Page 46 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

46 Bonsai basics

Occasional tasks

The secret of success with bonsai is to do a little work often and

cultivate your trees on an “as and when” basis—after all, nature does
not stick to a rigid schedule. Fit these tasks in when they need doing:
some can be left longer than others, but always keep them in mind.

Housekeeping and cleaning ∙Sterilize tools regularly and keep the toolbox clean.
Good hygenie is important. Remove yellowed needles, Pathogens can be transferred between trees on tools,
dead branches, and weeds as soon as you see them. so this is particularly important when dealing with
diseased material and easily infected species.
∙Disinfect your benches each winter. If you keep trees ∙Clean pots after repotting to remove dirt and
in a greenhouse or poly house, disinfect the area handprints, but avoid removing the patina of age.
both when the trees come out in spring and before ∙Clean and treat deadwood to prevent rot. Look for
they go back to reduce the risk of fungal problems. areas touching the soil, or where water collects.

Unwiring

Wire stays on the tree until it needs to come off; this pass. If wire is removed too soon the branch may
depends on the species, age, health, and amount of return to its original position. When wire starts
bending involved. Some trees thicken so fast wires to bite in one area, check the branches that were
come off in a month; others so slowly that years can most heavily bent before unwiring the whole tree.

Heavily manipulated Unwire branches
branches exert the in reverse order,
strongest pressure starting with the
against the wire to thinnest wires
their original position

Avoid cutting
off the wires
since this can
cause damage
1 2 3

Wire is biting into the bark. Left any Use pliers to unwind the wire. Make Remove the wire. Be careful around
longer, this could cause almost sure you support the branch just behind junctions of branches wired in pairs:
irreparable damage. The tree should the wire to keep it from twisting. Avoid always leave the anchor point for last,
stay in place once the wire is removed. damaging small branches and buds. and keep hold of both ends of the wire.