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Is a ficus religiosa suitable for shohin. If not, then what is the minimum size (approx) for this tree?
The leaves are really big on mine. It is one year old. I just don't know, how much these leaves can be reduced in size.

any bonsai can be a shohin, (15cm or smaller, i think) but making the leaves smaller is trickier because if you defoliate a deciduous tree, it will grow smaller leaves, but since ficus are evergreen trees, it might prove fatal to defoliate it, but i could be wrong as i haven't got a ficus.

You must not defoliate ficus, they are indeed not deciduous. As the plant you have is very young you have to grow it bigger before cutting back to get shape/ The size is not relevant, shohin will depend on the length of the trunk to the first branch, if this is too long then it will not make shohin.

Hi all,

Here in Australia we defoliate ficus every year in summer to reduce leave size and to create back budding on the branches.
This year I defoliated mine twice with no ill harm and good results.

Cheer Aubs

Ok, I stand corrected. I don't grow them so I was not sure.

I have found out, it is not good for shohin. It must be a medium, or large bonsai, due to its large leaves.

can you post a pic...if it is too young defoliating will only slow much needed growth. a lot of light and regular fertilizing will make it grow like cazy.

Leaf size can be reduced upto 2cm. Defoliation can help. The size of the leaves will be proportional to the size of the branches. Young cuttings root even in water..
If you chop a mature trunk keep it dry, make sure you water the roots only.. Otherwise the bark will rot and die.