Help. I think I snapped my bonsai trunk.

[elljuu]

Hi
I my wisteria got damaged by the bad hail storm south brisbane had a few weeks ago and it lost all bark on one side of its trunk and I was just trying to support it when I heard a snap half way down the trunk. It doesn't come apart or moves but I am sure it snapped. Is there anything I can do to help it?

Thanks Ellie

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[Theodore]

I'm no expert but I would get some of that clear grafting tape and tightly wrap around the area where you think it may have snapped to give it as much support as possible and to restrict movement in the area. Sort of like plaster for a broken arm if you get my meaning.

I would also stake it if at all possible and get it out of he wing to give it a chance to heal.

Is it showing any signs of distress? Cos if it happened a few weeks ago I'm sure the signs would have been bad by now if it had really badly snapped.

Hope this helps, and if anyone out there has a better solution I'd be happy to hear it as well. It's not usually the wind that causes the snap sound for me, but over zealous bending of branches


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[elljuu]

That helps a bit. Thanks. I'm a nurse so I do understand what your talking about. And that will heal the broken bit and the bit where the bark came off? The bonsai isn't showing any signs of stress. I thought it would die but I grew a little since then. Would clay or glue work?
Ellie

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[kcpoole]

Just wire the trunk from the base up past the break And that should support it until it ads a new layer of wood to the core

[elljuu]

Thanks kcpoole. I'll do that tomorrow. I do have it tied to a stake to stop it falling over

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[Reece]

If it pulls through it could be a good thing.....

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[shibui]

Wound sealer will help the bark to heal over the damaged area. You can get special bonsai wound sealer from bonsai suppliers or find something similar at a general nursery. Don't use the black steriprune - it does not come off and will leave black on the trunk for years.

Just like for bones, if the broken area is not moving it does not need a splint. As long as there is some intact bark for the sap to move along the tree will usually survive and grow new wood over the area.
If you think it might be weak and move at the site something to hold it still will help the break heal over - wire, splint, stake, anything that will support. It will usually take a few years until it is strong. Even then there will be some weakness so be careful if trying to bend it in that area.

[elljuu]

Ok thank you. As it lost half it's bark on one side of its trunk all the way down to the core I have it supported with wire and a stake there is only bark on the under side where the hail did not hit. It is still growing I has a new long runner above the crack. I'll look for this sealer on Wednesday. I have 2 good bonsai shops near my house. Is there anything I can do about the missing bark down the trunk? down the bottom near the base of the plant it lost half it's core too. I was worried it was going to die after the storm and put it in the back of my bonsai house but it grew.


Ellie

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[dansai]

That wood looks a bit rotten which wouldn't happen in a few weeks. My guess is that the bark in this area may already have been dead and the rot was in the wood already.

[elljuu]

Just a day after the storm I did think that it had termites as it looked like it had a lot of little holes in it. And it looked a lot worse then this too.

Ellie

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[dansai]

Possibly borer rather than termites.

[kcpoole]

Very common with Wisteria, to have borer is any exposed sections.
you can carve out the dead sections or treat with Earls wood hardener to preserve it.

Ken

[elljuu]

Wound sealer will help the bark to heal over the damaged area. You can get special bonsai wound sealer from bonsai suppliers or find something similar at a general nursery. Don't use the black steriprune - it does not come off and will leave black on the trunk for years.

Just like for bones, if the broken area is not moving it does not need a splint. As long as there is some intact bark for the sap to move along the tree will usually survive and grow new wood over the area.
If you think it might be weak and move at the site something to hold it still will help the break heal over - wire, splint, stake, anything that will support. It will usually take a few years until it is strong. Even then there will be some weakness so be careful if trying to bend it in that area.

Oh I think I got the black steri-prune. It was the only one bunnings had. should I take it back and try and find the better one. I do have bark damaged fruit trees that need help.

Ellie

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[shibui]

Steriprune won't hurt your tree but it will leave black on the bark for several years and will not wash off and difficult to scrape off. Depends whether you want it to look good in the next few years.

[elljuu]

I Tryed putting it on a damaged mango tree. It doesn't seem that bad sight wise. I'm more concerned about getting it to grow right now. It's still in training mode. I'll give it a go see how it goes..

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