Bonsai Wiring Basics

Wrapping aluminum or copper wires around the trunk or branches of bonsai trees in order to give them the intended profile is known as wiring. In order to produce basic bonsai styles, you will need to wrap the trunk and branches with the correct thickness and length of wire. The formal upright style involves no wrapping, but the cascade shape involves a few months of careful wiring.

You should be very careful when you’re applying wire to the trunk or branches of a bonsai tree due to the stress it causes. Doing it the wrong way can mean, if worse comes to worst, a dead tree, or more often a cracked branch. Another mistake is to wrap in too constricting a fashion or in the wrong season. This can cause lasting damage to the tree, or might even kill it outright.

Prior to actually wiring your bonsai, use a stick or pole to practice. This will help you in getting a feel for the wire and will help you develop the suppleness necessary to wrap a branch while holding it. When you feel like you’ve gotten the entire process mastered through your practice sessions, and you aren’t moving anything that you shouldn’t be, then you can try the same thing with the bonsai tree.

Step one is picking the most appropriate wire for the project. Copper and aluminum are the two favorite choices, although copper is thought to be more attractive throughout the extended training period. When wrapping a bonsai, use annealed copper only, as steel wire is toxic to a few species. Aluminum is a lot more flexible, so it’s easier to use for someone who is new at this kind of project. Although copper is stiffer, it might scar the tree if it is not applied properly. Using wire that’s one third as thick as the branch it’s going to wrap is a basic rule with which to begin.

Well placed little stresses along the tree trunk or branch are what allows the wire to change the shape of the tree. So, in order for the tree to change its shape and not the wire, the wire needs to be stronger than the branch or trunk.

Try wrapping branches from comparable trees to improve your skill and dexterity. Test different thicknesses of wire on branches of a similar species and size before using it on the bonsai. A variety of widths will be needed in order to wire the entire tree so try working with all of them in advance.

To master the delicate skill of bonsai wiring, patience is required. Do not be discouraged, though, because if you’re prepared to take the time you can learn how to do this, and you’ll be so happy with the results.