Bonsai Wire

Bonsai wire is used to reposition trunks and branches. It allows you to create special shapes and give creative detail.

It is temporary and is used to start creating a bonsai, maintain an existing one and to change older bonsai as well.

It is wrapped on the branch or trunk the way it is currently growing.

Then with fingers on the wire only ... bend slowly to achieve a new position.

Types of Bonsai Wire

The two most common types of bonsai wire are copper and aluminum.

There are several differences between copper and aluminum.

Copper

Copper for bonsai is not the same as the wire you would find in a home store hardware department. Common copper wire is less expensive, however, then it must be annealed (heated) to soften it for bonsai use. "Copper bonsai wire" has been annealed to make it much easier to work with than common copper. Always ask!

Copper is sized by its gauge. The lower the number the heavier the wire. The heavier the wire the heavier the use (large branches.)

#20 copper wire would be for fine branches. The #12 and #14 are considered the most often used sizes overall.

Aluminum

At first glance aluminum bonsai wire may not look aluminum because it has a bronze-like coating. This coloring is used to help it blend in with the tree.

Aluminum sizing is entirely different than copper.

Aluminum is sized in the metric system, starting with 1.0 (which is very small.) In aluminum the most common sizes for beginners are 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5.

Large, heavy branches will take higher numbers.

Metrics Coming to the USA

A Note About Metrics

Get ready! The U.S. government is gradually switching to the metric unit system. The National Park Service has already changed. All of the more recent brochures and signs for NPS use metric units.

Meanwhile, if you need help determining the height of European bonsai, or the size of your bonsai wire use this metric conversion table.

Which Type of Wire is Best?

The big difference in the two types is, copper 'hardens' once it is on a branch and holds the branch more firmly.

Since you can use smaller sizes to do the same job, many prefer copper over aluminum.

On the other hand, if you are using fast growing trees (i.e. tropicals), aluminum is less likely to cut in as quickly.

Different bonsai artists favor different types of wire. The best wire is the one you are comfortable with.

When you first purchase bonsai wire be cautious. Do not to buy sizes of either extreme ... too small or too big. (I still have some of the first large roll of 1.0 aluminum wire I ever purchased!)

There are two secrets to proper wiring – use the right size and remember – it is not permanent, take it off before it cuts in!

How Can You Tell Which Size?

If you plan to wire bonsai, you should have several sizes on hand. It is better to buy small amounts in the beginning.

An easy way to tell which size you need is to take smallest size you have, press a small piece against the part of a branch you want to shape.

If the branch does not bend, but the wire does … go to the next size … and the next size if necessary.

Do not press against the end of the branch, that will tell you nothing. Be sure to press near where you want the branch to bend.

Always anchor the wire. If it is not secured in the ground, OR wrapped around the trunk or another branch at least twice before it gets to the branch you want to bend, it's not going to work!

Proper bonsai wiring can take years of practice. The best short cut is a good bonsai teacher.

In Addition to Wire

In some instances, pulling limbs down with string or wire, even weighing them down with rocks or fishing weights is a supplemental way to reposition branches.

Frequently, they are used in combination.

How Long Does Wire Stay On?

Wiring bonsai is much like braces on teeth. It reshapes or repositions a branch or trunk by bending it.

This process (like braces) is a temporary procedure ... removed when the branch holds the desired position. To prevent scaring, wire is sometimes taken off early, only to be rewired and bent again.

When checking to see if the wire is about to damage the tree use this excellent bit of advice from Florida bonsai artist Ed Trout:

Removing Wire

Any type of wire cutters will work. However bonsai wire cutters are shaped to prevent damage to the bark.

It is tempting to unwind bonsai wire to save money. With copper wire especially, this is a bad idea. You may easily damage a small branch or even gouge the trunk.

Add a pair of these cutters to your bonsai tool collection.

Where to Go From Here

Top of Page

Have you seen the Bonsai Supplies page?

Speaking of wire, there is a fun page about wire tree sculpture!