Bonzai trees

MF, your tree looks like a well cared for beech and needs very little doing to it apart from a little bit of training. It is normal with bonsai to train the branches to droop and bend so that it looks like an old tree. For example, the branch on the left could do with bending downwards a bit (it simply becomes a matter of aesthetics and overall shape how much bending to do).

The traditional way to train the branches to bend is with copper wire. You wind the wire in a spiral around the branch you want to bend and then bend the wire to hold the branch in the shape you want. This takes a lot more looking after than the more ugly but easier way of doing it because you have to check regularly that the wire is not cutting into the branch or marking it. The other way is to tie a stone to the branch to weigh it down and get it to droop. You can use twine for that and let the stone dangle on the end of it - you still need to keep an eye on the twine to see it isn't damaging the branch. The more gentle but ugly way is to cut thin strips, in a spiral, from an old pair of tights and use that instead of twine.

Of course, if you want the branch to bend in any direction apart from downwards you will need to use the wire method but you can try using plastic coated wire.

Also, you want to check that there are not too many new shoots growing from the branches otherwise the tree will become too dense. The way remove them is to rub out the new node with your finger, just as it is appearing, so that it doesn't leave a scar.

Julia, :eek: :eek: just leave it and see how it grows back.

Scotkat, that looks like a nice healthy specimen. Box is not usually used for bonsai as it doesn't have a natural droopy growth so I don't know how it would look if you trained any of the branches. It looks good as it is.

Nick, yours look as though they are coming along well.

One of the interesting things with bonsai is that although the growth becomes stunted, because of the root pruning and being kept in the shallow pot, the flowers will grow to their normal size. We used to have a 20 year old laburnum that stood about 18" high and looked very old but the racemes hung down to the pot :D

 

Thanks so much for coming back Shiney. I was wondering about the branch on the left too. I shall definitely have a go at bending it down..
I have some copper earth wire that is plastic sheathed, that would probably do the job well as it quite thick & wouldn't cut into the tree... I shall have a try at that over the weekend. I will post a pic to show you when I have done it to make sure it is right.... :D
Thanks
Marley

 

Julia, I don't want to be unkind but your tree looks more like a 'gone sigh' than a bonsai. :D