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Wiring Bonsai

Although some people view wiring as a form of torture, this act is actually necessary to enhance the bonsai plant’s shape and design. The process may seem barbaric, but once the desired “appearance” is achieved, wiring bonsai will not seem as cruel as people think it to be.

When wiring bonsai, it is advisable to try imitating the natural shape of plants. That is why you should only attempt wiring those branches that are not likely going to break when applied with pressure. Wiring bonsai works to bend the wood or branch. In doing so, you put stress on the plant’s cells. Thus, it is entirely pointless to wire a plant that is unhealthy or one that is not strong enough to withstand such stress.

Wiring bonsai is wrapping a wire around the branch or trunk in order to bend it into the desired shape or position. The wire will stay wrapped until the particular shape has set. This could mean a couple of days for new foliage, or as long as one year for larger subjects.

Wiring bonsai is mostly done in the middle or late summer, when the plant is actively growing and shapes set in quicker. During wiring, take note that the wire will not press too hard on the truck or branch hard enough to cause it to scar.

There are a lot of important things to consider when wiring bonsai. For one, try not to start bending near the trunk, otherwise the branch will likely break. Also, if you’re wiring branches that have foliage, avoid wrapping the wire around the foliage as well as this will cause damage to the leaves and is a potential cause for infection.

The most common wire which can be bought from bonsai suppliers is aluminum. This particular wire is likewise available in two kinds: plain or silver, and anodised or one with brown coating. The anodised may be less obvious than the other but the plain kind allows you to see clearly how the wiring is carried out. That is, whether it is properly wrapped around the branch or is biting hard into it. When the wire has done its job, it is ideal that you cut it off from the branch rather than try to unwind or unwrap it.

Wiring bonsai is a commonly misunderstood technique. But if you want to let your bonsai tree achieve a style of its own, wiring is one of the best methods to do it.