Mike demonstrates how to wire a juniper bonsai tree. This video shows the 2 main branches being wired in a cascade style by referring to an image for inspiration.
The takeaways are, 1) use inspiration to help you design your bonsai trees. 2) Make incremental changes over time. 3) Your tree won’t be a masterpiece the minute you wire it.
About Mike
Thanks Mike. Great video – very helpful!
Great video! Thanks Mike and thanks Dallas Bonsai Garden! I would love to see a video on more advanced wiring techniques sometime! Keep up the good work folks and thanks again!
Very informative presentation. I will wire my Juniper this weekend.Thanks.
Mike, how do you keep your juniper green or how do I make my juniper green.
Fertilizer will keep your Juniper green. Dallas Bonsai has several high quality fertilizers which are perfectly blended for bonsai and have the nitrogen you need to green up any plant.
Also, in addition to fertilizer, check your plant and make sure that it is not soaking wet all the time. Plants need air in the soil. Otherwise, they will yellow, brown and die.
Lastly, some soils get depleted of iron. Iron is needed to help Nitrogen green up a plant. If your plant is watered correctly and you are fertilizing it and it’s not greening up, either consider re-potting it with fresh soil, or use a fertilizer like ironite at a low dose a couple times in order to get the iron in the soil.
Thank you Mike for answering my last question. I am new to bonsai, as you can tell by my questions. Could you please tell me when to wire my bonsai? Thank you for answering and taking the time to answer my simple question.
Hi Joseph,
Sorry for the delayed reply. Now is always a great time to wire your bonsai. Some people say there are certain times that are better. I haven’t found that to be the case. I keep the wire on for about 6 months or so each year and most of the time like to have the wire on in spring – as long as the wire isn’t too tight. Winter is good for deciduous trees as you can see the branches easily. Hope that helps. Good luck!
I have a juniper that is in the exact shape yours is. But I absolutely hate cascade. Is there a way to achive a different style?
Sure. Really, just go nuts! It’s all about trying things. Wire it and see if you can lift the limbs up. If not, cut them off and let it grow. Just repeat the process of taking away what you don’t want and letting the plant recover. Some plants look horrible for a couple years and then suddenly become incredibly beautiful.