Defoliation is a great tool we have available when working with deciduous bonsai. It is the process of leaf removal and as I show, this can be partial, complete removal or just area specific depending on your objectives. Care needs to be taken though to not just automatically defoliate year after year as it can be quite stressful for your bonsai. You need to understand the strength and development phase of your bonsai before undertaking this process. I undertake this process when nearing the end of Spring and before heading into Summer.
When defoliating, it is also a perfect time to assess the structure of your bonsai and make improvements as you are working.
2:06 Japanese Maple Partial (50%) Defoliation
7:22 Trident Maple Defoliation
9:50 Trident Maple Root Over Rock Defoliation
12:45 Trident Maple Area Specific Partial Defoliation
15:54 Wrap Up review
