How to Keep Bonsai Tree Leaves Small

Proper defoliating and good sunlight will help Bonsai gardeners keep their trees' leaves small.

Bonsai artists like to grow different styles of plants, cultivating the leaves to a small, compact size. The growers should know the basics of the art of bonsai before trying to prune their trees' leaves, though. They should also realize that certain types of trees work better than others. It's important to remember the proportionality of the leaf size to the type of tree. Trees with rounded leaves work best.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp pruning shears

Instructions

1. Decide on a tree. Chinese elms and, especially, trident maples are good choices, according to Pauline Muth, the president of the American Bonsai Society. She recommends them because they are easy to grow and are a good, sturdy plant. The tree should be reasonably established in growth and not too young.

2. Put your bonsai tree in full sunlight. The process of photosynthesis, which converts the sun's energy to chemical components and bonds it with sugar, is vital to the health of the tree. It helps drive important ingredients, like micro-nutrients and fertilizer, throughout the plant.

3. Defoliate the leaves with shears, then let them grow to a small size. Position the shears so that the instrument's blades are parallel to the stem. Put the cutting edge close to the petiole, right below the base of the leaf.

4. Cut the leaf cleanly so you minimize damage to the plant. In time, a new leaf will sprout from this cut. Generally speaking, a good time to defoliate is in the late spring, once the leaves have grown out. Gardeners should then periodically prune the leaves to keep the leaf growth in check.

Tips & Warnings

• A reasonably established tree that isn't too young makes a good plant to start with.

• Temperatures vary from region to region, but it's a good idea to prune the leaves in late spring when the leaf is fully developed.

• Use sharp shears and sterilize them in alcohol.

• Consider the region's temperature, atmosphere and sunlight saturation level when picking a tree.

• A good, general ratio of fertilizer is 18-6-12.

• Artists should avoid pine trees and those with needles.

• Growers should never burn the tree from the effects of too much sunlight.

References

• Pauline Muth, President of American Bonsai Society, West Charlton, NY
• Process of photosynthesis
• Penn State University: Leaf structure, petiole
• Puget Sound Bonsai Association

Resources

• Bonsai Societies of Florida