How’s this for a first wiring? And other styling advice

[Troutnut]

To fuel my plant frenzy I got a cheap hinoki and pruned and wired it aggressively last week. Last check, she took well and is growing just as vibrantly as before. How’s it look?

More important than my first wiring attempt: would anyone care to share some of their favorite bonsai photo books? Tree-centric wilderness photography might prove to be good for inspiration, too. Otherwise, I’m looking for good sources of information on styling, whether photographic or text. Thank you in advance.

 

[RaginCajun]

Looks good… now if you’ll excuse me, I have to return some video tapes…

 

[SeanS]

Here’s a great video about wiring essentials, it’s the go-to guide that gets posted often to offer advice to newer wirers.

You’ve got some crossing wires and what looks like wires that are crossing and going in opposite directions. Your coils/wraps are also a bit on the steep angle side. Have a look at the video above for some great tips on how to become more proficient at wiring

 

[RKatzin]

I think you may have the cart in front of the horse. I don't know, but I can't see the base of the tree and the spread of the roots, so I can't see the front of the tree. I like to get my roots established and determine the front of the tree before anything else. Then I can see how the branching lays and what needs to be wired to conform to my chosen front.
I see a lot of wire, but not a lot of bending. Why?
A mistake often made, especially with hinoki that don't back bud readily, is trimmings out too much foliage in close to the trunk when what needs trimming is the ends of the branches to encourage back buds in the interior.
This work must be done in proper order. First the roots, then the trunk, then the branches

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

Did you use some kind of plastic coated steel wire?
If so please buy some aluminium bonsai wire because it will work better.

This is some kind of chamaecyparis obtusa and you need to know this species will not backbud on old wood.
Therefore I think you pruned too much of the foliage of the branches close to the trunk IMO.
This trees is probably grafted and to be sure you need to look at the rootbase to see if there is a bulge.
If there is a grafting bulge it could be a problem for the further development of the tree.

 

[Makkusu]

A good learning exercise! There are loads of wiring videos online, but no substitute for watching someone with knowhow do it in real life - find a local club or tutor to improve your technique.

Now let's see Paul Allen's bonsai...

 

[LeftHandLuke]

No disrespect but it looks like the branches are simply "wired," rather than wired in order to bend them. I don't see any movement in the branches. Maybe some "before" photos could give something to compare to. Also, what kind of wire are you using? That green wire doesn't look like anything I've seen used in bonsai before. I'm not saying you need a specific kind of wire necessarily but you need a certain level of rigidity and gripping ability for it to be effective.

 

[LeftHandLuke]

Now let's see Paul Allen's bonsai...

You Like Huey Lewis And The News?

 

[Tieball]

For reference in future wiring….avoid overlapping wire and apply the wire at more of an angle (45 degrees I believe….less like a spring).

 

[Troutnut]

No disrespect but it looks like the branches are simply "wired," rather than wired in order to bend them. I don't see any movement in the branches. Maybe some "before" photos could give something to compare to. Also, what kind of wire are you using? That green wire doesn't look like anything I've seen used in bonsai before. I'm not saying you need a specific kind of wire necessarily but you need a certain level of rigidity and gripping ability for it to be effective.

I knee-jerked and used some form of garden wire. Thank you for the feedback.

 

[Troutnut]

Did you use some kind of plastic coated steel wire?
If so please buy some aluminium bonsai wire because it will work better.

This is some kind of chamaecyparis obtusa and you need to know this species will not backbud on old wood.
Therefore I think you pruned too much of the foliage of the branches close to the trunk IMO.
This trees is probably grafted and to be sure you need to look at the rootbase to see if there is a bulge.
If there is a grafting bulge it could be a problem for the further development of the tree.

Thank you for the insight. Definitely gonna take a look at it later today.

 

[Japonicus]

Here’s a great video about wiring essentials, it’s the go-to guide that gets posted often to offer advice to newer wirers.

You’ve got some crossing wires and what looks like wires that are crossing and going in opposite directions. Your coils/wraps are also a bit on the steep angle side. Have a look at the video above for some great tips on how to become more proficient at wiring

+1
These videos will help.
Laying the wire on at 60 degrees with the right sized wire to hold the branch at that angle of spiral will prove beneficial both for you and the plant.

 

[RaginCajun]

I know that your friends are my friends and I’ve thought about that… you can have them!

Keep practicing bro. Wiring takes practice like anything else.