Wiring a Bonsai to a pot

[BuddingGardener]

Hi
I have just bought a bonsai and repotted it in proper bonsai soil, but it needs to be tied to the pot as its not secure.
What size of wire should I use?
Thanks

One hole in the pot or two? Probably 1.5 or 2mm wire. You will need to take the tree out of the pot again, sorry! If there are two holes, feed each end of a long piece of wire up both holes from the bottom, put the plant & soil back, and fold the wire over the top of the root ball, then twist together until firm and tuck the ends down in the soil. If only one hole, use something like a lolly stick or a bit of thicker stiff wire, wrap the smaller wire round it so you have two small ends and feed them both up the hole with the stick holding it in place underneath. Then twist together round the root ball as for 1-hole. HTH
You can probably find a demo on youtube.

Forgot to mention, you can use mesh inside the pot to stop the soil from falling out of the hole.

Thanks, I had put mesh at the bottom it's got two big holes at the bottom and four smaller holes for the wire.
Can I just order 1 roll of 1.5 or 2mm wire? It's looking a bit poorly, better than it did I've been watering nearly every day, the bonsai soil dries very fast.

If you don't have any wire, then you could make do with some of that green gardening string, or raffia instead and tie it in. The soil is designed to be free-draining, and the big holes at the bottom of the pot help that as well, so it will need watering frequently. Don't drown it though. As you've re-potted it, then you could also mist it every couple of days while it settles in and grows new roots.

What species of tree is it? They all have different light and water requirements, and most are happier living outside in a sheltered spot during the warmer months. Depending on the species, some can live outside all year round, most of mine do. Yours has been inside for a while so it would be too much of a shock for it to move it yet.

Have a look on ebay and see if you can get a book called 'Bonsai Basics' by Colin Lewis - there are usually quite a few second-hand copies for a couple of quid, and it's a handy guide for people new to bonsai.