Colin Lewis

Bonsai Wiring Essentials

Colin Lewis
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  • In-depth Instruction; over 38 mins
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Discover essential wiring techniques with the assistance of world-renowned bonsai expert Colin Lewis. You'll learn what types of wires are available as Colin walks you through the benefits of using annealed wire, shares considerations for shaping coniferous or deciduous trees and helps you assess what level of control you'll need.
Learn how to carefully prepare your tree and wires to set the stage for your future bonsai designs. Colin shares invaluable advice for making heat-annealed copper wire at home and teaches you how to determine which wire gauges you'll need for each project. You'll finish the lesson with tips for pruning dead foliage and stubs to ensure that your tree is ready for wiring.
Transition from wiring amateur to wiring master as you employ some of Colin's ingenious wiring secrets. Learn how to use the "slingshot principle" to perfectly plan the pressure points along your branches, and watch Colin wrap a variety of branch sizes as you practice along with him at home. You'll also learn how to troubleshoot particularly challenging branch sections along the way.
Now that you've learned the best practices for wiring, Colin helps you analyze and correct common wiring mistakes. You'll prevent lost time, broken branches and bonsai-induced heartache as you learn how to identify issues with anchors, slingshots, wire gauges and more. You'll finish the lesson armed with the knowledge of how to keep your tree (and yourself) safe from harm!
 
 
4 Lessons
38  mins

Join internationally renowned bonsai artist and author Colin Lewis in his free mini-class, and learn essential wiring techniques for professional-quality bonsai. Become familiar with the variety of bonsai wires available, and discover the benefits of using annealed wire on your trees. Then, learn how to make heat-annealed copper wire at home, determine the correct wire gauge for each branch and prepare your tree for shaping as you learn tips for pruning dead foliage and stubs. Moving on, take your bonsai to the next level with Colin’’s professional wiring tricks! Confidently use the slingshot principle, and watch as Colin demonstrates how to wire a variety of branch sizes with ease. Finally, save time, prevent broken branches and more after you learn how to analyze and correct common wiring mistakes. By the end of this class, you’ll have the knowledge you need to create beautiful bonsai masterpieces.

Colin Lewis

Colin Lewis is a world-renowned bonsai artist, author, teacher and consultant. He is the founder of Bonsai Magazine, served on the European Bonsai Association and has been a teacher of bonsai for more than 25 years. Today he is the founder and a full-time instructor at the Ho Yoku School of Bonsai in Southern Maine. Colin has written many essential bonsai books, including The Art of Bonsai Design, The Bonsai Survival Manual and Practical Bonsai, and has contributed to Reader's Digest Encyclopedia of Gardening, The Bonsai Handbook and more.

Colin Lewis

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4 Responses to “Bonsai Wiring Essentials”

  1. Farhana patel

    Very informative, thank you.

  2. Kathleen Westermann

    I’m starting my first bonsai from a cutting of a weeping willow. When do I start the wording process?

  3. George Mather

    Very helpful. Thanks!

  4. Jacqueline Manara

    Hello! Thank you for the informative video. So excited to try this on some of the trees. I just want to know when is the ideal time to cut the wires? Thank you.

Bonsai Wiring Essentials - Supplies and Resources

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