Wiring Guides

Above: A Chinese Juniper being rewired

Wiring bonsai trees is a fairly new idea. Before this time most bonsai trees were created using the "clip & grow" method.

 Why do we use wire? Using wire enables us to change the angle at which branches (and trunks) grow. If you view a large mature tree in the wild you will see that many of the branches grow horizontally. You will also see that the larger, heavier branches near the bottom of the tree are more horizontal than the younger branches near the top. Seek to emulate this.

Above: Another Chinese Juniper

I always wire in stages. I will start with a relatively thick wire & do all the main branches first, angling them down. While doing this you are removing any growth which doesn't match the overall design of the bonsai. After wiring all the main branches, I will take a thinner wire & apply it to all of the smaller sub-branches. These are the smaller branches which come off the main branch & help the make up the twiggy masses of foliage. When these are wired the overall image improves dramatically.

How long should you leave wire on your bonsai for? There is no straight answer. Wiring works because the tree sets in shape as it grows with the wire wrapped around it. If you remove the wire too quickly, the tree will not have set into the desired shape & will spring back into its original shape. Leave the wire on for too long & it will cut into the bark of the growing tree, scarring it. It is a balancing act which requires careful attention. Generally deciduous trees take less time to set than conifers. Pay particular attention to this in late spring & summer as trees can gain a surprising amount of thickness at this time of year.