AusBonsai

Hey

I am about to buy a chinese elm in which i want to bend the trunk into a somewhat 's' shape.
the trunk is quite thick, i think. Is there certain ways i can go about bending the trunk?

Pat

how thick is "quite thick"?

hmm i'll say around 30mil. i'll have to get mesurements.
wats the usual process of trunk bending?

Pat

Hard to say without knowing how thick is thick..... However, some suggestions might be:
1.) Do it in stages.... if it's very think you won't get the "S" right away....be content to take it slow. A clamp can work, but here's a tip which might sorl depending on size: using a small wheel from a kid's bike (think training wheel size) I've progressively bent something along the curve of the wheel....a little more each fortnight.....just maybe protect the bark with a tyre tube or raffia.
2.) You can loosen it up before the first major bends....grasp the trunk (if you can) and give slight back and forth bends...being careful to LISTEN with your fingers as well as your ears.
3.) Let the tree dry a bit before a large bend.... think of how dried celery in the fridge bends better than moist fresh celery, which tends to snap more than bend.
4.) Depending on your confidence and experience, you can use small notches or a few small drill hole on the concave side of the area to be bent.
I'm sure if you could post a photo you'd get heaps of feedback....good luck....

Why do you want to bend it Pat? Are you sure that it isn't going to look like one of those abortions which appear in supermarkets? They are usually unnatural and unconvincing as bonsai.

thanks guys, im still not sure on the whole 's' shape but i would like to try and do some sort of style.
not sure just of yet, i will think about it.

Pat

Pat

Put a photo up and there will be heaps of ideas.