Space between trunks

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Wondering if anyone has any advice or tips on how to create more space between two trunks that are too thick for wire?20210519_122503.jpg
 

Darth Masiah

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i have a similar situation I'm planning to work on. i was going to use a piece of thick air tube with a tapering chopstick in the middle. over time i was going to push the stick through until i make it to the fat end.
😁
 
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Yeah I was thinking originally of wrapping a smooth rock or wood dowel or something in raffia and sticking it in there and moving it down over time. Guess I'll just experiment and see what works
 

Pitoon

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If you can't find a made spreader for bonsai you can modify a turn buckle. Just make sure you get the one that has a solid eye as below where you can cut out the outer edge to create a "Y"..........the type that has bent eyes won't work.

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Pitoon

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I didn't know they made a branch spreader but I'll definitely google it and find one.
Modifying a turn buckle would be a lot cheaper. You can get different sizes for the price of a made spreader for bonsai.
 

ShadyStump

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Guy wires also work for this. Though sometimes the tricky part is finding a place to anchor the other end of the wire. If you turn the wire across the branch so it's effectively two strands, you can put a stick between them and turn it to take up slack and increase the bend over time.
@Pitoon 's turnbuckle idea isn't a bad one, though.
 

leatherback

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clamp from your hardware store. remove clamp piece from one end (red arrow) and attach to other end (green arrow). you now have a spreader.
What I wonder.. What do you do then? Do you leave it in for 3 years?
 

RobC

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What I wonder.. What do you do then? Do you leave it in for 3 years?
depends on situation. if it takes 3 years then it takes 3 years. some cases you want to increase the spread little by little and this helps because this is adjustable.
 

penumbra

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I have done this with a flat wedge of wood with a v cut on each end. I put a split piece of tubing over the v where it meets the trunk.
However, in my opinion Pitoon wins this one hands down with his modified turnbuckle. I am going to pick up a couple tomorrow.
 

Tieball

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I’m curious about the tree higher up. What the tree looks like with the current growth. It may be very natural and appropriate. In the photo you have it’s hard to tell if spreading is actually necessary. Just my perspective. I’d be stepping back and seeing what could be accomplished without spreading....trying to imagine a look five-tens years out.
 

Pitoon

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I have done this with a flat wedge of wood with a v cut on each end. I put a split piece of tubing over the v where it meets the trunk.
However, in my opinion Pitoon wins this one hands down with his modified turnbuckle. I am going to pick up a couple tomorrow.
The key with the turn buckle is a turn a day. The tree has time to recoop with every turn, it's also less stressful on the tree.
 
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