AusBonsai

Ryceman3 wrote: ↑February 16th, 2020, 9:13 pm

jessepap wrote: ↑February 16th, 2020, 8:01 pm

After many many many hours of research, visiting nurseries, Book reading and the like I'm slowly realising I don't think I'm real good at this bonsai thing.

Don’t get deflated!
Don’t be afraid to have a go either. Some trees can be resilient and bend to rather intense angles, while others that are the same girth will snap if you look at them wrong - the only way to know is to try.
Here’s a pic of some tube stock I bent.
F293D148-1400-4E96-B453-A480641F4F4D.jpeg
I’m not saying it’s great, just illustrating the kind of bends you can get. This is leptospermum but I have done similar with Melaleuca and Casuarina species... all responded well. I will add I try to twist the branch as I bend it (clockwise or anti clockwise, whichever depending on the direction the wire is applied). This one was done about 10 months or so ago I think, I dont have a pic of how it looks now... I’ll take one tomorrow if you’re interested to show how the bends mature over time.
Everything starts somewhere, as does everyone, and you can’t finish if you never start!
Keep at it.

shibui wrote: ↑February 16th, 2020, 9:32 pm There is the inevitable "oh bugger" moment when you have most of the tree in one hand and the rest in the other and they are not still joined together.

shibui wrote: ↑February 16th, 2020, 9:32 pm You will inevitably break a few trunks and branches. There is the inevitable "oh bugger" moment when you have most of the tree in one hand and the rest in the other and they are not still joined together.

shibui wrote: ↑February 16th, 2020, 9:32 pm Bending can be nerve wracking at first. It can still be scary later on.
You will gradually learn the danger signs so take it easy as you have done at first.
I find that the stems relax after a while. You can bend to the limit of the stem's flexibility today then tomorrow you will be able to bend that stem a bit further without breaking. Taking a few days to get the bends you want is a very useful technique.

You will inevitably break a few trunks and branches. There is the inevitable "oh bugger" moment when you have most of the tree in one hand and the rest in the other and they are not still joined together. Then you realise that the lower part that is still intact will probably sprout new buds and keep growing Then you realise that the tree will probably be a whole lot better because it is now shorter and will have the taper in the new trunk that the longer one would never have had. a broken bit is rarely the end of the world. Just means a slight change of style or growing plans.

There are many different ways to grow bonsai. There are many great trees that have probably never had wire. Clip and grow is a recognized technique to develop bonsai. Wiring can be useful but not always essential.
Bonsai does take time. A few hours of research and a few visits is just the start of your bonsai journey. I found the best thing was to join a group where experienced people are able to show and explain. Learning on your own is a very, very slow path to bonsai.

MJL wrote: ↑February 17th, 2020, 7:05 am

When I am bending a branch I care about, I now listen and watch carefully .... often you can hear the a branch telling you enough is enough; listen carefully and you can hear a slight crack before it is too late .... sometimes .


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jessepap wrote: ↑February 16th, 2020, 9:23 pm I would love to see how it looks now if you have the time to post.

terryb wrote: ↑February 17th, 2020, 12:25 pm As long as the two pieces are still joined by bark, the wire will hold them in position and they generally mend. If it is a big crack, a little cut paste will help it heal. Figuring out how hard you can bend particular species is trial and error.

Ryceman3 wrote: ↑February 17th, 2020, 1:01 pm

jessepap wrote: ↑February 16th, 2020, 9:23 pm I would love to see how it looks now if you have the time to post.

I do have time to post ... here it is as of this morning!
Shibui is right about bending some, leaving it for a day or more and then bend a little more, repeat etc... a lot of the really tight bends on these branches were achieved that way.

Lepto Bends_0220.jpg

Ryceman3 wrote: ↑February 17th, 2020, 1:01 pm Shibui is right about bending some, leaving it for a day or more and then bend a little more, repeat etc... a lot of the really tight bends on these branches were achieved that way.

greg27 wrote: ↑February 17th, 2020, 1:38 pm Love it. Is that a scoparium?