Branch Bender = Bad Idea?

[Jason]

Hey guys,

Just recently purchased a branch bender, and as is my enthusiastic style... I bought it without doing any research first. Now that I have it, and have looked into it, I've discovered its not the best way to bend a branch

I bought it thinking it would be perfect for bending a very thick trunk, as I'm really not keen to try any of the other techniques (like inserting wire into the trunk), and it looked simple to use. Now that I've read up on it, it seems to be a good way to damage a branch/trunk and am just wondering if anyone actually uses them with any success? and if so, how do you avoid the damage?

Obviously I'd like to use wire, but my wiring skills are... well, pretty much non existent, so I thought this would be a better/safer move for me until I'm able to get some decent lessons

[mtarros]

They are ok to use just wrap the branch with so,e raffia or grafting tape.

You can also do bonsai using a clip and grow method but that will take longer or you can use some sticks and strings to bend the branches.

[Jason]

I made the rookie mistake of buying a whole lot of stuff when I first got into Bonsai, and am now realising most of it is no good Lesson learnt all the same

Its a paperbark (quinquenervia) that I'm looking at trying to bend, its just too straight at the base (I think) and am at a loss as to what I can do with my skills.

How long should you be leaving it on before it has a lasting effect?

Appreciate the replies thankyou!


I realise all this is best learnt first hand, and I am planning on doing that very soon

[Isitangus]

Hi denaz a pic would help if your looking for opinions on if it needs bending or not. Some times just a change of potting angle can make a big difference.

[kcpoole]

When Bending Any branch or trunk, You will need to leave the bending jig or apparatus there long enough for the branch to have grown and filled the tiny gaps that will form when you bend it, or to put on new growth over the bend.
The natural healing mechanism of the tree ( or new growth in the new shape) is what hods it in place.
Eg figs can only take a few weeks, Where pines can take a few years to do the same thing.

Someone posted recently ( alpine?) about Cedars requiring 25% more girth on the trunk to set it to shape.

When bending, always Wrap the wood with Raffia or tape to stop it splitting, and to protect the bark. Always use a tool large enought to do the job.

We have some info in the wiki, but this are needs lots more work. https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... nch_bender

Ken

[Jason]

When Bending Any branch or trunk, You will need to leave the bending jig or apparatus there long enough for the branch to have grown and filled the tiny gaps that will form when you bend it, or to put on new growth over the bend.
The natural healing mechanism of the tree ( or new growth in the new shape) is what hods it in place.
Eg figs can only take a few weeks, Where pines can take a few years to do the same thing.

Someone posted recently ( alpine?) about Cedars requiring 25% more girth on the trunk to set it to shape.

When bending, always Wrap the wood with Raffia or tape to stop it splitting, and to protect the bark. Always use a tool large enought to do the job.

We have some info in the wiki, but this are needs lots more work. https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... nch_bender

Ken

Thanks for the info Ken! I have done a bit of research (probably too late lol) on them, but the general jist of what I found was that "there are better ways to do it".

I think I'm going to put it on the shelf for now until I learn a bit more about what I'm doing. It seems like I could do a lot of unintentional damage with it

Again, I appreciate the replies