Shorten long shoots:
Regular pruning of new shoots is one of the minimum requirements of bonsai care. Shortening the shoots keeps the plant small and usually several buds sprout on the remaining shoots. This keeps the bonsai compact and allows it to develop good branching.
The earlier the better:
New shoots develop on conifers in spring. These light green and soft shoots can now be shortened very easily by pinching them off. However, you should not wait too long to do this, as the shoot hardens quickly and can then only be cut with scissors.
Time:
The best time to prune the leaves depends on the type of plant. At the latest when the new shoots have fully developed and the outer leaves allow no or too little light into the crown, the time has come for leaf pruning.
Procedure:
Ideally, the leaves are folded in the centre and cut diagonally. The halved leaf still has an oval shape and the overall appearance is hardly affected. If the leaves are very large, more than half of the leaf blade can be removed. Small leaves are not cut.
Prune as required:
The upper part of the tree crown usually grows more than the lower part. Accordingly, pruning at the top is also more severe. The same applies to the leaves. Very large leaves often develop at the top. Leaves in the lower branches often do not need to be pruned as there is no longer any foliage below them.
