Will bending strong shoots down so that the growth tips are below the level of the area where you want backbudding help back budding? I think Eric Sharder mentioned something like this but I can't find it. It's about auxin distribution apparently.
general back budding question
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Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Yes. It isn't the presence of auxin that creates this, it is the absence of auxin. The presence of auxin stimulates root generation - the absence stimulates bud generation.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Some species respond well to bending shoots down and produce back buds but others don't seem to care at all. Try it out by all means but be prepared to take more drastic action if you don't get the results you want.
eugenev2
Shohin
Out of interest sake, which species has this worked for in your experience?
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
Is it a mugo?
Yes.
It may seem like too much work for a mugo, but I actually only removed 50% of the foliage. It is vigorous, the buds are now getting longer like it would like to grow again.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Why do you not just clip off 80% of each branch?
I already removed 50% + repoted, + it is mugo.
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Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Many Eucalyptus sp back bud when a branch goes below horizontal. On the downside the part of the branch below horizontal usually dies back too.
Melaleucas also back bud when branches are lowered but most of them also bud prolifically when pruned too.
Ficus can back bud on lowered branches.
Chinese elms also back bud better when parts are below horizontal. That can make it difficult to maintain cascade or semi-cascade elms.
There's probably others that I can't think of at the moment.
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