Ronghua Tutorial: How to Make Red Maple Bonsai/Penjing

With its layered crimson leaves and graceful branching, this Red Maple Bonsai feels like a fleeting moment of fall frozen in time. This piece is about patience and balance—carefully shaping each element until the bonsai carries both strength and softness.

Preparation: What You’ll Need

If you’ve purchased our Ronghua Toolkit, you already have everything required!
If not, prepare the following tools:

1. Bristle brush (Medium to soft hardness)
2. Flat iron (the one you use to straighten your hair)
3. Tweezers
4. At least 2 pairs of Scissors
5. wooden sticks / pencils / chopsticks
6. Hair spray or diluted white glue (1:1.15–1:1.2 ratio)
7. Big clips (around 15cm)
8. Twisting boards and wooden blocks (for even tension)
9. Anti-slip powder (optional but helpful)

Full Tutorial Video

Step 1. Align and Arrange the Silk Threads

Start by untying your silk threads. Locate the knot at one end of each bundle and cut it open carefully. This project uses 5 colours of silk to create 3 silk rows. 

Step 2. Group and Prepare the Threads

Each silk bundle consists of tiny strand-like structures — these are your individual strands. 

Align all strands neatly and tie them around a thin stick, keeping the ends even. Avoid uneven lengths — this ensures consistent texture later on.

Step 3. Make Silk Rows

Repeat the above process to create three silk rows in total. Remember to refer back to the data provided in the diagram for the following rows, as each will differ slightly. Below are the finished silk rows we made.

Step 4. Brush the Silk Rows

Fix one silk row onto your stand using big metal clips - if you don't have the wooden ronghua stand, that's totally fine! You can refer to our video about alternative solutions to the stand.

Hold the ends of the threads with one hand and brush gently but firmly from top to bottom. Don’t lift the brush midway. A light mist of water will prevent static. You can apply some pressure — silk threads are stronger than they look! Make sure to brush both the front and back sides until the row looks smooth and fluffy. 

Everyone uses a different brush and hand speed, so the time it takes to complete this step is also different. Taking my situation as a reference, it took me about 10 minutes to brush this silk row. When you feel the hair is soft and fluffy, you can stop and check. When there is no complete linear distinction between the threads, it's ready:) 

Step 5. Attach Copper Wires

When you feel that the silk is brushed enough, secure its tail with another big clip to your table or anything that can help stretch it taut. Take out one copper wire from the folded end of the row and straighten it. Twist the folded part into a spiral of about 3 cm. Clamp the silk threads between two copper wires and twist the opposite side tightly. Pull both wires taut and continue twisting until they merge into one. Remember, the twisting direction for the left and right end are opposite. 

The spacing should be as shown in step 1. 

If you have anti-slip powder, it will be much easier to dip your fingers in it and twist it. 

We highly recommend you watch the video tutorial for this step:)

Once done, remove the silk row from the stand and lay it flat.

Step 6. Cut the Silk Strips

Trim the row’s end neatly, then cut between each pair of copper wires to create even silk strips. When cutting, the scissors must be placed in the middle of two copper wires, otherwise the width of the silk strips will be inconsistent.

If threads stick to your scissors, clean them — it’s usually caused by static or residue. Cut quickly and cleanly for smooth edges. Don't touch the wire or it may get displaced.

Step 7. Center and Twist the Strips

Align the copper wire to the middle of each strip using a flat surface or wooden block.
Once centered, twist both hands in opposite directions to tighten.

Next, place the copper part between the twisting boards and continue twisting in the same direction. Stop when the wire feels firm — twisting too far may cause it to break. How do you know if it is tightened enough? If tightened properly, the copper wire should only faintly show. If the copper wire is very visible, it’s not tight enough.

Step 8. Flatten the Strips

Use a mini iron to flatten the prepared strips.

Once flattened, soak them in shaping liquid, or gently brush the liquid on if you’re worried about shrinkage.

Prepare your setting solution:

1. Use either hair spray, or
2. Diluted white glue with water or alcohol (1:1.15 or 1:1.2 ratio)

Soak the flattened silk strips, let them absorb the solution, then scrape off the excess.

Step 9. Shape the Strips

Once they are dried, trim the strips into a general leafy outline like this.

The edges of the maple leaves have a jagged, sawtooth pattern, so use small scissors to make small cuts along the edges. Once they're all trimmed like this, it's ready.

Use the flat iron to give the leaves a small curve.

Step 10. Assemble the Leaves

The largest strip goes to the middle, and it gradually gets smaller on the sides. 7 strips form one complete maple leaf. Wrap silk thread along the copper wire stem down to the bottom. Tie a knot to secure the thread, then cut off the excess.

Add a thick wire to the maple leaf stem for better support. Wrap silk thread to secure the supporting wire.

Step 11. Assemble the Piece

Made multiple small branches, then combine the smaller ones to the main branch. Arrange them however you like, but better in a staggered pattern so it looks natural. Wrap the stem with silk thread all the way down.

Trees are thinner on top and thicker at the bottom, so add more copper wires as you work downward.

Step 12. Final Adjustments

Use tweezers to gently flip some of the leaves over, so it looks fuller and three-dimensional. 

Insert the piece into the pot and add some soil. You can add some decorative figures to finish off as well. 

Your Red Maple Bonsai is now complete!