Bonsai: how to deal with brittle branches or bending thick branches/ trunks

Bonsai are generally easy to train with a little patience and time but sometimes a tree simply will will not cooperate. Generally speaking persuasion devices do not suit bonsai trees. This means you must use other tools and techniques to finesse your tree into cooperating.

This is a common issue with some species which are notorious for brittle or hard branches. Junipers, Fuchsia and boxus species being good examples. Each can make their own stunning specimens but how do you address the this problem.

Assuming that you are trying to wire and form your tree at the right time. That you have been caring for it properly. That the tree is healthy. All of these things are needed or the tree will be too unhealthy for this rough treatment.

As a beginner this may seem beyond you or too difficult but there are a some very simple tricks. This can be the use of a simple piece of fabric to buffer the wear and tear on your tree. You can go so far as to buy specialized tools for the same effect.

This is not exhaustive and if you are feeling experimental other options are more effective and less destructive. Those that do more damage tend to leave the trees softwood exposed and reduces the risk of something bad getting into the tree.