Cascade style

JohnLewis

I have a Camellia and I want to prepare it for a cascade style. The trunk is very robust, so I think that if I tie it with wire, the trunk could be broken. Is there an alternative to tie with wire? I thought about putting the pot and the camellia in a horizontal position during long time. It is a good idea?

Regards,

John Lewis.

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JohnLewis

Nobody knows it?

RedPine

Hi,



What about just using some string or twine to tie it in,not so ruff on the tree and it will last long enough for roots to establish themselves in the new pot.

Oh nevermind,it's early in the morning here .I read your question and thought you were wanting to tie the tree into the pot without using wire.

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WildChild

If it is to thick, wiring it will just snap it. Best advice has already been said - use twine and pull it. This is why you need to get them while they're nice and beeeeeendy.

susieq

Hello John,
You might look into the tree bending clamps that are made for this type of work. I have personally never used them but have been considering getting a set just because sometime I might have to bend a really thick branch or trunk. They do it gradually over a long period of time. I know the bonsai monks carry them. I know they are mentioned in some of the books. It would probably be a good idea to pad the branch/trunk at the contact points to avoid marking it.

The clamps come in two styles that I have seen. One is horse shoe shaped (for lack of a better description) with curved areas on the ends that fit around the branch. Then there is a turn/screw thingie in the middle of the clamp that turns and pushes the branch in the opposite direction between the two curved areas. So while the hooks or curved areas hold the branch in on either side, the movable piece is slowly pushing the branch out in the middle, causing a bend in the branch. You control the process, turning the screw a little every week or month until the bend in the tree is the way you want it. Then I would leave it at that point for several months to set the bend.

The clamps come in various sizes for large and small branches/trunks. I don't think they are terribly expensive. They are re usable. But how often does one really need them? Look into it and see if one would do what you want to do. Just realize that you have to take it slowly.
Hope this gave you an option.
Best wishes,
susieq

Rock Chester

Good ideas SSQ, Wild, Red,Etc

Another technique to turn an upright tree into a cascade is to use a wire anchored at the bottom of the nursery container and tied to the top. Slowly bring the top over the side over time. You can give a side to side movement by getting other wires involved all puling diferent direc`tions.

the beauty of this system is that you can put the tree away and come back in a year or two with little or no damage done to the trunk. unlike wire as we all know causes all kinds of havok within these time frames.

Vance Wood

I only have two problems with this: One, I am not sure what it is you want to do, your description above is really vague and difficult to understand. Two, a picture of the tree would really help a lot. If you are thinking about breaking the trunk of the tree I would like to see why.

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Steve73

A cascade is also best formed using a branch as opposed to pulling the top of the tree down over the side (as someone mentioned). This will give the tree a change of direction instead of looking like a bent fishing pole.

JohnLewis

Thanks to all,

I think I will use a string to tie it.

Regards,

John Lewis