How to anchor a bonsai tree into its container

[@swann331]

What are the square mesh pieces? Are they placed to grab the root base, or are they a strainer for water? Please explain. Thank you

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for the question. The mesh is to cover the drainage holes, which every container used for bonsai should have. The mesh allows water to drain through but keeps the growing media in the container. Use too fine a mesh and it becomes clogged, too coarse and the media will fall through of course. Hope this explains it?

[@swann331]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai thank you. I assumed so, but wanted to make sure that was the case. Much appreciated

[@elizabethnelms2564]

Thank you!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

🙏🏻👍🏻

[@mikbonsai]

Good information for new comers.

[@fishmut]

Not.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Shame @fishmut, I’m sorry for boring you. But please feel free to troll another channel.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@mikbonsai thanks for the comment, it’s nice to know my efforts are appreciated by 99,9% of individuals.

[@stevenvitali7404]

How long do you leave the wires on for?, Just did my first repot of a Chinese sweet plum bonsai

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for the question Steve. You dont cut/remove them till you repot again.

[@stevenvitali7404]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai o.k thanks for the reply

[@daver9643]

Can I use copper wire around the roots, two part question and would it be safe to twist the copper wire around the base of the trunk to secure it in place? Thanks

[@Mr._Lister_The_Sister_Phister]

​@@daver9643 Yes, copper wire is fine to use for wiring a bonsai into a pot. In fact, it appears to be what he's using in the video. It's either that or anodized aluminum wire with a copper-colored coating. My bet is that it's copper though, and this assessment is based on primarily on the size of the tree. Copper wire will always be stronger than aluminum wire of the same gauge (thiccness), and a tree of this size could potentially bend or even possibly snap aluminum anchoring wire if the tree were inadvertently knocked over or something. Tbh when it comes to anchoring a tree, copper is almost always the way to go. In addition to its superior strength, It's also far more resistant to corrosion. Anodized aluminum wire is also highly resistant to corrosion, due to the anodization process forming a protective oxide layer on the wire surface. However, if this (very thin) coating gets damaged or scratched, which is almost guaranteed to happen if you're using a potting mix containing stuff like lava rock, pumice etc, which you should be, then the exposed aluminum becomes far more susceptible to rust and corrosion. This is obviously undesirable, as it will compromise the wires strength and make it likely to fail. With that being said, there are times when, IMO, aluminum wire is the better option for anchoring a tree. Primarily this would be if you've got a tree that is considerably smaller than the one here. Aluminum is much easier to twist, since copper work-hardens (the more you bend it, the harder it becomes to bend), and I've found that this makes aluminum less likely to break or damage delicate roots when twisting it tight. Again, that's just my personal opinion though. On a side note, if you find yourself with a length of copper wire that has work-hardened to the point of uselessness, you can "reset" it back to a much more flexible state by a very easy process called annealing. This entails heating the wire to a certain temperature. I'm not certain what the exact required temp is, but I can tell you that it can be done by either heating the entire length of wire with a torch, or by spooling it into a round form and placing it on your stove burner at max heat. Let it sit on the stove for a little bit, until it takes on a dull grayish color, then shut the heat off and let it cool. When it does, it will once again bend easily, but be warned that you don't get many mess-ups before it's work hardened all over again. On a side side note, if you source copper wire from recycled appliances or other similar non-bonsai-specific sources, you'll need to check a couple of things before you do any annealing. Especially if you plan to use the stove. Do a test with a tiny piece of the wire. You'll want to do a scratch test first, to ensure that it's not simply copper-clad aluminum, and then you'll want to do a burn test to see what happens. Some copper wire, particularly that found in electric motors, can have a coating on it that will smoke like fuck when you heat it up. So if your test piece starts smoking and smelling like shit when you heat it, don't anneal any more of it! In fact, I'd say don't even use it for bonsai at all if it's coated. With a bit of experience you'll easily be able to tell if copper is coated just by looking at it, but until then, best to just be on the safe side and perform those 2 quick tests if you're I'm doubt. TL;DR Copper wire is recommended for bonsai anchoring due to its strength, corrosion resistance, and suitability for most trees. Anodized aluminum wire can be used but is more prone to corrosion if the coating is damaged. Aluminum wire can be better for anchoring smaller trees.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for providing such a detailed reply to the question. Much appreciated.

[@patriciorenatotoroibarra134]

Music?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Please elaborate?