How to Bonsai - Reduce Leaf Size

[@lekhatull]

Thank you for your video, After 35 years of dental surgeries, I am now getting into Bonsai gardening. This is very educaitonal

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Good luck. You are really going to enjoy bonsai

[@Boshia1321]

I just recently got into bonsai and the closest bonsai nursery to me is 40 minutes away, these videos are very helpful for me to learn. Thank you!

[@ogsxl]

Boshia1321 you should just yamadori

[@dshillibier]

Always enjoy watching someone teach when they really understand why.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thank you so much for such a kind comment. I’m glad you found the video informative and that it captured my passion for this art.

[@dineshvyas]

This is the best video on leaf size reduction and ramification.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thank you 😊

[@wdsjrmd1]

i am continuing to learn from your videos. thank you so much for putting these on many years ago. the knowledge you provide is timeless. i have learned more from you than any other person on you tube. you are a brilliant teacher.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that and I’m glad you are able to use the information.

[@wdsjrmd1]

@@OrlandoBonsaiTV and you are a kind hearted very nice man to take time out of your day to respond to my message. I hope God blesses you for being such a good person

[@damianwadsworth2858]

First time I ever really understood the basic principles of ramification was only once I watched this video. A great video, definitely helped with my current bonsai collection, and the other videos are just as informative.

[@jaysonmckeownsr9913]

great video, especially for beginners like me. thanks for the video

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Glad I could help!!

[@ANTIK1OAS]

Thank you for putting in this work and sharing your knowledge. Before taking my dive into bonsai I did a few months of research. Once I started and visited one of the local nurseries the guy asked how familiar I was. I told him I had a vary limited knowledge and mentioned your channel. He too is a fan. Please keep them coming. I don't think I've seen one and can't seem to find one about common ailments for ficus/juniper/maples I think one for each of the major verities would be very useful.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I'm glad you found the video helpful. Good luck with getting your leaves smaller

[@ericbrown4761]

Hey Paul me again. I followed your instructions on leaf. reduction and, have a Turkey fig tree with crepe myrtle size leaves. Not many branches yet, but I've only had it in the ground for one growing season. The trunk has nearly doubled in size. I'm growing more for its winter appeal with white bark and fine branches. We certainly have had an excellent growing season in southwest Georgia this year. Not too much rain but plenty of sun.

[@jeffreyrazal9910]

You have one of the best video I’ve watch bonsai making. You’re teaching techniques straight forward and unique for bonsai. For a bonsai beginner like me, these videos are awesome. I follow some of your technique and applied in my bonsai. Thanks alot.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Damian, I'm really gald to hear that I was able to explain ramification to you. Its a great way to refine your bonsai and get them looking great

[@llaneverzulita1704]

Glad to see some of your videos,i like bonsai

[@egibbys]

Finally some good bonsai videos on KZbin. Thank you. :)

[@metalgrootvader6832]

I learned a ton from this. Thanks so much for putting it together!

[@jkcctube]

I really enjoy watching all your videos, and they are very educational. Thanks!

[@BigRokko5196]

Watched multiple videos and yours actually answered the question. Is this technique applicable to every leafed bonsai? As opposed to evergreens and things

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks for your comment. Yes this can be applied to broadleaf tropicals but certain evergreens cannot be defoliated without losing the branch. You can always try a small section of your tree to be certain that the leaves replace before defoliating the entire tree. Good luck 😊

[@stonedhamster69]

Thanks very much, exactly the information I was looking for. I was bought a first bonsai (Ficus) and I've noticed that the bonsai is thriving, but some of the external leaves are getting a tad big for my tastes. Will use your method to try reduce the size.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Good luck and I'm so glad you found my video

[@Iggynawcio]

Great thanks! I can already see the new buds starting to come out. I will give it a try. Thanks again!

[@strikken00]

that was a really good explanaition on compacting the leafs.. have been feeling insecure on this part and googling it for some days now.. thanks for putting this up :)

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Hi Steve, yes this works very well on ficus and tropical trees. The nice thing about tropicals is that if youprotect them during the winter they hold their leaves. So once you have them reduced that stay that way

[@mlyngvo]

Thank you for the tip. I've always been wondering why the leaves on the new branches are way too be big, now I know what to do to with it.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Hi Steve, yes there are so many important things that occur through teh process and its really hard to not skip them. Doing a vieo from start to finish would be a good one. I'll see if I can pick up a nice piece of material to work on

[@dts4746]

10 years later 2021 so bored and into art reached bonsai nd learning as much as possible after finished learning all about all my dream animals

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Since the tree is just a sapling at this point the best thing to do is promote its growth so fertilize it when it puts out it spring leaves. Also to make the tree interesting you can wire the trunk and give is some slight bends so when it gets older it will have beautiful movement

[@2112design]

thanks, i really like your videos, lots of info, to the point, always interesting. if i might make a request, i'd love to see the process of taking a 3 to 5 year old ficus from nursery and transition it to bonsai, the whole process. i saw you had one video about training pots but i' like to see more details about transitioning the whole tree. thanks, steve

[@mem521]

@OrlandoBonsaiTV I really appreciate the advice so much thank you that has helped a lot. I will take what you have said and be slow with it. Thank you very much and look forward to seeing more from you.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Great comment and I'm glad to hear I have fans. Common problems and insect issues would be a great topic for a video thanks

[@Monscent]

Could you do a video with care tips for Alder tree bonsai? I would like to know how to control leaf size, what soil it needs and other general care tips!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@G223223 If the branch is the length you want it and the shape then yes keep trimming it back. They get really dense branches in a short time.

[@Squeakywheels01]

Very useful and interesting video - thanks.

[@CupcakeFlowersimsPandasimcake]

thank you for this video. This is going to help me alot for i did get my first bonsai today. My room hits where the sun gets the first rays of sun and more sun than alot of the house at the time of year. plus mines an indoor one. least it will help me learn to take care of the leaves when it comes to time to triming it.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

CupcakeFlowersims Pandasimcake Best of luck with your new bonsai!

[@CupcakeFlowersimsPandasimcake]

thank you

[@fude45]

Great video paul, really helped me to bonsai. Bonsai awaaaayyyyyyy!!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

YAY! Have fun and I'm glad I was able to help you

[@fude45]

OrlandoBonsaiTV When is the right time to prune a jade tree. I live in England it is autumn / "fall" BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNSAI !!!!

[@fude45]

Jacob Shannon Simmer down busta I was only making myself clear to a fellow BONSAI.

[@fude45]

Jacob Shannon I would appreciate if you didn't bring sarcasm into the mix as it is bad for a BONSAI's growth.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Stuart Clark Trim Jade from late Spring to the End of Summer. Thanks for the comment

[@coopnkierston9026]

Perhaps a demonstration of the topics in the video. Beginners (like myself) are unsure of what you might mean by some of these techniques. Still, very informative. Thank you for the video.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks very much, I'm glad you enjoyed the video Paul

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@93hipgnosis You're right, Azaleas are in a class all by themselves. I'll try to do a video in the future on that topic

thank you , short and to the point with great explanation.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@Iggynawcio I've had chinese elms that sometimes don't drop their leaves all winter. However if you have work to do on that tree you can pull the leaves off now since it should be dormant. It's called 'forced dormancy' you can repot, wire, prune and then the new set of leaves will pop in the Spring

[@paulorientetheluffaranch]

Very nice video. I trained a ficus benjamina indoors for years and leaf pruning was a way to make the leaves come back as teardrops. Found that my maples couldn't take more than 2 leaf prunings a year in southern CA. Keep posting the excellent instructionals!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks very much. Yes I agree that tropicals are much easier to reduce leaves because they pretty much always have their leaves. I don't normaly defoliate a deciduous more than once a year. Just so stressful for them

[@paulorientetheluffaranch]

Yes, I believe once a year on the decid. trees is better. And, the ficus are a little temperamental- if you change their lighting too much they'll tend to drop leaves.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@kikkerpootje Even big leaves can be reduced. Every so often remove a few leaves and let the new smaller ones come in. In time you'll have a tree with at least a medium sized leaf that will allow more sunlight to get in. Good luck

[@shahmohammadi74]

Thank you for all your great videos. would you be interested in making a video on how to use liquid fertilizer. I have seen your videos talking about it, but i couldnt even find a video on you tube that actually shows it. I water my bonsais by submerging and was wondering about fertilizing them. Thanx

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

In my early days of bonsai I submerged them but I found that top watering is just as good and easier on your back. Therefore watering with liquid fertilizer is just as easy as watering with the sprinkling can with the liquid ferilizer slightly diluted.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@tomdangerlloyd no you cannot treat blakc pines (or any pine) like this. You reduce the length of pine needles through a process of removing the candles in late summer. I haven't done a video on this yet, but if you search the internet on removing candle from black pines bonsai you will find all kinds of explainations

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@mw2ak47pro I have never heard of a rose bush being used as a bonsai, however there are dwarf versions of them. Generally we look for plants with woody trunks. Leaves can be reduced but flowers and fruits will always be full size.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Pines are very different. The process for reducing pine needles is called candeling. I haven't done a video on it yet, but if you search you'll find one

[@kalosbas]

hi great video first of all. my ginseng ficus bonsai has large leaves on most branches but i cant seem to find the nodes (secondary leave) on the start of the stem.visibly i found only one

[@rosebudbynicky]

Thank u I found that I understand what I'm doing more so I have a bouggy n I'm scared to purne it and now I understand more of what I'm trying to do but I'm not sure about the acualle branchs if I cut it all the way down to old growth is that bad or should I just cut 1/2 which would leave green growth still there but honestly the trees shape would look better cut back to 3/4 to old growth

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thats easy. The terminal bud is the newest leaf at the end of a branch. It will keep budding out new leaves from the end unless you pull it off. Just take the tips off of any branch that you don't want to grow any further and it will cause it to put out growth further down the branch

[@azeliaspank]

OrlandoBonsaiTV How would you go about propagating a black willow tree for bonsai? And when it was established, how would you care for it? I already know about fertilizing, and thanks to this video, pinching. Also wiring and all that.

[@gusvortech]

Hi Paul, Could you do a close up showing exactly what 'terminal bud' you are hand pruning?

[@mem521]

I have a Fukien Bonsai and i want to get the leaves smaller. ive just gotten it and at the moment i can put it in either full day sunlight but have kept it 3 and a half hour sunlight. Can the leaves shrink or will i have to resort to pruning some leaves or areas on the branch? Ive already pruned many of the big ones but was worried not to take all of them away and weaken the tree. so thank you for the video it has helped and hope to hear from you.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

you can use frost cloath if its not going to get too cold, but in the winter you can put them in a unheated garage to protect them. Just make sure they are not warmed up enough to bring them out of dormancy

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@mw2ak47pro As you begin leaf reduction you promote better secondary branches to form in smaller areas which means more leaves but smaller sizes. So leaf reduction will hold however from time to time you will get full sized leaves but just pinch them off. Also if you develope new branches your leaves will be larger, but when teh branch is the right size just do the process to get the leaves smaller. Larger pot will promote faster growth so the leave may revert back until you reduce them

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@Burneynator I'm glad you liked my video about reducing leaves. Hopefully more videos to come very soon!

[@firefury6090]

Hmmm , interesting, thank you, this explain alot why my secondary shoots came out faster after plucking the big fan leafs, but never reached a huge size like before.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@mem521 Take it slow with the Fukien Tea, as they can be "tempermental" If you do too much they will drop all their leaves. I would give it full sun as they like tropical temperatures. Get the tree to full health and growing before you start reducing leaves. You need to work to develop the shape and branches o fthe tree before you worry abou tthe leaf size. That is just a final detail that is done once the tree is close to being a finished bonsai

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I find that in the hotest months when teh tree slows dow is a really great to do this.

[@lota68]

Very good video!

[@tomdangerlloyd]

@OrlandoBonsaiTV thanks for the speedy reply pal, big help, to be fair I'm looking at vids now and think they could wait another year before i start. One more question, I have just bought some Japanese maple seeds and cant find any info on what to do with them, you look more in the know than most of the literature out there, any ideas?

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@BrandonAndBridgette Good luck! Let me know how it turns out. I would suggest that you remove a few leaves at a time with that type of tree. If you strip it completely you might not have the tree pop new leaves. They are a little different.

[@km09km08]

Hello, Last year i have put a oak nut in a pot. In the mean while it started growing. I keep inside on a cool place. Who long must it grow before i can start working on it. And what's the wright thing to do first?

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@rosebudbynicky I would reduce by half and in very short time the branch will push new grow at which time you'll you can reduce it back to work with on the shape that you desire

[@Graceless]

Thank you for the hose analogy ❤️

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@huerta12ify If you removed a leaf from a ficus, yes. The while milky liquid will stop after a short while

[@strikken00]

could you do a video about ficus care fertilizing.. and how to work the nebara on ficus trees?

[@CentralValleyOperator]

Great video just wondering if you keep doing the leaf reduction will the tree keep producing small leaves?

[@droidnutt1130]

I have a hornbeam I did a trunk chop and transplanted from the woods about 7 weeks ago and is doing beautifully, do I need to be doing any training pruning etc right now or let it grow till next spring? Has tons of back budding a new growth. Love your videos and thank you for doing them.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I would let the new growth harden up and get woody bark. if it gets up too much growth up top that it blocks the sunlight for the lower branches you may want to trim those, but otherwise I would just let it recover this year and work it in the early spring

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@snowmoon83 Go for it! I would only do it once this year so you can watch how long it takes for new leaves to fill in

[@duasnehil72]

Awesome videos! Thanks for sharing your expertise. I will watch all your other bonsai videos tonight. I am hoping to make a Mango bonsai. I have a week old sapling. Is it too soon to cut its top? It has 5 leaves. Any advise in this would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Snehil Dua Let it grow for a few months and really get established and producing food for the roots. You can clip the top later on this year

[@duasnehil72]

OrlandoBonsaiTV Thank you so much for the quick reply. I will wait for a few months then.

[@arkerim]

OrlandoBonsaiTV you are da real MVP xD thank you

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Aníbal Anthony Gomez Thank you, I really appreciate the positive feedback

[@dongcana4078]

thank you for sharing this info. what about in ficus, will this technique work?

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Dong Caña sure will. Good luck

[@snowmoon83]

@OrlandoBonsaiTV thanks, i did take the leaves off. one more question is it ok to make a grafted japanese maple to a bonsai?

[@chriseasty]

Hi i have had no luck with bonsai tree's till i watched your vids it was due to lack of water :( just 1 question my bonsai has a small trunk then bends over to the right then stops, then from the trunk there is 3 branch's all the growth is on 2 of the branch's to the left hand side and very little growth (leafs) to the right hand side the 3rd branch how do i get growth there ? thanks again

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@TheGreybelly I really appreciate the comments. I do these videos expecting really no one to watch them, but to get information out that I couldn't find when I started. Stuff like this is the basis for bonsai artist to undertsand so that they know how their trees will react to action we take to style a tree. So many people forget that this artform is half art and half horticulture. You can't do bonsai without both. So I still have along list of topics to cover so more videos to come.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@snowmoon83 no problem with a grafted Japanese Maple. As long as you can learn something from that tree it is worth doing. Good luck

[@paganpoetprophet6441]

any suggestions on fertilizer mixes ; i have compost 3 years old for my garden coffee grounds chicken manure ; and 3 years of clippings ; with earth worms added ; or do i just buy a store bought miracle grow ;also wondering if a southern magnolia tree would be good to bonsai ?

[@Kaijiro____93]

OrlandoBonsaiTV I got a similar Japanese Maple to what you have in the video, would it be ideal to place the pot in full sun from 8am to 6pm? Also got a Juniper Prostrata and another type thats scale like and Chinese Elm, would it also be ideal to place it in full sun?

[@2112design]

really interesting, thanks. i used to think that pruning the roots made the leaves smaller, i guess i was way off! so the trick about defoliating to force it to regrow smaller leaves next time, is that true of most trees? specifically a Banyan tree? i'm in the tropics so i can grow them here no problem. thx steve

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@Santaxe Sorry about not showing a close up. If you look at the end (tip) of a branch you'll see new leaves forming The furthest one if the terminal bud and if you don't remove it the branch will continue to grow from this exact point. By pulling off the tip leaf you stop the branch from getting longer

[@AshleyMarieMommy]

I very much needed to learn what you taught me today. Thank you so much! I don't just need to know what to do by why I'm doing it so I can better provide good care for my trees 🌲 🌳 I'll be checking for more of you videos. I love to learn. God has so much for us to learn. Jesus is the best teacher. I pray He guides you!

[@beheshtah.3091]

Very well explained. Thank you

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Yes I have a large ficus that I put into a bonsai pot last year that is in need of some serious help. I'll do a video on that one next

[@jaredschrock5270]

Do Trident Maple Bonsai Trees do wel in central FL weather? Also will it need shade or full sun?

[@21vision]

That's what I've been looking for!

[@krapart]

can I ask for your opinion/advice? I live near Chicago, and got a jaboticaba tree through a class last year. I defoliated earlier this year, and leaves came back on one side of the tree, but aren't growing much on other parts, although I do see buds. they just havent done anything for the past few weeks and I'm not sure what the deal is. the buds are not dying or drying out and falling off, but they're not growing either. the leaves that came in on one side Are starting to dry a little and turn yellow brown. do you think the tree is in danger or just being shy? :) thanks in advance! and thanks for the videos!!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

You need to look at your grow zones to determine what grwos well in your area. I believe it is zone 8 and 9 for most of Texas. Also look at what is native to your area. I've seen a Texas Ash done as a bonsai, but trees like maples, elms, cypress should do weel for you. Of course any tropical will love the heat but will need to be protected if it gets cold. The bonsai-bci website has a list of trees that can help you find what will grow for you

[@chalky2494]

Great video. Can I just ask how much you can do in one go to reduce leaf size on a maple? Also is there a particular time of year one should do this?

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

If you're asking how much of the tree can you do a one time then the answer is complete defoliation of the tree. In Florida I normally do it between June 15 and the Fourth of July. Back is the tree a few months to recover and grow new foliage to produce food to sprout again in the spring. This is a very stressful process for the tree so Apple recovery time is crucial

[@outsiderdf]

I just uprooted a little blue ash tree to shohin it. It's been in bonsai mix for about a month, and fertilized and doing great. I'd like to defoliate it in a month or so to reduce leaf size, since it is deciduous. Only problem is the leaves seem to be in leaflets of 3 or 5. Do I remove each leaf at the base or the whole leaflet at the base?

[@sharkfin154]

very usefull please keep them coming

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@roseannharris09 No, do prune a seedling. It needs strength to grow. Small leaves are only done to a finished bonsai, not one in development

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

@MARTINSWORKSHOP I appreciate the comment. Plenty more videos still to come.

[@snowmoon83]

Hi, i have a 3 year old japanese maple, is it safe to take the leaves off now in July?? and how many more times can i do it from now?? Thanks for time

[@nativenbk]

Any advice on an avocado bonsai mine is about 7 inches long right now I just moved into a bonsai pot that was really shallow so I had to cut some roots I really hope I didn't just kill my tree.

[@Andi_M.]

Exactly what i want to know!! THX a lot!!!

[@dddmmm21]

Great vid. Two questions if you dont mind: 1) can Azaleas be defoliated? 2) In Acers, can you partly defoliate more than once per year? Thanks a lot

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks very much. I would not defoliate an azalea for the purpose of size reduction. For the aser yes you can but allow a little time in between so the tree can store up some energy.

[@coolairaz]

Can you take an oak tree about 6 inch diameter and cut it near ground level, put rooting powder on it and plant it in a large bucket? Will it start rooting? Should the large limbs be cut back to 3-4 inch and maybe the main trunk 2 feet tall? Or should I just dig the tree up and try to save all the roots I can. Month is June in OK.

[@714JN]

i was at home depot and picked up a lemon cypress, is it doable? or should i just stop right now and pick up another tree?

[@Monscent]

@OrlandoBonsaiTV Thanks for the reply. As I live in Sweden that might be hard :) I got some help from a forum just now that probably will tide me over :) Reason I asked is that I found a quite nice alder shrub in a bush outside, that I'm gonna dig up one of these days.

[@Harrlond]

can you trim branches, leaves and defoliate indefinitely? Or will there come a time when you have removed so much material over the years that the tree can never recover? Say you trim all the unwanted growth on pads after every growing season, can you do this forever or will it eventually run out of places to make new buds?

[@dongayanamarasinghe4559]

This tree looks like Trident Maple. Do they grow in warm weather?

[@BeTheCREATOR]

Very helpful video.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

At the base of the leaf look for the second leaf which is ready to emerge when the leaf is removed. If you see one there then remove at that point

[@Iggynawcio]

I live in Texas and here the temperatures are crazy now. I have a elm and it doesn't seem to have reached dormancy. It still has all of its leaves. Is this normal? Temps right now are in the 70s