Hi, I have a little sugar maple that I’m trying to train like a bonsai. A month ago about this time I defoliated it to to get it to put out a second flush. But it seems real slow to bud back out. It has a small bud trying to come out on top bud it’s real slow it started to swell last week.

Here is a photo.

Its that small but on top of the twig on the right. It had another one coming out lower down of the stump last week but I accidently knocked it off. What should I do to get it to leaf back out? Also if it doesn’t releaf before winter will it survive like that until next spring? Thanks.