Detailed explanation of pruning and wiring techniques for plum blossom bonsai

Introduction: Hello everyone, I am Little Gourd, and welcome to read my article. I saw a comment saying that a friend wanted to learn about the pruning and wiring techniques for plum blossom bonsai, so today Little Gourd will share them with you.

Bonsai making requires a certain level of skill and experience. The two most important techniques in bonsai shaping are pruning and wiring. If you want a plum blossom bonsai to look ancient, rugged and vigorous while also blooming abundantly and growing neatly, pruning is very important. The bud sprouting ability and branching ability of plum blossom are both very strong. Plum blossom is a woody flowering plant that blooms before leafing out, so it is best to prune within 1 to 2 weeks after the flowers fade. The main branches of plum blossom grow relatively vigorously and do not easily produce flower buds, so long branches should be cut back to encourage it to send out short side branches in the same year.

Cut away all kinds of crossing branches, parallel branches, overlapping branches, and those that are too densely grown or relatively weak that affect the beauty of the tree shape, following the principle of not moving old branches and keeping the strong while removing the weak. On the basis of thinning branches, carry out heading back, which means cutting off the upper part of the one-year-old branches after flowering. When heading back, be sure to decide according to the shaping and growth vigor, and also according to the direction and angle of the branch, choosing the direction of the bud eye, so as to achieve an appropriate balance of density and spacing.

For buds on old trunks, remove them as soon as they appear. Around April, when the current year's leaf buds have grown to about 3 cm, remove some unwanted buds according to the position of the buds, the density, and the needs of the tree's shaping. By late June, when the new shoots have grown to a certain length, remove the terminal buds and control the branches to about 15 to 30 cm, which is more appropriate. For those with relatively weak sprouting ability, you can pinch the growing tips earlier to promote budding.

In order to keep the tree's form graceful, wiring is needed at this time. The shaping of plum blossom must ensure that it looks natural and true. When bending upward, generally do not exceed three curves. New branches tend to grow naturally upward, so bend and shape them forward, backward, left, right, or up and down according to your own wishes, and tie them promptly with string. During the maintenance process, pruning and wiring of plum blossom should be carried out in combination, so that you can grow a plum blossom bonsai with a graceful posture.

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