Partial defoliation of a Japanese Maple

Nebari Bonsai

In the early summer, as the first flush is hardening off, it is good to remove one of each pair of leaves, to let more light into the tree. This promotes back-budding, and keeps interior shoots from dying off.

Before:

Dense canopy:

After:

Less-dense canopy:
Carnage:

The trunk is beefing up, even after 12 years in a pot, with annual repotting.

Part of the charm of this cultivar, Chishio Improved, is the bright red new growth. Here is an area that was pruned back a month ago, and new growth is popping out brightly!