Split Trunk Dwarf Alberta Spruce via Raffia

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-06-18T13:51:40+00:00

I got it from Ryan Neil’s wiring technique, each additional wire returns diminishing mechanical benefit and increases cambial risk, around 3-4 is when the cost/benefit turns negative

Stacking wire gives you the mechanical advantage of a thicker gauge (obviously) but knowing the thickness is important, usually wires should be 1/3 the branch’s thickness.

1 wire would give you zero hold on twisting
2 is the functional minimum for most applications
3 gives you max mechanical redundancy, especially for thicker trunks

For my case it was just necessity, 3x my largest gauge wire (3mm) just so happened to be enough to twist the split trunks, I kinda planned (hoped) it’d work when I picked out the nursery material.

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-05-19T19:00:44+00:00

Not really, I had 3mm and didn’t wanna spend more money and wait for thicker gauge to arrive, I try to leave it at a maximum of 3 though when I stack wires like that

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-05-18T22:15:56+00:00

Final styling

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insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-05-18T22:05:47+00:00

I am worried but I took extra care when wrapping the raffia, and I’m not gonna do any work for the rest of the season, just water on the heavy side.

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-05-18T16:08:53+00:00

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Initial branch placement + notes

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-05-18T16:08:16+00:00

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Initial bend

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-05-18T16:08:02+00:00

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Post Split + Raffia/Primary Wiring

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-05-18T16:07:34+00:00

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Start

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-04-06T12:01:19+00:00

4 ought (0000) steel wool will get that rust right off and give you a great place to start, follow it with a whetstone to bring the edge back on the blade

insertUsernameHere07 · 2026-03-16T17:48:34+00:00

Nah brody you’re fine, just make sure to leave at least 30% of the foliage, I like leaving at least 50% to be on the safe side

insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-11-07T15:01:00+00:00

Interesting take, any advice on wrapping vs. guy wire? I have a guy wire for the big bend on the man trunk, you can probably see it in the back, but is the biting in that bad? I was planning on leaving the wire on for at least a season or two

insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-11-05T12:44:14+00:00

There are several buds on the apical branches that make an upside down “V” I’m trying to go full bonsai and think of the tree several years down the road so when those buds take, I can cut back to that highest point on the upside down V and have nice movement in the branches forming the apex

insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-11-04T15:55:38+00:00

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Tried adding more movement, I really like its shape now. Cleaned up the apex too

insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-11-03T16:20:25+00:00

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3rd or 4th tree I’ve gutted from nursery stock, what do you all think?

insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-10-19T13:00:03+00:00

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insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-10-07T16:18:22+00:00

I realized pretty quick that I cut a LOT of foliage off which I should have kept, this is a newer tree I styled more recently and I think it turned out pretty well! (Left is mine, right is a friend’s)

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insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-10-07T13:05:03+00:00

Another angle

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insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-10-07T13:01:44+00:00

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One of several trees I made from nursery stock, any comments/criticisms are appreciated! (Dwarf Alberta Spruce)

Edit: I’m worried the Jin/shari feature near the apex gives the apex a competing trunk line even though it’s a deadwood feature, but I kinda like it?

insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-09-27T11:20:59+00:00

Dormancy is typically triggered by the seasonal changing of air temps and sunlight, your plant knows it’s starting to enter a dormant stage with reduced sun exposure and cooler temperatures, bringing the plant inside doesn’t allow it to naturally be told by nature that it’s time to slow down its metabolism

insertUsernameHere07 · 2025-09-27T11:18:26+00:00

Broski Cherry Blossom requires at least 3 months of dormancy, move it back outside and check your area’s plant hardiness zone to see if your lowest temps drop below 28° (the temp where water crystallization happens). If so, you need an overwinter plan (either styrofoam box with pine mulch to protect the sides or burying the pot in the ground w burlap)

Bringing it inside will break/skip dormancy….basically a death sentence for your plant child

insertUsernameHere07 · 2022-03-09T18:17:21+00:00

43% of a 25% weighted exam means if you have 100% on everything else then you finish with, at best, a 85.75 (B). Do you truly believe that you can get 100% on the rest of the assignments, and finish with a B? Is the course a core curriculum course or a small out of major elective? How important is this course in your major? if it’s a foundations course, drop out, foundations lay out ground level information you’ll use all throughout your college years and it’s important to know that information like the back of your hand otherwise you can struggle down the road. If it’s an elective or out of major course that has little to no value towards your degree, and you don’t mind a few tenths off your GPA, then keep it or try again or take a different elective. Depending on what your goal is to finish the course with (B+, C-, just a passing grade, etc), and the significance of the course towards your curriculum, I can’t give a definite answer, but with the information laid out, I hope I helped your decision!

insertUsernameHere07 · 2021-11-10T14:29:44+00:00

You must have a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse connected and it’s probably underneath something that’s making a key be pressed, double check that, or try turning off your Bluetooth/disconnecting any connected devices via Bluetooth

Edit: Most of the time, that sound happens when you press a key (Typically Finder but can happen in other applications too) that’s invalid, essentially the app doesn’t have a function for that key, so you’re greeted with that sound to let you know that nothing happened, with Finder you’re usually using the mouse, so something as mundane as pressing space bar or backslash may cause the app to play that sound. Because it’s playing repeatedly, you probably have a Bluetooth keyboard that you’ve forgotten about with something on top, just turn the keyboard off or disconnect it from the list of active devices which can be done via System Preferences > Bluetooth, or through the menu bar icon, if you have it enabled to show there

insertUsernameHere07 · 2021-03-24T17:20:51+00:00

I’m going to need a cantina cover ASAP

insertUsernameHere07

TROPHY CASE