AusBonsai

I have a badly heat stressed Sapium - watering misfire that is now sorted.

The problem is that what leaves that remain have turned to their Autumn red and are falling off. There seem to be intact buds in the leaf axils and the stems are not shrivelled.

So far I have moved it from full sun and am now debating whether it is too close to Autumn to deliberately defoliate and get the dormant buds to leaf out. Should I just wait and see or get in and defoliate it? Any suggestions about a recovery process.

Thanks in advance.

I would leave it alone; an early autumn is ok. If it wants to leaf out it will on its own.

Grant

Just leave it the leaves will fall in a few weeks any way. To remove this late in the season just cause stress. It’ll be fine come Spring.
Cheers
Kirky