Bonsai Tree Wiring: The Basics
Wrapping copper or aluminum wires around the trunk and branches of bonsai trees so as to give them the desired profile is called wiring. The basic bonsai style can be created by wrapping the trunk and branches of the tree with wire of the correct length and thickness. The formal upright style requires no wrapping, but the cascade shape involves several months of fastidious wiring.
Wiring puts stress on the tree's trunk and branches. Because of this stress, you need to be very cautious and patient so as not to damage the tree. Incorrect technique could easily result in broken branches or, even worse, a damaged trunk that causes the tree to perish. You could also wrap it too forcefully or in some cases at the wrong time of year. This can contribute to long-term injury to the tree, or may even kill it outright.
Before you tackle your actual tree, practice with a basic wooden pole or small tree branch. This will help you in getting used to the wire while developing the agility to hang on to the branch and simultaneously wrap. Once you are convinced that you can hold the branch with one hand and wrap it with the other, without bending or pulling at anything except the wrapped portion, you can begin working on your bonsai tree.
Step one is picking the most suitable wire for the task. Copper and aluminum are the two favorite alternatives, although copper is thought to be more attractive throughout the extended training period. When wrapping a bonsai, do not ever use steel, only annealed copper wire because of possible toxicity to certain species of bonsai. It's easier for novices to apply aluminum since it's less rigid. Though copper is stiffer, it may disfigure the tree if it is not applied correctly. As a rule, select wire that's 1/3 of the branch's thickness.
To guide a tree into the desired shape, wire is wrapped around the branches and trunk in such a way as to place pressure on the particular places to be reshaped. So, to avoid a situation where only the wire bends, rather than the tree, the wire needs to be of a stiffer quality than the tree.
Try wrapping branches from comparable trees to improve your expertise and dexterity. You should try out different wires on your practice branch to see the results before proceeding to the actual tree that you want to train. For doing the full tree a number of different thicknesses will be required and you ought to practice using each and every of them.
To master the delicate skill of bonsai wiring, patience is required. With practice, this is quite realistic, and well worth the time invested.
The cultivation of indoor bonsai trees has been an eastern tradition for centuries, and is now enjoying increasing popularity in western society as well. Visit the Indoor Bonsai Tree site for the information you need to choose a plant and watch it flourish.
