I have read that defoliation is safest when a tree is actively growing, perhaps in spring/summer. But in the interest of short internodes, it seems that defoliation during a slow growing phase would be beneficial.
Does anyone have any experience they can share?
I have a ficus that I have just wired up, but not defoliated because I wasn't sure if it was a good time. However if I was wrong, I would love to go ahead and do it and see the branch silhouette that I made ( and see if its nice or an eyesore ) and get a headstart on some ramification
Ficus have to be in a very happy, healthy, stress-free state before being defoliated. Having just wired it, your ficus is recovering from some stress. I would wait until spring, once it is growing strong again.
If you defoliate your ficus while it is stressed, it may not recover, or it may not grow all its leaves back or may even lose entire branches.
Jerry Meislik has a lot of information specifically on ficus. Here is an article regarding defoliating:
https://www.bonsaihunk.us/ficusforum/Defoliatingfigs.html
Hope this helps.
If you defoliate your ficus while it is stressed, it may not recover, or it may not grow all its leaves back or may even lose entire branches.
Jerry Meislik has a lot of information specifically on ficus. Here is an article regarding defoliating:
https://www.bonsaihunk.us/ficusforum/Defoliatingfigs.html
Hope this helps.