AusBonsai

These were a few reject trunks that didn't fuse as good as the others I have set . I decided to fuse them together again adding fused trunks along with some separate whips to fill the voids and create a huge fusing network of trunks . This time secured with pieces of electrical cable to make sure there is not too much movement so the trunks have the best opportunity to completely fuse . This is one way to down size the amount of waste material that would only get in the way of progress in the near future , many plants become one .A piece of 25mm square box , actually a leg of my old work bench, became the brace to apply the bendI have actually used 4 poorly fused trunks as the 3 originally i tried didn't fit snug enough . Then numerous whips were added to construct this new trainer . I will closely monitor the slaters this season , as last year they ring barked the inner trunks on a lot of the fusing trainers .This needs i bit more movement in the upper section , enough of the rough stuff for now , That's it about 60 less plants to look after and a new trunk to hopefully play with next year .

Cheers Alpineart

Dose it take long to fuse together doing it like this ??

Hi Olivecrazy , mate they fuse in one season if you restrain them tight enough . I have some rippers that have fused exceptionally well , they were tied with material that didn't decay . Plaiting 3 gives a flatter wide trunk , braiding with numerous whips works better neither can push themselves apart ' however i have had some good spiraled trunks work very well if restrained for the entire growing season . They must be tied tight and slaters love the dark dampness inside the whips and easily ring bark them , so i will spray these quite regularly with something not too toxic .

Cheers Alpine

Hey Alpine, excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between plaits and braids?
I know what plaits look like and how to do them. And I have seen hair braided (I think), but I am still a liitle unsure
I searched google for a description of each and looked at pics for comparison, but I am still confused as to what braids look like
Cheers, Dario.

my guess would be its the same sort of thing as you would for a hair braid,except adding the whips instead of hair.

Hi Dario , plaiting gives you a flat wide trunk done with 3 leaders any thickness, as for the braiding it gives you a rounder trunk similar to a basket weave using multiple leaders diagonally not infilling horizontally. It possibly could be a multi plait but i refer to it as a braid that way i know the difference ., Sorry bud not into hair doo's , my niece showed me how to do it .

Its a bit hard to explain plaiting 3 x 10mm leader gives you a 10 x 30 mm trunk or there abouts , when i use the braid i use numerous leaders 6-10 whips and interlock them separately , similar to a plait but this gives a more rounded trunk . Only thin whips can be used or they snap .I will try to find some thin whips and show the difference .

Cheers Alpine

Thanks very much for your description Alpine, and for the differences between the two methods
I am pretty sure I understand you, but if you can show me with a pic or two that would be great If you don't have any spare whips and it isn't too much of a bother, perhaps you could use some thin pruned branches just as a quick example? But only if it is not too much trouble mate.
Thanks again, Dario.

Hi Dario , mate i will find a few in amongst the grow beds and do a quick topic on them .

Cheers Alpine

That would be great Alpine, I look forward to it!
Cheers, Dario.