Bougainvillea

[Beano]

I don't think I've shown this one before but it's one of my favourite trees. I bought this from a lady who was moving and had to get rid of all her bonsais. I've changed it over the last two years so it was more compact. It still needs a lot more work but I love it's likeness to the whomping willow out of the Harry Potter movies.
When I got it:


First hack job:


Further compacting and re growth after move to cairns and a repot:


Today's defoliation, trim and repot. I moved it to the other side of the pot so it looks more correctly oriented now. Unfortunately I snapped off two big exposed roots [FACE SCREAMING IN FEAR] one was rotting and had no feeder roots on it but it was slightly important for the look of the tree:

[Elmar]

G'Day Beano,
Not that I have experience with bougies but that sounds like its been kept too wet ... would that be a fair assumption?

Also don't think they do well with deadwood ...

I also liked the tree in the first pic. What made you go away from that direction?

[Beano]

It was a double ended semi-cascade. It was beautiful but I didn't like the style.

Actually it's been dryer than it could have been. They have very soft roots that break easily, but you are right in that they are prone to rot at the dead wood areas. Usually they need to be treated. In future years I want to carve and harden the areas where branches have been removed, for now they'll stay with cut paste on them

[kcpoole]

It was a double ended semi-cascade. It was beautiful but I didn't like the style.

Actually it's been dryer than it could have been. They have very soft roots that break easily, but you are right in that they are prone to rot at the dead wood areas. Usually they need to be treated. In future years I want to carve and harden the areas where branches have been removed, for now they'll stay with cut paste on them

Dead wood on mine I treat with Earls wood hardener. Works a treat too

Ken

[Redsonic]

Dead wood on mine I treat with Earls wood hardener. Works a treat too

Ken

Hi Ken,
Is Earls wood hardener safe on live bits of wood too (i.e., a recently carved section)?

[kcpoole]

Dead wood on mine I treat with Earls wood hardener. Works a treat too

Ken

Hi Ken,
Is Earls wood hardener safe on live bits of wood too (i.e., a recently carved section)?

Do not get it on the live bits, They will get hard and never grow again ( done that)
Does not kill the tree or anything in my experience.

you can carefully paint the carved bits and make sure you do not get on live wood if you are careful and take your time. Allow each coat to dry and then reapply

Ken

[Jason]

Nice beano, just needs a little secret door in the botton and it's perfect Look forward to seeing where you take it from here