How to apply and secure Raffia?

David Chauvin

Where can I find info on the finer points of using raffia? Things like how to properly begin and end the wraps and how to tie off neatly when finished.

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TreeBay

This might be a help.

http://macweb.macol.net/~PABonsai/Raffia.html

I don't know of anything definitive. If you want to see some nice raffia work, though any of the Kimura Magical Technician books would be instructive. I think they are out of print, but they come up used on Amazon.com and e-bay

As far as starting a wrap, you can simply knot half a dozen strands together a few inches from one end, slip it over the branch and then knot it again, as tightly as you can. Tuck the loose tail under after the first couple wraps have been made, and it won't show at all

(Don't forget to soak the raffia in hot water for 30 minutes or so to make it pliable and stretch. Then it will shrink as it dries.

When you get to the end, if you drop a couple strands and then wrap back over it just a bit a couple times you can use those loose threads togther with the others to tie off.

Regards,

Matt

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David Chauvin

Matt, I've used things like strips of plastic garbage bag and duct tape (folded over on itself to cover the gluey side) to wrap branches. Both work great, but some experienced growers have been giving me a hard time, calling this an insult to the trees. I'll try the raffia this weekend. Thanks. David.

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TreeBay

Well that green tape or garbage bags are made of polyethylene, and designed to expand with a minimum of tension, which is kind of the opposite of what you want from the raffia.

As far as duct tape is concerned, But if you are just looking for padding, I suppose either could do the job.

Regards,

Matt

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Shambhala

I just used raffia for the first time a few weeks ago.

It was a little tricky at first, but Matt explained it perfectly.

Is it just me, or does that stuff STINK when it is wet? My cats were swarming the area and trying to like it... reminds me of crayfish

Carl_Bergstrom

How are we here in the United States ever going to develop a "national style" of bonsai if people like you go around turning up your nose at duct tape?

What's good enough for MacGyver...

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stephentoddpope

this is probably a stupid question ,but what is a raffia?

bonsaial1

The stuff they make hula skirts out of in hawaii.

Harold B.

It's a straw type of bark off of a certain palm tree. It is used in making grass skirts, securing flowers together to make "haku leis" (pronounced hah-koo lays)

haku - braiding "somewhat", with a central binding cord and mixture of flower, leaf and/or fern. The term haku is loosely used for the head lei.

Raffia was also an industrial type of twine for any and every type of securement in old polynesia......(Olden day hawaiians didn't have duct tape like bonsaial.....

Aloha,
Harold

Check out this link to see a haku lei.....
http://www.paradiseflowers.com/hakuleis.htm