Bonsai are not dwarf plants, but it is a form of culture. Regular pruning of a bonsai is the main reason it stays small. In fact, without pruning the new shoots, the plant would want to grow as tall as its counterparts in the wild.
Since a plant feeds itself through its leaves, it is usually allowed to sprout vigorously at first. The growth with many new leaves strengthens the plant and it can form new roots accordingly. This in turn is the prerequisite for further shaping measures.
When sufficiently long and slightly woody shoots have formed, you can cut back. For dense branching and branches with lots of movement, leave only one or two new leaves.
Pruning immediately causes new shoots to form on most deciduous trees. "Dormant" buds hide in the leaf axils and are stimulated to sprout by pruning. This leads to the desired dense branching.
The last leaf on the shoot decides in which direction the new shoots will develop. For example, if the leaf points to the left, the bud will also be on the left side. Accordingly, the new shoot will grow to the left. So here you can influence the direction of growth of the plant without any wire at all.
When pruning, you should also pay attention to the shape of the crown. Basically, it should taper towards the top. Accordingly, leave the lower shoots longer and cut the shoots at the top a little shorter. This is important so that the lower branches are not overgrown by the stronger top shoots and die due to lack of light.
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