Rosebud said:
Cubby, do you start down at the bottom of the plant with the wire? How thick of wire? Yes, i would like you to just come over and show me and do it.
Rosebud, you just wrap the wire 2-3 times around the branch/stem where the desired bend would form the juncture, then 2-3 times around the branch your bending, then slowly, carefully bend in the direction you want. The rigidity of the copper holds the bent branch in place. The length and diameter of the wire needed depends on the diameter of the branch being bent. A thicker branch needs thicker wire.
I can't claim to be the originator of this technique (wish I could), it's used extensively in Bonsai shaping/training, that's where I discovered it. There are videos on YouTube that show/explain it better than I can.
I'll be over this afternoon, Satori, iced coffee, and plant wrasslin', a good time will be had by all...
Orangesunshine, The wire isn't really rigid, think of the bendability (is that a word?) of soldering wire, about the same, depending on thickness. The strength of the branch you're bending
from, (the anchor point) supplies the tinsel strength to hold the bent branch in place. A skinny branch cannot be used to bend a thicker branch.
I wish I was better at explaining this in words, I guess we'll be making a video demonstration on
Rosebuds patio.
