The original plan for this plant was actually to let it grow by using sacrificial branches and then work it out from there but then I received my first Bach of wire and I needed to try it if you look at the last pic you can see a new shoot growing from the trunk , could I not use that to thicken the trunk while pruning the rest to define the foliage pads ? I'm sorry to sound narcisist but I kinda like the shape it's took will it not work if I use the sacrificial branch ?
#RedJames I'm in scotland I doubt that the sun here will be hot enough to burn anything lol

RedJamesBonsai wrote: Where are you from? Here in the states it hot summer time . and I have heard and read to be careful with wiring in the heat as the wire will burn the tree

is this true?
Usually the marks you see appear if you leave wire too long during the growing season, as the wire will cut the branch as the tree grows. I've never heard about wire burning the tree. interesting.

Enaisio wrote: The original plan for this plant was actually to let it grow by using sacrificial branches and then work it out from there but then I received my first Bach of wire and I needed to try it if you look at the last pic you can see a new shoot growing from the trunk , could I not use that to thicken the trunk while pruning the rest to define the foliage pads ? I'm sorry to sound narcisist but I kinda like the shape it's took will it not work if I use the sacrificial branch ?
#RedJames I'm in scotland I doubt that the sun here will be hot enough to burn anything lol

Sacrificial branches work. But I think they are more useful for more advanced trees, to create better tapper, or if you already have something that looks like a trunk. Your tree's trunk is still way too thin, and it will take a very long time to thicken using only sacrificial branches. It will thicken faster if you just let it grow, then once you get a decent size trunk you use only sacrificial branches. It is good to get a trunk before doing anything. But I mean, it is up to you. The wiring looks clean, much better than my first attempts at wiring. Oh, much much better.

I have decided to keep the wire on for now and give it a basic styling just so I can get some experience in knowing how long I can keep the wire on and notice when it's about to bite in then in a year or two I'll do a nice trunk chop and start all over with more experience:)

I rewired it this year here's what came out of it


In the meantime the trunk is thickening