Interesting video on Prunus Mume branch wiring

[R3x]

Found this today:

Interesting approach on getting sharp bends.

 

[meushi]

I have done something a bit similar to get dramatic movement in the trunk of young cherry trees in the past. I'm not sure I'd try it on mume as they're not cheap

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It is true that ume branches don’t always die when snapped while wiring…but it’s a super risky technique to deliberately employ because they absolutely do drop branches.

 

[bwaynef]

I wonder if the fact that ALL of the branches get snapped influences the tree choosing not to drop the branches.

 

[Canada Bonsai]

David Easterbrook applied the technique a few times to this Ume, and when I brought the tree to him to work on, he did it once more in front of me without warning - my heart stopped! The branch of course survived.

It works if done right, but is meant for a very specific aesthetic objective. I guess its also a fun trick to do at a demo on Ume LOL

 

[0soyoung]

I think one can do this to most any species.

The key, of course, is that the branch is held stably across the break (e.g., was wired prior to snapping). A little dab of one's favorite 'cut paste' or wrapping will certainly improve one's success rate, though it may not matter much with a few particular species such as mume or persimmon.

 

[Pitoon]

I have snapped branches doing espalier on fruit trees and the branches survived being tied down to the wire.

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