All about wring a Bonsai
Detailed articles & video are available on following sites, kindly refer them.
• http://www.absbonsai.org/articles/wiring/wiring2.html
• http://www.bonsai4me.com
• http://www.artofbonsai.org
• http://www.youtube.com
Clipping vs Wiring Method
Bonsai can be made using clipping method, where you cut the unwanted branches & wait for new branch to appear at the desired position. This method take years to achieve the desired results and very few people practice it. You can get quick result by wiring the branches to the new desired position. Wiring a Bonsai is easy, but few points needs to be kept in mind before you wire the plant.
Copper vs. Aluminum wire
Ideally one should go for copper wire (annealed i.e. softened by controlled heating process), but Aluminum wire gives similar result & works out a lot cheaper than Copper wire. You get plain Aluminum wire & threaded Aluminum wire, I suggest you go for later one which is stronger.
Selection of wire Gauge
You get wire from 1 mm thickness to 8 mm or more thickness. It is advised to have 4 different gauges of wire ideally of 2, 4, 6, 8 mm thickness, to wire thicker or slender branches.
Selecting the proper wire gauge for wiring Bonsai
Take wire & hold it at 2 inch distance from the open end. Now try to bend the branch that needs to be wired with the open end by applying slight pressure.
- If the branch bends, you have proper gauge.
- If branch bends, repeat the same exercise with one size smaller wire.
- If the branch does not bend, try thicker gauge.
Selecting the proper wire length for wiring Bonsai
You will need 1.5 times the length of Trunk or Branch that needs to be wired because;
- Wire will be required for anchoring
- You wire at 45 degree angle & not in a straight or circular line
- If the length of the wire falls short, you will have to as such rewire
Wire Angle
Always wire at 45 degree angle to maximize the strength of wire.
- Close Wiring or wiring at lesser angle can block the flow of liquid in cambium/sap and kill the branch or tree
- Wiring at higher angle will defeat the purpose of wiring, as it cannot be shaped properly.
Preparation before you wire the Tree.
- Defoliate, so that you see the movement of Trunk/Branches clearly & also a clean trunk/tree is much easier to wire than one with leaves.
- Think of the style & shape of the tree & if possible draw it on paper. Sleep on your design overnight and make the changes if required. Once concluded, start to wire.
- Mark the branches/Trunk which need to be wired.
- Mark the areas from where the Branch/Trunk will have to bend
- Massage the Branches to make is easier to bend with help of thumb & forefinger, remember, if you cannot bend it, the wiring cannot.
Anchoring
Remember, if you do not anchor the wire, Branch/Trunk cannot be shaped, no matter how good you wiring is.
- Anchor in Ground
- Anchor on Trunk
- Anchor on Branch, when wiring a single branch
- Anchor on Opposite branches when wiring 2 branches
- Anchoring around the trunk when wiring a Fork branch
Wiring Sequence
Post wiring the plant should not look clumsy, but post wiring the tree should look more beautiful. So,
- Wire the Trunk first
- Than go on to Wire the Primary Branches
- Wire the secondary Branches & so on.
- Wire the lowest branches first & than the second lowest branch
When to wire?
Technically you can wire a Tree throughout the year, but if possible try to avoid it during growing season when new buds appear. For deciduous varieties, the ideal time to wire is during the lean season, when trees shed all their leaves.
- Avoid wiring it Spring & Monsoon when new bud appear.
When to remove wire?
- If wired during lean period, wire can be left for up to 6 months
- If wired during growing season, it will have to removed within 8 weeks
- Keep looking at the tree, if you think the wire is eating into the bark, then it is time to remove.
Important:
- Some people keep wire for longer period of time to make the tree look old
- Keeping wire for longer period of time will result in fattening at the base
Wiring Rules:
- Wire entry from Top, will aid in bending the branch down
- Wire entry from Bottom, will aid in lifting the branch up
- Wiring in clockwise (right branch) will aid in bring branch forward
- Wiring in anti-clockwise (right branch) will aid in pushing branch backward
- Remember strength of 2 smaller gauge wire is more than 1 wire with equal gauge
Bending post wiring
A professional will bend the branch, as he wires it, but you can bend once the wiring is complete. Remember to bend the branch, trunk as per the above rules. Bending against the rules can result in dead branch or even tree.
Remember you can bend a branch not more than 2/3 times, lesser the better. So think before you bend a branch, as you have limited trials. If you are not convinced in 2 or 3rd time, than remover the wire, let the branch heal for 2/3 months & than try again.
Stapling method:
Instead of wiring, you can bring two branches close to each other using stabling method. This method works well in case of twigs & roots only.
Raffia method:
When you have to wire stiff branch, than extra care need to be taken or else when you bend it, chances are it will break into 2 pieces. For the same you can take wet raffia or Coconut rope, and wind it closely on the section that needs to be wired. Alternatively you can use black take used for electrical insulation instead too. Than and than use higher gauge wire & wrap it on the raffia tape. Than bend the branch in desired position, in phased manner.
Air wiring method:
When wiring young branch you can use this method. Instead of wiring it close to bark or skin of the branch, you can wire it with loose hand, such that there is distance between wire & skin, allowing the young branch to grow & fatten.
Unwiring:
Unwiring is more difficult than wiring because, leaves would have grown in place. The best way to remove wire is to cut is using Bonsai wire cutter & remove it. Unwiring, with intention to reuse the wire has couple of disadvantages
- Annealed copped wire cannot be reused
- You will break leaves, twigs, even branch in process
- The branch shape may change because of excess pressure
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