Defoliate your red maple bonsai like this for outstanding ornamental value

Defoliation method

Defoliation

For red maples, whether large trees or small and medium-sized potted plants, it is generally best to defoliate before the optimal autumn viewing period arrives. Defoliating large trees is very inconvenient, so today we will share the method and process for removing the leaves of potted red maples. Around early August each year, you can remove all the leaves from the red maple plant. If you do not mind the extra trouble during the operation, you can remove the leaf stalks together as well. If you have the time and energy, this treatment is recommended.

Pruning

While removing the leaves from the branches, you can conveniently clean up some old, weak, diseased and dead branches at the same time, giving your red maple a thorough clearing out. This not only makes it more beautiful to view in autumn, but also reduces a lot of work for winter pruning.

Care

About three days after completing all the defoliation operations, some new leaf buds will gradually sprout. At this time, the most important thing is for flower growers to promptly supplement the plant with some nutrients and fertilizer, preferably compound fertilizer, as this will help the leaves sprout more abundantly and grow faster.

Time for leaf sprouting

The three days mentioned earlier refers to the sprouting of buds when the leaf stalks have been removed. When the leaf stalks have not been removed, the buds sprout in about ten days. At first they may be slower and smaller, but after a while they naturally return to normal speed.

From complete removal to complete sprouting takes only three to four weeks. By then almost all the leaves will have unfurled, and they will still be a fiery red color, very beautiful and spectacular.