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How to Wire a Bonsai

The technique of wrapping copper or aluminum wire around the branches or trunk of a bonsai tree to shape it is called wiring. In order to create basic bonsai styles, you must wrap the trunk and branches with the proper thickness and length of wire. The formal upright style requires no wrapping, but the cascade shape involves many months of considerable training.

You must be very cautious when you are applying wire to the trunk or branches of a bonsai tree due to the stress it causes. Improper technique could easily lead to broken branches or even worse, a damaged trunk that causes the tree to perish. You can also wrap it too forcefully or even at the wrong time of year. This can cause lasting damage to the tree, or might even kill it outright.

You ought to give yourself some wiring practice sessions using something like a plain wooden pole before actually working on your bonsai. This will assist you in getting a feel for the wire and will help you develop the dexterity necessary to wrap a branch while holding it. As soon as you are at ease hanging on to the branch one-handed while wrapping with your other hand, not pulling or bending anything expect the wrapped section, you can then move ahead to the bonsai tree.

The first thing that you have to do is choose which wire will work best. Copper and aluminum are the two favorite alternatives, although copper is thought to be more attractive during the extended training period. When wrapping a bonsai, use annealed copper only, as steel wire is toxic to a few species. Novices find it easier to use aluminum since it isn’t as difficult to bend. Copper wiring tends to be a bit stiffer, however it can also scar the bonsai if you don’t apply it with care. Using wire that is one third as thick as the branch it’s going to wrap is a basic rule with which to begin.

Strategically placed little stresses along the tree trunk or branch are what permits the wire to change the shape of the tree. So, in order for the tree to change its shape and not the wire, the wire needs to be more powerful than the branch or trunk.

To develop the dexterity needed to wire a bonsai tree you should practice wrapping on a tree branch of similar species. Try out various thicknesses on tree branches from the same species prior to using them on the bonsai tree that you’re training. For doing the full tree a number of different thicknesses will be needed and you should practice using each and every of them.

Wiring a bonsai is a skill that requires a lot of patience in order to master. Do not be discouraged, though, because if you’re willing to take the time you can learn how to do this, and you’ll be so pleased with the results.

September 22 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »

What Should A Beginner In Bonsai Get First?

It is kind of funny to me that when I mention the word bonsai to some people, the first thing they ask is if I mean the little tree that Mr. Miyagi had in the movie ‘Karate Kid.’ Yes indeed, Miyagi was fond of his bonsai tree, even teaching the art to Daniel-son. Well, I’m not here to talk about Karate Kid today, but rather what you should do if you are thinking about taking up a bonsai hobby.

The main thing you should know first is that some bonsai trees are better for novices and some are suited for experts. If you are starting out, consider a tree that is more tolerant of your mistakes. And there will be mistakes. I understand this narrows down the selection some, but it’s very smart to take on only what you can handle.

Today, I will specifically talk about the ficus bonsai because it is especially well suited to beginners because of the reasons I stated previously. Although ficus only grow in humid or temperate areas, which most of the United States is not, they can still thrive indoors no matter where you give them a home. It’s no task to find one, but just be sure that whoever you buy it from has raised it well.

Ficus bonsai really attracted me because they are known to do very well for beginners who are still figuring things out. As an example, they are more forgiving when you are trying to come up with set watering times; they won’t dry out and die immediately.

It’s easy to let the roots sit in too much water, but if you do this they will rot. Thankfully, ficus won’t just wither away after a few watering errors. They will allow you to get into your groove. You’ll love this about ficus after you realize that it’s more difficult than you thought to care for it.

Neither should you fear unnecessarily if you have made a mistake as you were cutting some growth off. If you are giving it what it needs in the way of water and sunlight, your tree should grow back pretty fast and cover your mistake. The mistakes will come often in those early months, so be glad it grows back.

Finally, a ficus won’t die if you choose to put it in a spot that doesn’t get the kind of light it should. Obviously you should try as hard as you can to put it in the right spot, but it should learn to live with what you give it. My recommendation is to give it the light it wants, but it’s not a life changer if you can’t.

I personally think any person that buys a ficus bonsai will quickly turn into to a lover and an advocate of them. Just make sure to give it its share of h2o, lots of good sunlight, and don’t it over grow, and it will thank you with good growth.

August 01 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »