Bougainvillea

Forum for discussion of Flowering and fuiting bonsai - Azalea, Serissa, Apricot etc.
Post Reply
Neli
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1404
Joined: April 27th, 2012, 3:17 am
Favorite Species: Tropical
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Bonsai alaminutte
Location: Lusaka
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Bougainvillea

Post by Neli »

Not sure if I should put it in tropicals, or flowering...it fits in both.
I dug out my first plant aroud October last year from my garden. And it was this bougie. The main plant is very nice (IMHO). This was a brunch sticking horizontally from the base, that looked awkward to me so I chopped it off. Had no roots, and it is large for a cutting, but it rooted very well, leafed, and has flowers now.
Looked so much like wind swept to me, but did not like the fact that some of the branches, were too straight, long and with no tapper.
I chopped it yesterday, tried to look for a front...but feel some more chopping is in order, ones I decide what style to make from it.
The top is broken and has deep fissure between the two top branches, and that large branch pocking you in the eye is dead wood. Might be good material for gin and curving...depending on the design.
I know bougie wood rots fast...But maybe can apply some preservatives to it.
So here it is my large cutting before I massacred it and after. It was done yesterday.
I did some silly virtuals...but am not sure in which direction to go. There is a bougie by one of you here that I liked like a semi cascade...but not too sure what suits this tree best.
On this picture you can see the dead part at the apex.
2013-03-22 2013-03-22 001 002 (640x480).jpg
Here it is after chopping:
2013-03-22 2013-03-22 001 018 (640x480).jpg
And here it is the other side:
2013-03-22 2013-03-22 001 007 (640x480).jpg
Here is the deep fissure.
2013-03-22 2013-03-22 001 014 (640x519).jpg
I suspect I will need to remove one of those top three branches...or it might create reverse Tapper. Maybe the lower or middle of the three branches??? What do You think?
I did some virtuals...a bit boring...but I hope you can advise better... Maybe one of the ones I drew...or something better.
Which one should be the front also is a dilemma for me, and at what angle the tree should be positioned. Leaning forward??? How is this achieved in this case??? Lowest branches hugging you forward????
I guess that will not apply here. But it is hard to decide how the front should be positioned.
Please help.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Neli on March 24th, 2013, 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I ask lots of questions that sound like suggestions. Please remember I am a inquisitive newbie trying to figure out why You made a particular decision, in order to learn.
I started a blog:http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07 ... a-nursery/
Neli
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1404
Joined: April 27th, 2012, 3:17 am
Favorite Species: Tropical
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Bonsai alaminutte
Location: Lusaka
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Bougainvillea

Post by Neli »

Since I have not decided on the style yet, I left that small branch next to the lowest large one.
This is what I have done so far as a virtual. Are they any good? Which one do You prefer, and have you got any better ideas?
2013-03-22 2013-03-22 001 009 (640x480)a (800x175).jpg
Number one is more like uninterpreted slanting broom, or informal up right.
Number 2 is like a interapted broom. But broom is not supposed to have slanting trunk...so???? Not too sure here.
Number 3 is windswept
And No4 is just slanting style, with low branches.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Neli on March 24th, 2013, 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I ask lots of questions that sound like suggestions. Please remember I am a inquisitive newbie trying to figure out why You made a particular decision, in order to learn.
I started a blog:http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07 ... a-nursery/
Naimul
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 189
Joined: December 11th, 2012, 7:15 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 3
Location: Sydney

Re: Bougainvillea

Post by Naimul »

I reckon the first one looks the best, as it looks balanced, especially how the trunk is off center and on an angle. Im curious to know how you would go about growing that far right branch since there doesnt seem to be one there already (probably sounds like a stupid question, but im fairly new to bonsai)
Acer buergerianum, Acer palmatum, Bougainvillea (something), Ficus microcarpa, Lagerstroemia indica 'Fauriei', Melaleuca styphelioides, Olea Europa, Prunus (something) 'Dwarf Apricot', Quercus robur, Ulmus parvifolia, Zelkova serrata
Neli
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1404
Joined: April 27th, 2012, 3:17 am
Favorite Species: Tropical
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Bonsai alaminutte
Location: Lusaka
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Bougainvillea

Post by Neli »

I have already done a 5th style...probably will go with that one...Meanwhile I reduced some more the straight long branches. Want to have nice tapper. When the branches emerge I shall shorten them some more. This bougie has internodes spaced at 1-2 mm and is one of the easiest plants to back bud...There were already some buds there, some of which I have been removing. If you trim it it back buds a lot.
This is now it looks after I chopped it some more. I keep removing the flowers and new ones pop. Since the picture I have shortened that bottom left branch ( and some others) some more.
2013-05-23 001 010 (800x600).jpg
This is another option I am considering...but I am still not 100% sure.
2013-03-22 2013-03-22 001 020v5a.jpg
Something like this but with a bit more length on the lower left section.
tumblr_lsihecLUI71r4nzsgo1_500.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Neli on June 10th, 2013, 11:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I ask lots of questions that sound like suggestions. Please remember I am a inquisitive newbie trying to figure out why You made a particular decision, in order to learn.
I started a blog:http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07 ... a-nursery/
Post Reply

Return to “Flowering and fruiting”