I would like to add that growing long sacrifice branches and defoliation are
generally done for very different reasons. The long branches increase the
size of branches and trunk below them, but have very little use in the
finished bonsai and are almost always removed two nodes or less (less being
most common). Defoliation is designed to promote the development of more
fine branches on a tree that already has its basic structure and the
branches are approximately the correct size.

It is possible and reasonable to have a small number of sacrifice branches
on a tree that is being defoliated. These are generally not defoliated
since defoliation defeats the purpose of allowing the sacrifice branch to
grow wild. However, this is generally a very carefully defined strategy on
a reasonably well developed tree - "this bit here needs to be a bit
thicker".

Marty

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++