Zip ties on bonsais

[Wires_Guy_wires]

View attachment 322192alright thank you! I use them ALL THE TIME . Just making sure they did not hurt them!

I'm just wondering how you're going to get these off without damaging your saplings. I would space them a little more while you still can ;-)

 

[Trueblackpercula]

Very interesting, thank you for the great idea.

 

[M. Frary]

I was wondering if it is OK to use zip ties on bonsais. They could realy come in handy!

I have ratchet straps on one.
They are great for moving large branches.

 

[leatherback]

I have them on a few plants that need new roots but I was to lazy to officially layer. Potted deeper. Ziptie on the base of the trunk and let her grow. Also usefull when making bends as alternative to raffia.

 

[Clicio]

Also usefull when making bends as alternative to raffia.

Not raffia as a branch/bark protective barrier, right? As a sort of guy wire? I don't get it.

 

[leatherback]

Not raffia as a branch/bark protective barrier, right? As a sort of guy wire? I don't get it.

you start bending. Notice the branch starting to split alogng the fibres. Pull out zipties.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Zip ties are great, but don't use them to "replace" good wiring technique. If you pull out the zip ties in order to avoid having to wire, you really need to practice wiring until you get better at wiring. Zip ties are no replacement for good wiring.

On the other hand, zip ties are often quicker and easier to get in place than guywires, and as pointed out, good as tourniquets or for bundling.

They really are handy at times.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

In the Bonsai Q videos, when they visit nurseries to select shohin shimpaku, most or a lot of the material features zip ties on the trunks to create and hold major bends making the trees more compact and with clean trunks.

The term they use is “insulock” for zip tie. In the past 3 days I have learned a tremendous amount about Shari, plated trunks, and how to avoid the trunk from folding onto itself (making contact with itself at one location) with bends and twists. I think it is the best free content online that I have found so far.