Pruning vs Wiring

There are a large number of ways to get a bonsai tree to grow in a desired direction.

- Gary English

Bonsai artists are constantly coming up with new methods and techniques, not all of them are valid.

The two most trusted methods are ‘Clip and Grow’ and ‘wiring’. The two techniques produce slightly different results, and the truth is that most often they are used together, but it is good to understand the difference so that one can choose the best one for the occasion.

Pruning, or ‘Clip and Grow’, is simply the process of cutting the branch off where required. This sounds simple enough, but there are a few things to consider. If you look at a branch, you will see that it is divided into sections by lines or grooves. These lines are called nodes and are the zones from which new shoots and branches emerge. The spaces between the nodes are called the internodal spaces. It is the main task of the bonsai grower to reduce the length of the internodal spaces, because that means more nodes and consequently more shoots and leaves. The principal mechanism for doing this, is sunlight. The more sun a plant gets, the shorter the internodal spaces. If you look closely at the nodes, you will see a spot on the node that indicates exactly where the new shoot will emerge. Generally, the new shoot will emerge at a right angle from this point. So, by carefully selecting the position of a cut, you can influence what direction the emerging shoot will grow. This is the basic principle of ‘Clip and Grow’. Until the tip of the branch, also known as the terminal bud, is removed, the branch will continue to grow longer. Remove the tip and the branch will put out a fair number of new shoots from which the bonsai artist can choose.