Page 110 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

110 Creating your own bonsai

How to wire the trunk Wiring explained

Angling the
wire helps Wiring is the bonsai artist’s paintbrush: it allows you
to set the
right pitch
to manipulate the trunk, branches, and foliage at will.
The wire brace must be safe, effective, and ideally
1 Use suitably thick wire. Push one unobtrusive so that you can bend a branch without it
end deep into the soil as close to the
trunk as possible. Avoid damaging snapping and hold it in the new position until it sets.
the nebari or subsurface roots.

Getting started
Always consider which direction the branch is
going to be bent, and where the bend will be. The
wire must always be on the outside of the curve
so that it acts as a brace against snapping. Here,
the branch is to bend downward from the base.
2 Bend the wire around the trunk, Branch
starting from the base. Make sure it shoulder Branch
crotch
is in contact with the trunk; don’t
leave any gaps or straight sections.

CORRECT INCORRECT LINKING BRANCHES
Work from the center If on a downward bend It is always preferable
of the wire out, and the wire starts at the to wire two branches
start on the branch branch crotch, when with a single length
shoulder. Make sure bending is attempted of wire—here, they are
the wire sits close to the the wire will act as a separated by a section
3 Continue the wire up the trunk. trunk without any gaps. pivot and encourage the of trunk that also
Check that the coils are evenly When the branch tries branch to break: there acts as an anchor. Both
spaced and angled consistently to return to its original is nothing to keep the of these branches can
at a 45° to 55° angle. position after bending, top part of the branch be lowered because the
the wire will be in the from tearing away from wires on each one go
way, holding it in place. the trunk or snapping. over the shoulder.

Which kind of wire?
Two types are used: annealed As a general rule use copper for
copper, and anodized aluminum conifers: the wires may stay on the
wire (see p.39). The key difference tree up to three years, depending
is the holding strength offered on growth. Wire brittle deciduous
4 For extra strength when making
severe bends, add a second wire. On against the diameter of the wire— trees and azaleas with aluminum:
conifers, place wires next to each a 2mm copper wire offers roughly their bark is more easily damaged
other and keep together up the tree. the same ability to bend and hold and generally the wires will need
as a 4mm aluminum wire. removing within a few months.