So my repotted juniper ....WIGGLED ....

[Mike Corazzi]

Even though I ran CROSS wires from corner to corner..... urk..... a BIT of wiggle.
SO
I took a big old 4 inch long cap screw and pounded the EDGES of the soil DOWN .... I mean DOWN !!!!

No wiggle now.
Well, an 8 pound sledge could probably budge it. Good enough.

 

[Tieball]

Well...at least you didn’t glue rocks on the surface. You didn’t...right?

 

[Dav4]

 

[ShadyStump]

Well...at least you didn’t glue rocks on the surface. You didn’t...right?

Dude! Glue?
And here I've been doing it with garden staples and duct tape this whole time

 

[bwaynef]

Learning how to wire the tree in the pot correctly is an easily overlooked step that plays a huge role in the outcome.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Well...at least you didn’t glue rocks on the surface. You didn’t...right?

OF COURSE NOT !!!

Do you think I was working on a CREPE MURDLE ?

 

[badatusernames]

I have a boxwood I bought that has an awful wiggle and I'm real tempted to repot it sooner rather than later in summer

 

[Paradox]

Learning how to wire the tree in the pot correctly is an easily overlooked step that plays a huge role in the outcome.

This.

You might want to evaluate your technique and adjust accordingly

 

[sorce]

Then again...

Some of us just NEED a reason to pound things!

Just don't test it with that sledge!

Build a bench....for Crepe!

Crape Culture.

Sorce

 

[Mike Corazzi]

This.

You might want to evaluate your technique and adjust accordingly

Forgot to mention in OP that the real clincher was a longitudinal wire between the drain holes.
So.....

 

[Paradox]

Forgot to mention in OP that the real clincher was a longitudinal wire between the drain holes.
So.....

I have wired a bunch of trees myself. Sometimes the way you do it for most of your trees doesnt work for some reason on a particular tree.
Most of the time this is how the root system is shaped.

I've had a few that were loose when I got done. No matter how much I twisted the wire, I couldnt get it tight.
I had to re-evaluate my technique and redo it or add an additional wire. There are different ways to wire a tree into a pot.
There is the one where you string the wire across diagonally along the bottom and up the opposite corner drain holes.
Then there is the one where you go from corner to corner to corner.
The latter usually works better in my experience.

You shouldnt need to pound the edges down with a hammer which isnt a technique used to secure a tree into a pot.
It could cause more damage than the time you think you are saving.
I wouldnt be surprised if it works loose again.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You weren't able to lift the pot up and grasp the wire from underneath with pliers and just twist to give a more zigzag look under the pot. That tends to tighten in a pinch as well. I guess I am not grasping the bigger picture. If a tree ends up with wiggle...after the plier trick. I have repotted and rewired the entire tree again until secure. Do it right the first time...or second. Allows a tree firmly stable in a pot.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Preparing a pot

Preparing a pot to plant a bonsai requires a few steps. 1. Plastic canvas is cut, large enough to overlap each drainage hole. 2. Using a piece of wire (2-2.5 mm aluminum is good), make a “sta…

nebaribonsai.wordpress.com

 

[Mike Corazzi]

On this particular tree, the rootball was ludicrously small. The soil around the edges isn't even over many roots so I don't expect damage.
The longitudinal wire did the trick.
I think when those poor roots sniff the pumice now touching them, they will throw a party and take up the whole pot with glee.

 

[Carol 83]

Preparing a pot

Preparing a pot to plant a bonsai requires a few steps. 1. Plastic canvas is cut, large enough to overlap each drainage hole. 2. Using a piece of wire (2-2.5 mm aluminum is good), make a “sta…

nebaribonsai.wordpress.com

The first time I read this, it is was a revelation. I had always been unsatisfied after I wired a tree in, because I was doing it wrong!!!

 

[HorseloverFat]

Damn! Remind me NEVER to “wiggle” in YOUR proximity!

 

[PA_Penjing]

cool article, this is something I have been lucky to get away without giving the proper respect to. will correct this spring.

 

[bwaynef]

Preparing a pot

Preparing a pot to plant a bonsai requires a few steps. 1. Plastic canvas is cut, large enough to overlap each drainage hole. 2. Using a piece of wire (2-2.5 mm aluminum is good), make a “sta…

nebaribonsai.wordpress.com

"I start with the back left wire (1), and pull it forward to the front left wire (2), and twist them together with pliers. Then, pull the #2 wire across the front to the front right wire (3), twist it down, and pull the #3 wire to the back right wire (4), and twist it down. Finally, the pigtail is pulled to the front left wire to complete the 4-way tie down."

Based on the picture below that section, this wiring makes a | (1 to 2), then a __ (2 to 3), then a | (3 to 4). Then your directions would have it tie the pigtail (5) back to (2). I think in this scenario, back right (4) should go to the pigtail (5).