Bonsai tree farewell are n’t recognize to be particularly large , particularly when liken to other houseplants . However , if you favour to keep the leaves on the smaller side , there are room to do it . We have research the good way to keep the foliage humble , and in this post , we will go over them .
Here are a duad of techniques that you’re able to use to keep your bonsai leaves small :
Method 1 . send the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree under bright lighting . Method 2 . Defoliate the bonsai during the spring .

You may be surprised to have sex that bonsai tree leaves can make grow into even low leaf with the proper maintenance programme . Keep in mind that ab initio , it will take a very diligent effort to ensure that the leaves persist modest . keep reading to learn about the different method acting you could utilize to limit the size of your bonsai tree diagram leaves as well as its overall summit .
Two Methods to Keep Your Bonsai Tree Leaves Small
First , get laid that it helps to take a bonsai tree variety that has small leaves already . Not all bonsai trees will have large leaves , and some will even have very okay leaves and stem , which can make your job even easier if you ’re appear to downplay them .
1. Place the tree under bright lighting
standardised to other case of plants , bonsai trees require light to uprise . However , if the plant has insufficient lighting , the leaves will become tumid to get more wanton . For example , you may discover that your tree diagram will become leggier if you expose it to crushed light conditions for a week or more . So , to grow smaller leaves , it ’s best to give the plant more calorie-free .
To do this , place your bonsai under lineal illumination or any natural light source for several time of day throughout the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . When this happens , the bonsai will naturally conserve resources , which means that it wo n’t expand its leaves when display to additionallight .
Do this for a few weeks , and you ’ll notice that your bonsai tree will not only have modest leaf , but they ’ll grow and very compact clump .

If you have trouble accessing natural light in your menage , weigh purchasing a lamp or growing light . When prefer a growing light , note the electric power and check that that it is worthy enough to fend for the size of your bonsai tree . The typical bonsai tree can take a lightbulb of about 30 to 60 watts .
Check out this indoor growing light on Amazon .
2. Defoliate the bonsai during the spring
If your bonsai tree loses its leaves regularly , it ’s best to defoliate the tree during the spring . This will help you get a small leaf growth , and it ’ll also decrease the size of the branch and stems .
Before pick out this method acting , it ’s good to confirm that your specific bonsai salmagundi can hold up the defoliation outgrowth . Defoliation involve absent the leaves from the plant so that it can recover and get new leaves .
That being stated , some bonsai tree diagram do not take well to this appendage and may suffer fromplant shock . And turn , the plant may not be able to convalesce and may snuff it . When using this method , be certain not to remove more than a third of the plant ’s leaves , as it could induce the industrial plant to accrue into a state of matter of ill wellness .

How do you stop bonsai trees from growing taller?
Every bonsai tree will have its gadget characteristic and individual pauperization . But if you want to keep your bonsai tree on the shorter side , there are ways that you may preclude it from grow taller . It all comes down to three thing : lighting , pruning , and potting . We ’ve talk about light . Now let ’s hash out the effect of pruning and re - potting .
Pruning the tree
Pruning your bonsai tree will help keep it short , and it ’ll also encourage the leafage to raise denser than before . If you want to produce a miniature canopy essence , a combining of care and structural pruning can make it materialize .
Maintenance pruning your bonsai involves trimming off small branches and sticks to maintain the particular shape of the tree diagram . For the most part , the Modern increment on the tree will rivet near the top of the bonsai . So when you reduce these pieces , it forces the tree to bring on denser and smaller parting and branch near the base .
However , it is advisable to use branch or sprig cut shear on your tree as they are tender to the pruning process . you’re able to also pinch the bonsai at the stem with your finger rather of using shears on the whole .
When it come to bonsai trees , this method is preferred by many arborists . The right time to bring down your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is anywhere from the early spring to the previous dip , as this is when the tree diagram mature the most .
retrieve these plant shear on Amazon .
geomorphologic pruning regard cutting off any thick leg on the tree . It ’s this type of cutting that will help guide the overall shape of the tree over time . Every bonsai tree is unlike , but it ’s best to do it right after or right before the tree ’s growing time of year when it comes to geomorphological pruning .

Here are a few tips to commend when performing a morphologic trim on your bonsai plant . Note that structural pruning can be very stressful on the bonsai , and you do n’t want to have it to go into a commonwealth of stress while trying to vary its size of it .
Potting the bonsai
Potting and stem care are essential portion of keeping a bonsai tree small . Essentially , the roots are the locomotive engine of the tree . Just like any other tree , the solution are the most important part of a bonsai tree . The more nutrients they can take in , the quicker they will grow .
observe the plant potbound is best to limit its development . strategical cutting and potting will help you restrict the plant ’s growing and circumscribe the nutrient and water that it receives .
Here ’s how to pot your bonsai Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to keep it humble . ( Note : Also , if your tree needs defoliation , it ’s best to do this a duad of weeks in front of re - potting the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . )

Where do you cut bonsai leaves?
It depends on the type of cut that you ’re doing . For example , if you ’re doing a general sustentation cut , then you ’ll only cut back the twig so that they have 3 - 4 nodes . A lymph node is a joint that the tree ’s leaves turn out of .
So , if your tree ’s offshoot have 6 - 8 leaf node , cut the branch down so that they only have 3 or 4 stay . Not only will this advance newfangled growth , but it ’ll also keep the bonsai from grow too declamatory .
However , if you ’re doing a structural cold shoulder to shape the tree , you ’ll desire to thin out the canopy and crown of the plant life . This will allow sunlight to filter through the top of the canopy to achieve the lower branches . And it ’ll keep the canopy from becoming too large to where it overshadow the bottom component of a tree .
Should you remove dead leaves from your bonsai?
Yes , beat leaf can take up vigor and enfeeble your plant . It ’s always best to prune them off when pruning the plant or after spotting them randomly .
How do you reduce the leaf size of a bonsai tree?
The easy way to boil down the foliage sizing of the tree diagram is to expose it to direct light day by day , keep it rootbound , and strategically prune it by removing tumid branches and leaves .
Wrapping Things Up
We desire this post has helped illustrate how to keep bonsai tree leaves little . As you’re able to see , relieve oneself the leaves smaller come down to establishing a strategic criminal maintenance plan that admit lighting change and sustenance .
Before you go , be sure to check out some of our other posts :
What ’s The Best Pot For Bonsai Trees ? [ Inc. 11 Perfect Examples ]

How Fast Do Bonsai Trees develop ?