Bald Cypress Wiring

[Raindog]

I'm new to bald cypress bonsai and doing a lot of research. I have read that wiring bald cypress is useless because the branches will return to their original position once the wires are removed. Yet I have seen stunning examples of BC bonsai wired. What is the consensus of the experienced BC bonsai folk?
Thanks

 

[rockm]

Don't know where you read that. Not true, at all. Wired branches on most trees tend to move back to their original positions. That's not unique to bald cypress. Wire has to be allowed to "set" the branch. That can take a few weeks to even a few months on BC depending on how fast the limb/twig is growing.

 

[Raindog]

From a Bald Cypress article on the bci site.

"I don’t wire my bald cypress. While the small branches are flexible and can be wired without breaking them off, they do not set in the new position. Take the wire off and they spring right back into their former position. Neither do I fertilize them with anything except low-nitrogen fertilizers. I don’t want to stimulate growth, just keep the color a respectable green."

 

[rockm]

Uh, OK. none of that is necessary or necessarily true.

 

[rockm]

If you're talking about this article:
http://www.bonsai-bci.com/bonsai-appreciation-articles-menu/lew-lessons/know-your-trees/bald-cypress
The guy is in southern California, hasn't got much experience with BC and the experience he does have is not interpreted very well--and his tree shows it. He doesn't understand the basics, like how to force ramification, extension growth, etc.. If you're doing research on BC, get it from the people who actually know it in nature and have been working with it for decades--they live in the Southern U.S.

There are few of those guys here, John G. is one, Zach Smith is another
http://bonsai-south.com/best-bonsai-trees-for-beginners-bald-cypress
https://www.dallasbonsai.com/care-guides/bald-cypress.html
http://gnobs.org/resources/articles/

 

[Raindog]

Thanks for the references.

 

[Dav4]

I'm new to bald cypress bonsai and doing a lot of research. I have read that wiring bald cypress is useless because the branches will return to their original position once the wires are removed. Yet I have seen stunning examples of BC bonsai wired. What is the consensus of the experienced BC bonsai folk?
Thanks

If anything, I've found that bald cypresses wired in spring or summer...when the tree is about to grow or already is...have their branches set in no more then 6 weeks.

...and I use miracle gro along with organic ferts to great affect

 

[rockm]

A couple of more links
Gary Marchal's page. Don't know if he's still at it, but click on the pics of the specimen BC on his page and you can pick up some great tips
http://www.cajunbonsai.com/
This passage from one of the pictures gets at wiring and timing
"Structure of this now 52 inch tall cypress bonsai is being developed by the wiring of the bonsai twice a year. Initial wiring of the tree is completed on this bonsai before the first spring buds appear and the second wiring of the year is done during the month of July after this vigorous growing bonsai has been completely leaf pruned. Every branch of the bonsai is wired and the use of guy wiring is employed. Guy- wiring is anchored to the bottom of the bonsai using small eye bolts (wood screw type) screwed into the bonsai. When eye bolts are removed, only small holes remain which the bonsai heals very quickly."

Same here:
http://bonsai-south.com/bald-cypress-defoliation-wiring-and-potting

 

[Giga]

You may have got confused with spruce. BC branches will set in 4 weeks time when growing then the wire need to be taken off. Spruce you can wire for as long as a year then it can spring back.

 

[johng]

Wiring BC works well. I'm glad you were smart about your research... I teach my students that when you find questionable information, dig deeper and find other sources to validate the info....Just what you are doing here...good job!

 

[Zach Smith]

Ditto what johng said. Not only does wiring BC work, I'd go farther and say it's essential if you want your design plan to work.

 

[Cypress187]

Every branch will bow to the mighty power of wire!

 

[Jarath]

I love in Fla. My BC when wired hold in a matter of weeks. Great trees to work with.

 

[Lobaeux]

I need to get a BC!

Everyone here is right, Bald Cypress will lignify like other trees.

I've been reading up on it, it's called Thigmotropism. Essentially, the tree will respond to touch, in this case the touch of the wiring to will cause the branching to lignify on the concave side. Cool, eh?