Wiring my 12 year old Fukien Tea

[Billskarsgard]

Hello, I'm new here, so I apologize if I posted in the wrong place. I have a Fukien Tea and need advice on wiring. Question: Should the wire be tight or loose on the branches? I'm afraid to cause wire scars. Ughhhh. Lol. Please be kind. I'm new to branch wiring and prunning. Trunks? That's another story entirely.

 

[Anthony]

If you could, I would suggest a few years of
ground growing to get a nice trunk.

They are easily developed by - Grow and Clip.

Take cuttings and test for outdoor growing.
In China they grow in the ground - zone 9
Welcome !!!
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Billskarsgard]

If you could, I would suggest a few years of
ground growing to get a nice trunk.

They are easily developed by - Grow and Clip.

Take cuttings and test for outdoor growing.
In China they grow in the ground - zone 9
Welcome !!!
Good Day
Anthony

Thank you, Anthony. I've contemplated doing as you recommended, but my root base hardly takes up any room, because I'm keeping up with trimming. She is currently two inches wide and 2 and half feet tall, so I'm thinking she's at the size I want her to be. My worry is in regards to wiring. ?

 

[Anthony]

Bill,

you can use the guidline - 1 inch of trunk diameter to 6 inches of
height.
Gives a good illusion of a tree.
So for 2 and a 1/2 feet ...........

I have never wired a Fukien Tea, it grows too fast.
Only grow and clip.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Billskarsgard]

Thanks again. I wired the trunk when it was a seedling to get the shape it has now, but I think I agree with you in regards to the branches. Btw, wow! Thank you for the guidelines. I see what you mean.

 

[Anthony]

I suggest you do not practice on the mother plant,
Do about 10 cuttings.
Practice on them.

Try to draw some designs - show here.

Remember also -------- back branch ---- visual volume for
your shrub.
Best of Growing.
Anthony

 

[Adair M]

Wiring does not scar the branches.

Failure to remove the wire before the tree starts to callous around the wire is what causes the scars.

If you carefully observe the tree on a regular basis, you should be able to remove the wire on a timely basis. Rapidly growing areas will tend to thicken faster than others, so watching those should tell you when it’s time to remove the wire.

By the way, virtually all bonsai will have some wiring scars. Of course, everyone tries to minimize them, but they’re inevitable, unless, of course you never use wire. There are brush strokes on an oil painting. Part of the process of applying color to canvas. Wire scars are part of the process of creating curves in branches.

 

[Anthony]

Suggestion - see the Pine Forum
Join the 6 year pine from seed project. Start from
next year if you have to.
Then lock into the knowledge of Adair M. [ Sifu ]

Pines he wires, and wiring works better for them.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Anthony]

Bill,

a fukien tea for you. Pot is also home-made.
Enjoy.
Anthony

no wires -

 

[Underdog]

Nobody has mentioned how brittle and hard to bend the branches of Fukien Tea are. 12yr old is going to have branches not wanting to move at all compared to Ficus for example. I've only been able to wire young shoots on mine and then clip and grow. My least favorite tree... pest magnet too.

 

[Anthony]

Actually Underdog,

the idea was to try and help Bill, without getting into
a wire battle.
Especially since he has a 12 year old shrub.

Fukien tea is a hedging material which means the sky
is the limit.
Can re-sprout anywhere once healthy, and boosted for
a month with fertiliser before any pruning.

A hedging material can assume any shape and if Bill
practices on expendables, he can achieve his dreams.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Adair M]

I do not, nor have I ever had, nor will I ever have a Fukien tea! So I have no specific knowledge about working with them.

However, if they are like any other broadleaf and/or deciduous tree, old wood is lignified, which means it does not bend - it breaks. If you wire, only wire young, supple shoots before they lignify, and remove wire as soon as possible once the shoots do lignify. That is how I manage my olives and maples and zelkova.

 

[Underdog]

Just answering his original question IMO Ant
>>>Hello, I'm new here, so I apologize if I posted in the wrong place. I have a Fukien Tea and need advice on wiring. Question: Should the wire be tight or loose on the branches? I'm afraid to cause wire scars. Ughhhh. Lol. Please be kind. I'm new to branch wiring and prunning. Trunks? That's another story entirely.

 

[Anthony]

The answer is in the word -------- hedge.
Can be clipped and then thinned.
Rapid regrowth.

If you follow the natural response of this shrub,
it is easy to work with.
Bonsai Tai Chi.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Billskarsgard]

Bill,

a fukien tea for you. Pot is also home-made.
Enjoy.
Anthony

no wires -

View attachment 214635

Wow! What a beauty and fantastic work, my friend. The comment about brush strokes: priceless. I'll look into the page you are referring to and I truly appreciate all of your informative responses.

 

[Billskarsgard]

Nobody has mentioned how brittle and hard to bend the branches of Fukien Tea are. 12yr old is going to have branches not wanting to move at all compared to Ficus for example. I've only been able to wire young shoots on mine and then clip and grow. My least favorite tree... pest magnet too.

You're correct. It is difficult, but I've been using the wire through plastic pot technique. ? Seriously though, they are difficult to bend, but Fukien are lovely.