Dumb Question About Leaf Size

whidn

I have a dumb question about leaf size that i cant wait till spring to find out....
If I reduce the leaf size on a tree, the next spring when they come back are they normal size or are they still reduced?

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Beginner From U.S.A.

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Your knowledge will be skimpy

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Tony

Well it depends on exactly what you did to reduce the leaf size. In bonsai, several things combine to dwarf the leaves. Growing trees in small pots keep the roots restricted and slightly root bound which slows the growth and creates smaller leaves than on a full size tree.

Second, plenty of bright sun light will help to keep the leaves smaller. Plants grown in low light tend to grow oversize leaves. To make up for what they lack in light intensity they will grow large solar collectors=large leaves.

Third, when you create foliage pads with short internodes and alot of ramification of the secondary and tertiary branches you will get many fine twiggy branches that tend to support only smaller leaves. All these things combine together to keep leaves smaller than they normally would be.

I'm sure you were looking for a yes or no answer but like most things in bonsai it depends.

Tony

Jay

In addition to Tony's points, leaf size reduction is not something to worry about until your tree is getting near the point of show. It can occur by the facts Tony listed, but to defoliate for leaf reduction should wait. I remember reading, numerous times, that you work on the leaf size last!

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

whidn

Hay thanks alot. Thats some good advice to wait until I am ready for small leaves before I try to reduce them. Ok I will start waiting to reduce leaf size until my tree is properly shaped.

__________________
Beginner From U.S.A.

If you skim when you read
Your knowledge will be skimpy

A lways
S eek
K nowledge

God, give me the wisdom to use it

KZitzewitz

Correct me if I am wrong, as I beleive I have read this once, however one person from another forum emailed me this long nasty letter saying how he had been in contact with several of the masters beofre and they had never mentioned it and that I was wrong, and should not post such lies...
Anyway, my addition would be copper wire. The copper poisons the plant ever so slightly causing some dwarfing, while the other factors may be of more cause, this I heard will do it to, aluminim does not do this. Now if you think about it, it even sounds like it should be correct, but like I said, I really got chewed out...

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--Kristopher

whidn

ok heres your big ole nasty long letter.



anythings possable

__________________
Beginner From U.S.A.

If you skim when you read
Your knowledge will be skimpy

A lways
S eek
K nowledge

God, give me the wisdom to use it