Huge Bougainvillea - What to do?

[NBaker]

Hi everyone,

I have recently reignited my interest in Bonsai after a number of years. Today I picked this beaut Bougy up and was pleasantly surprised when I saw some great potential underlying the thick thorny overgrown bush.
Below are a few photos showing a short progression from what it looked like when I picked it up, and after a bit of pruning. Not really sure what I am going to do, it is quite big and a bit overwhelming. Perhaps a good hard prune is in order. Also, any ideas on colour and shape for a new pot? Open to all suggestions.

Cheers
Nick

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[Isitangus]

Wow that base and nebari look great. I would work from the bottom up and look at what shape you see-keep what needs to stay, chop and pot up anything you cut off.
What is the soil like?does it repel water? Give it some seasol/seamungus, maybe some mulch, and fert


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[banksia]

Extreme potential...As said already, work your design from that wonderful base. Semi cascade, Informal upright it's a beauty that's for sure.
The first 2 pics taken where the movement is to the left of view, is the go for sure.
A lot of roots need to be addressed (sp.??) I'm sure others will chime in.

Cheers!
Anthony

[NBaker]

Good tips, thanks. I did hit it with some seasol today, will give it a bit of additional fertilizer also.

[kcpoole]

I would lose the really big crossing branches near the base, then cut everything back hard to see what the trunkline and primary branching has to offer.
to me it look like they have lots of interest and movement.

Large rounded oval pot, in either glazed or unglazed

Ken

[Ash]

Looks like great material. Well done.

With Bougainvillea please bear in mind that its wood is soft and it rots very easily. I have seen many spectacular Bougainvillea lost because they were chopped too hard too quickly and carved out and then lost to rot because the subsequent growth of the tree was not enough to keep the live wood alive. Because they are tough people treat them mean and it is not necessary. So my personal advice is not to rush.

What I would do is reduce any soft and straggly growth that is likely to be lost due to transplanting. Give it good after care keeping it moist and misted just like transplanting and old bonsai. Keep as much leaf as possible and let the tree recover from transplanting. Then later when the live-wood is really growing well it is time to remove the unnecessary branches, one by one, and utilise the growth of the others to heal the edges of the wounds. Good material like this is worth the wait! I would rather have a great bonsai in four years and for the rest of my life a good bonsai in a year and no bonsai in four years.

As for style a well shaped semi-cascade is very easily obtainable from this material. The extra crown width that goes with the style will show of the variegated leaves and coloured flowers.

Good luck! Ashley

[matlea]

Great base on that... Lots of twists an movement... Looks like you'll have fun with that

[NBaker]

Thanks everyone, I'll keep you posted on progression.