How to shape miniature bonsai? These practical tips you need to master

  Miniature bonsai is one of the bonsai schools that are popular today. It uses small pots, has exquisite conception, and beautiful shapes, embellishing the room with full vitality. Miniature bonsai is a kind of creation mainly based on flowers and plants, embellished with small pieces such as rocks, and is increasingly used in garden design, garden landscaping and home viewing.

  The making of miniature bonsai requires skill in the finest details. One must "conceive the idea before putting pen to paper," having the form of ancient trees in mind. The shaping must be highly generalized. Common methods include the palm-fiber binding method, the lead-wire winding method, the branch-breaking method, the climbing-and-binding method and the upside-down hanging method, among which the lead-wire winding method is relatively simple for shaping.

  Before making it, one must know the postures and habits of various trees like the back of one's hand. The shaping must be highly generalized, and according to the characteristics of the trunk, appropriately make some finishing touches that bring out the essence, so that it is well spaced and clearly layered.

  The commonly used methods for shaping include the palm-fiber binding method, the lead-wire winding method, the branch-breaking method, the climbing-and-binding method and the upside-down hanging method, among others. The lead-wire winding method is relatively simple for shaping. Generally, the shaping of trees is best carried out in early spring.

  For the specific operation, lead wires of appropriate diameters should be selected according to the thickness of the branches and trunks to wind around them, and then the branches and trunks should be bent into the required forms.

  When winding with lead wire, it must be pressed tightly against the bark, with moderate spacing, and the winding direction should preferably form a 45° angle with the diameter of the branch or trunk. After 1 to 2 years, once the trunk has basically set its shape, the lead wire can be removed. Those unnecessary messy branches should be shortened or removed.