficus.

The only reason for doing this (other than preparing for a show) is to develop ramification. It is hard on the tree, and I have killed some nice little trees by "working them too hard". (yes, Carl, including that nice little GI Ficus that you liked. )

Let us remember that the Japanese (correct me please, Andy, if I'm mistaken) only do this to a developed tree just before a show.

They also put them in smaller pots (riskier for the plant) just before showing them. AND, they only put a tree through this whole routine once or twice a DECADE.

It is most important that the tree be really vigorous before trying this

ChrisM

thanks everyone, i was unsure if that (leaf size) was the only benefit. now i know that it is so i will leave my tiny leaves alone and enjoy the tree.

clrosner

Chris:
It is nice to know that some people do listen when we try to help...

By the way, if you want a fuller tree, keep pinching the leaf sheaf , especialy at the apex, and the Benjamina will bud back quite well.

Good luck!

__________________
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com