GardenBanter.co.uk - [IBC] Fwd: [IBC] Leaf cutting

--- Kitsune Miko wrote:
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 18:52:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kitsune Miko
Subject: [IBC] Leaf cutting
To: Alan Walker

As I understand it, it weakens the tree less if
there
is a feeding mechanism left in place. Also the
resulting leafes might be even smaller as they don't
have to shoot out and feed the whole plant.

I recently defoilated and repotted some shohin
trident
maples. The resulting leaf size was almost if not
the
same size as the ones I cut off.

Kitsune Miko

--- Alan Walker wrote:
Jim: My understanding of the benefit of only
cutting
part of the
leaf was simply to prevent damage to the axillary
buds under the
petioles.

Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Lewis

I'd like to know the benefits of cutting the
leaves in the
summer.

There are two:

1. Reducing leaf size (a goal only on a
ready-to-show bonsai
since leaf size doesn't matter a whit to a tree in
training, and
2. More importantly, as a means of improving the
ramification
(twigginess) of the branches. This is why you
would
leaf prune a
tree in training.

A couple books I have recommend either taking the
leaves off all
together in late July or cutting them in half or
cutting two
thirds of each leaf off.

Others' findings may differ, but I have never
found
any benefit
in partially snipping leaves.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL

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Usually, people who refuse to see who we are don't know who they are. Forgive them.

Anne Wilson Schaef

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++