Have you ever wired your Bonsai to create a desired shape? It is probably a tricky task, but also a way to learn caring for a tree and expressing your creative desires. To become great at wiring your Bonsai tree, you need to learn how to wire your Bonsai properly. So what is Bonsai wiring? What kind of wire should be used for Bonsai? What are different types of Bonsai wire and what are Bonsai wire alternatives? Let’s answer all of these questions and more about Bonsai wiring in this post.
First, briefly explain what kind of wire should be used for Bonsai wiring.
The anodized aluminum and annealed copper wires are the best to use for wiring Bonsai. The anodized aluminum is highly flexible and ideal to use on deciduous trees. The annealed copper is almost twice as strong and is excellent to use on thicker trunks like conifers, but can be harder to manipulate.
If you are a beginner, it can be wise to work with anodized aluminum wire first due to its flexibility. Never use iron or steel wire, recycled copper wire, a telephone cable, or galvanized wire to wire your Bonsai.
The ancient Chinese used to create presentable Bonsai by using a ‘cut and grow’ method. But it was a slow process. Modern Bonsai artists have introduced metal wires to shape Bonsai. It has made the styling easier and simpler. Let’s dive in to discover more details.
Why do you need to wire Bonsai?
One of the frequently asked questions is why you need to use wire on Bonsai. The answer is quite simple. The use of Bonsai wire is necessary to shape, style and sculpt your Bonsai tree.
Let’s have a look at some of the reasons for wiring your Bonsai.
- It is the main way to sculpt your tree into a work of art.
- The main purpose of wiring is to change the overall shape of the Bonsai you are growing.
- As a result of wiring, the shape of the trunk, branches, and new shoots will change to create the shape of the tree of your vision.
In the wiring process, the trunk and the tree branches are wired upwards and outwards. It leaves tiny fractures and cuts on the pressurized areas under the bark. Slowly and gradually, the damaged layers in the trunk heal. The branches learn the desired positions and grow according to your specifications. This is because vascular tissues in your Bonsai thicken over the growth season, allowing the tree to maintain the desired form.
What is more, when you repot your Bonsai tree, don’t forget about wiring the netting to the bottom of the pot. Also, don’t forget about putting 2-3 wires through the bottom holes (from bottom to top), and use it to fix your tree in the soil.
Wiring Bonsai – general guidelines and tips
A good practice is always to start wrapping the wire around the main branches of your Bonsai tree. For thick branches, use a thick wire. Normally, a single wire alone can’t bend a thick trunk. For this, cover the bark with raffia paper like this (fibrous covering of raffia palm used for arts) first and then use a thick wire. Sometimes you may need a branch jack and metal rebar when bending thick branches.
Don’t wire branches too loosely or too tightly. You should use a wire that is ⅓ to ¼ of the thickness of the branch. Try to wire the two branches of the same thickness with the same piece of wire. Branches are paired and wired, and then anchored around the trunk to hold them.
Evenly space the wire coils and maintain an angle of approximately 45°. Make sure to secure the end of the wire to an anchoring point that may be an adjacent branch or the trunk itself. Ensure to cut the wire ends neatly so that it cuts under the branch end. Never cross wires.
If you need to replant your Bonsai, always make sure to wire it first. Wiring after replanting will be difficult, plus it will put a strain on your Bonsai and its roots system. In general, avoid wiring your Bonsai during the growing season, as your tree is actively growing. This can make the wire cut into your tree and cause scars.
Please note that shaping and styling your Bonsai tree is not a one-night task. It normally takes one full growing season to obtain the desired shape.
Wire Types To Use On Bonsai
Normally, two types of wires are used on Bonsai – annealed copper wire and anodized aluminum wire like this. Which wire to use will depend on various trees and whether you are a beginner or an advanced keeper (copper is harder to work with).
Annealed Copper Wire
Copper wire is commonly used in wiring Bonsai. Before using, you should anneal it to make it flexible again for wiring. The copper is annealed by heating to a temperature that softens the wire. However, you can also do it by wrapping it in a newspaper and burning it. The heat from the burning newspaper is enough to make it more flexible. Plus, you can also buy cleaned and stripped copper wire like this.
The pros of using a copper wire to shape your Bonsai are:
- It is more stable and stronger than aluminum wire.
- Single-core PVC coated copper cable can also be used for training Bonsai. Its PVC covering should not be removed as it protects the branches from permanent scarring.
- It works well if used for harder trunks like conifers.
The cons of using copper wire for Bonsai wiring are:
- It is harder to work with and can be difficult to shape. Thus, can be a less favorable option for beginners.
- Its rough surface can cut through the branches of soft trees. However, you can use it for harder trunks like conifers.
- Single-core PVC coated wire is visible on Bonsai due to bright colors. Most people only use it for training their Bonsai, ones not for a display.
Anodized Aluminum Wire
The second option – anodized aluminum wire, is ideal to use if you are a beginner. Plus, it is available in a range of different thicknesses starting from 1mm to 8mm. However, you don’t need to purchase wire of all of these sizes. For most trees, you can start with a wire of 1mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm, and, 4mm. You can easily find anodized aluminum wire for sale, like this one.
The pros of using anodized aluminum wire are:
- It is highly malleable and easier to handle.
- Due to its smooth surface, it is ideal to use on deciduous trees like maples, elms, and olives.
- Because it’s brown in color, it doesn’t look too unsightly when wrapped around branches.
- It doesn’t react with water, soil, and fertilizer.
- It can be used over and over again.
The cons of using anodized aluminum wire are:
- It is a bit expensive as compared to traditional copper wire.
- Is not as strong as a copper wire.
Can you use electrical wire for Bonsai?
Yes, you can use a copper wire from the off-cuts of an electrical cable for Bonsai. First, burn or scrape the insulation of the wire. An annealed copper wire is easier to use. You can anneal it by heating it until it is red-hot. Then, allow it to cool slowly. In the annealing process, the wire becomes softer due to aligning of the molecules. While wrapping the wire, it hardens by re-aligning the molecules.
The cooled wire takes a dull and rusty color due to surface oxidation. Its rusty color disappears once the wire is handled. It will become softer and you can assess it by gently flexing a few times. The more strongly you flex it, the stiffer it will become.
You should not use recycled copper wire as it has flat spots that can damage a branch if wrapped around it. Moreover, a telephone cable and galvanized wires are not suitable for Bonsai wiring.
Can you use steel wire for Bonsai?
You should not use iron or steel wire for Bonsai wiring due to the following reasons:
- An iron or steel wire is too hard to bend when wrapping around the branches, and can be very hard to work with
- The galvanized steel is also too hard to bend, and is for coiling around the branches.
- It will rust with time and its strength will reduce.
- Due to rusting, it will leave stains on the bark of a Bonsai tree.
Therefore, annealed copper and anodized aluminum are the best choices for wiring Bonsai.
Bonsai wiring techniques – single and double wiring
Wiring is crucial to get the desired shape of the trunk and primary branches. The secondary branches are thinner as compared to the primary branches. They should also be wired to get a styled look of your Bonsai tree.
Two types of wiring techniques are used in Bonsai – single wiring, and double wiring.
Single Wiring
- Cut off the right length of wire just like the double wiring technique. Start wrapping it twice around the trunk or main branches. Maintain an angle of around 45°.
- If too many wires are wrapped at the same part of the trunk, make sure to put them neatly in a line. Simply, if multiple coils are on any part of the tree, they should be coiled in the same direction.
- Similarly, wire the remaining branches.
Once you have wired the whole tree, you can now bend and reposition the branches. Hold the outside of the branch with your fingers. Use your thumbs to bend the branch from inside of the curve.
This way, the risk of branch fracture will reduce as you are applying force on the outside of the branch. Stop bending once the branch is re-positioned. The straight sections of the branch should be slightly bent to give the tree a more natural and aged look.
Next, you have to place the newly wired tree in a shady place for the next 2 to 4 days. Fertilize the tree as you normally do. Keep an eye on the tree especially in the growing season. If you leave your tree unattended, the wire might cut into the bark. Therefore, remove it on time and don’t try to unwind the wire as it might damage the bark.
Double wiring
- Select a pair of primary branches that are of the same thickness and located near each other.
- Use a single length of wire to anchor them around the trunk. If you need to bend the branch upwards, start coiling the wire around the trunk and pass it under that branch. It supports the branch and prevents fracture.
- If you wish to bend a branch upwards, twist the wire down from above the point that is connected to the trunk.
- Evenly coil both branches from the base to the tip. Maintain an angle of around 45° while wrapping the wire around the branches. It will allow the tree to grow thicker while remaining in its new shape.
- Preferably, you should wrap the wire twice around the trunk. It will prevent the wire from moving when bending the branches later on.
- Once you have wired all the suitable pairs of branches, use the single-wiring technique to wrap the wire around the remaining branches.
How long to leave Bonsai wire on?
To obtain the desired results of wiring, the wire should be left on for one full growing season.
For thin-barked deciduous trees, the wire can be left on the tree for up to 6 months. However, for very fragile deciduous Bonsai trees with aluminum wire, leave it on for only 3-4 months. It should be removed before it starts to cut into the branch. Having said that, you can leave the wire on conifers with copper wires for up to 2-3 years. The scars of the evergreens normally heal over time as compared to thin deciduous trees.
The best time to wire a Bonsai tree is early spring. You have to wire your tree just before the buds start to open. If you have many trees, and it is difficult for you to wire during this busiest time of the year, the mid-winter season is another option for you.
The best time to remove the wire from Bonsai is autumn. Mostly, the trunks and branches swell during that time of the year. The trunk and branches of the pine tree get thicker in the winter season. If the wire is not removed from the pine tree at that time of the year, it may leave scars that can take years to grow out.
What size Bonsai wire to use?
A common question that Bonsai artists usually ask is, ‘what wire size should be used for wiring Bonsai?’ Often, if you’re a beginner, you are likely work with the young trees. So, a wire with thickness of 1-2mm is ideal to use on the young trees.
Normally, Bonsai wires are available in different sizes ranging from 1mm to 6mm. As a rule of thumb, the wire should be ⅓ of the thickness of the branch to be wired. You can use up to 5 different thicknesses of wires on one tree.
The length of the wire used on a branch or the trunk should be 50% longer than the branch to be wired. For example, if the branch length is 8 inches, the wire should be 12 inches long.
Bonsai wire alternatives
Generally, there are not more alternatives to Bonsai wire other than anodized aluminum and annealed copper wire. Before the introduction of the wiring in Bonsai aesthetics, other methods were used to create a desired shape of Bonsai. The ancient Bonsai artists used stone and metal weights and suspended them from the branches.
In another common method that was used many years ago, the branches were tied down with a string to the base of the pot or just the ground. Trunks were shaped by twisting them around metal or wooden rods from an early age. These methods are also good, but not as effective as wiring.
Moreover, the guy-wiring technique is also used for some trees, like for strong branches of ficus. The newly bent branches of trees need to be held in place until they are set. In this method, a piece of wire is attached to the newly bent branch and fixed to an anchoring point to create a guy wire.
This anchoring point can be a hook or screw fixed in the trunk, another branch, surface roots, or a hole on the side of the pot. The guy wire prevents the branch from returning to its previous position. Unlike coiled wire, it has a disadvantage – it allows the branch to move only in one direction. To compare, the coiled wire controls the shape along the entire length of the branch.
How to wire a Ficus Bonsai tree?
Ficus has quite flexible and thin-medium thick branches, which are not hard to wire. It is better to wire young Ficus shoots and after pruning. Wire your Ficus Bonsai with anodized aluminum wire, but try using guy-wire for thicker branches. Guy-wire can be left on branches for a longer period of time.
Always check your Ficus tree, as wire can easily cut into the tree bark. You might need to remove wires from your Ficus tree quickly, as Ficus branches thicken quickly.
How to wire Juniper Bonsai tree?
Junipers are coniferous trees, so have thicker branches and trunks. Use annealed copper wire to wire your Juniper Bonsai. The best time to wire Junipers are before growing season starts or after it ends, so in early March or around late September.
Always make sure to spread out Juniper foliage pads, to allow air exchange and light to get to all parts of foliage. Be careful when wiring deadwood, which is fragile, however old deadwood parts can be split off to bend younger parts of the tree.
Final Words
Wiring is essential to shape your Bonsai tree. It might be time-consuming and tricky but is worth in the end. You will learn wiring and will enjoy the results of your work.
Firstly, you have to set your goals. Select the ideal season according to the needs of your tree. Plus, choose the type of wire suitable for your tree and start wiring. Just follow our mentioned step-by-step guide and keep checking the wires for any cuts or scars.
Once you achieve the most wanted look of your tree, remove the wires carefully in the proper season. No doubt, it is a tricky technique. Keep practicing until you master it.
To learn more about Bonsai care, please see this page.