I have got many questions why we have to cut the leaves on Arabicums. Here below are the benefit from my experiences:1. Protecting the diseases mostly come from insects but not get over with them. If you like to get rid of insects you can use the insecticide chemical.
2. Help maintaining the better form especially with the branches. The reason is that more leaves, the branches will bend down and look not so good.
3. Help making more joints coming up, not lengthy. The reason is that branches will recieve more sunlight and make branches stronger which you can notice that branch color will change from green to brown.
4. You can see the plant very clear with every angle clearly so we can maintain the form as direction we decide easier.
5. Good for moving plant to new pot because this will help root decrease pulling the water from media which also helps root spread and recover faster.
6. This can help stopping the longest branch growing and make the side or rest branches growing faster until they are in good form balance.
Cutting leaves also have disadvantage too..
1. You can face the rotten from cutting if you use dirty knife or scissor so you should clean them up first before cutting. It could be risky if you do it during rainy season.
2. Top Branch might get "Sun Burn" if you made a mistake on cutting young branch instead of leave during heavy sunlight. This can make more new unwanted branches coming up and make plant form lose.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) From Arabicum Lovers:
1. How often has we cut leaves?
- I will cut the leaves when 5th-8th leaves not fall from the top. Normally leaves will fall by natural but if plants grow very healthy and strong leaves won't fall but might make branch bend down.
2. How deep can we cut?
- It depends on your consideration. You should let the young leaves grow and cut the mature leave instead. Young leave is too short and easier mistaken if you accidentally cut to branch instead which might make branch get rotten.
3. Should we move them to the shade after cutting leaves?
- No, please leave them with the sunlight because sunlight can help leaves dry faster but if raining you can move them to the shade and take them out when sunlight comes up again.
4. Can we watering as usual?
- yes. No problem. It will be better if you are more careful not to watering to cut leaves.
5. Should we smear with the Red lime?
- No need. Normally we use red lime for cutting branch for grafting case.
