Samson the Bougainvillea

[ben the barbarian]

This big bougainvillea was knocking down the brickwork at my father in law's place, Samson style, so he was pulling it out, and I said I'd happily take it off his hands.

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It was a bit of a monster, as thick as your thigh, and the roots were going down under the path etc, so as you can see a fair bit of damage was done getting it out. From there I just sawed it down to fit in the boot.

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I chucked it in a big pot, filled with potting mix, gave it a big water with seasol, sprinkled on some fertilizer than just hoped for the best. That was a couple of months ago now, and just in the past couple of weeks a couple of shoots have popped out, so I'm stoked it's at least alive.

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But I'd love some advice with how to push things along from here. I know its' nothing to look at, just a big dopey stump, but I have high hopes--

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Obviously that is a LONG way off, but that's the vision, anyway!

The tiny shoots that have grown are in odd places, down really low on the trunk. How can I encourage growth closer to the top to get some proper branches going? At this early point should I just let it do what it wants? Or should I nip off the badly placed growth? And what about that non-descript trunk with the army regulation flat-top? Not pretty huh?

Any tips would be great, as I'm still a bonsai L plater here..

[kcpoole]

Hi Ben
I have a few largish bougy that i have collected.
I would just let it go and do its thing till next year.
If the growth get really long you can trim them back and later in the summer, remove any branches or growth that are definitely in the wrong places if yo wish

The future vision looks quite nice too

ken

[Jamie]

cery acheivable vision. boug are nearly indestcructable so you sholdnt have a prob. let all the shoots go to get the vigour and also help with a finer root system.

give it a few months and then look at working it. it will thankyou letting it get some strength back.

good luck and keep us posted

[ben the barbarian]

Thanks for the tips, fellas!

[Bougy Fan]

And make sure you seal the top off to prevent rot. As the others have said leave it to recover. Is the mix free draining ? I water my bougs every day, but they don't have wet feet which they really dilike. Good luck !

Tony

[ben the barbarian]

Thanks Tony-

Sounds like I might need to water it a bit more often. I think the soil is fairly free draining. It's just a standard sort of potting mix.

As for the top, I should seal it, as it's looking a bit mouldy. Is there something around the house I could use to seal it, without buying something from the shop? My kids' play doh maybe?!

[kcpoole]

Thanks Tony-

Sounds like I might need to water it a bit more often. I think the soil is fairly free draining. It's just a standard sort of potting mix.

As for the top, I should seal it, as it's looking a bit mouldy. Is there something around the house I could use to seal it, without buying something from the shop? My kids' play doh maybe?!

Play doh will work OK but the kids will go crook at you
anything that will stop water and air entering the wound will work
Vaseline, paint are also alternatives

Ken

[ben the barbarian]

righto, thanks Ken- I might give vasoline a burl.