Wire techniques

Styling bonsai using wire is a fairly modern technique that was developed in Japan at some point during the 1800s. As with most bonsai techniques, the basic principle is fairly simple but the execution can at times be quite challenging.

- Gary English

The basic concept is that a grower will wrap wire around a branch, or many branches, of a tree. The branch is then bent into a new position. The wire holds the branch in the new position for a few months until the branch sets in this new position. The wire is then removed before it can do any significant damage. The process is very similar to setting a broken arm with a plaster cast.

Bonsais that are styled using wire often have a graceful flowing look to them, in contrast to the sharp, abrupt angles that result from styling using the clip-and-grow method. Most bonsai growers use a combination of both methods.

Wire and thickness

Copper wire is traditionally used for bonsai, but it is quite hard so has to be softened before use. This is done either by hand by bending it gently but very rapidly to heat it up, or it is heated up in the sun for a short while. Once it has been applied, the wire hardens and holds the bent branch in place. Aluminium wire can also be used, which is much softer that copper wire and is much easily applied without damaging the tree.