Wire Question

[GrimLore]

A few years back my Wife left wire on a Tropical a bit to long and was really angry at herself for the scarring. I suggested she use Aquarium tubing over the wire and I don't know that it works any better because she now pays better attention.
My question is does anyone here use that method or is it considered unacceptable?

Grimmy

 

[thams]

It seems to me you would have the same issue because the tubing (although softer) only has so much give. The branch would eventually swell enough for the tubing to cut in too.

I suppose the tubing could buy you some time before the wires really dig in, but I'm not sure the effort is worth it (to me at least). Plus I feel like tubing would be clumsy -- especially for detail wiring.

 

[Dav4]

I use the tubing to protect from pressure induced damage from guy wires, fulcrum points, etc., but not as a sleeve over wire as a rule. The key is to really know how to wire correctly (easier said then done) and removing the wire after it has done its job and before it starts to bite in...and I'd use aluminum wire as it's wider and more forgiving then copper.

 

[lordy]

While trees on display should only show "minimal" wire, in the US it seems to be generally frowned upon. Not sure if this is the case in Japan or not. But even so, you would need quite a lot of room around the branch to use tubing, and it would need to be pretty large wire to warrant that. I wouldnt do it because it would look terrible, in my opinion.
I agree with DAV4 that it has it's place. However if wiring is done properly, and watched fairly regularly, you should be fine without tubing. Even fast growers in the spring would need several weeks to swell into wire if done correctly, and you should be looking closely at your trees more than once or twice a month.

 

[Poink88]

I use the tubing to protect from pressure induced damage from guy wires, fulcrum points, etc., but not as a sleeve over wire as a rule. The key is to really know how to wire correctly (easier said then done) and removing the wire after it has done its job and before it starts to bite in...and I'd use aluminum wire as it's wider and more forgiving then copper.

I agree and is what I use the tubing for, sometimes I use cut up water hose for heavy duty application.