Bonsai leaf reduction.
Just how much will leaves reduce in bonsai soil and a bonsai pot?
These are both cuttings from Mary that I was given at my first Badger Bonsai meeting.
Once rooted the cuttings on the left were planted in a 6” deep pot with potting soil, the plant on the right was potted in bonsai soil with a 2” deep bonsai soil. A significant reduction of leaf size can be seen and the plant on the right has many of the top sections with even smaller leaves. Also of note is the woody stock and longer internode length on the plant grown in soil.
Lesson: if you want a thicker trunk, grow in dirt. Smaller leaves and smaller internodes switch to bonsai soil, a shallow pot with crowded roots.