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Bougainvillea

Posted: March 24th, 2013, 5:07 pm
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.
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Here it is after chopping:
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And here it is the other side:
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Here is the deep fissure.
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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.

Re: Bougainvillea

Posted: March 24th, 2013, 5:22 pm
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?
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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.

Re: Bougainvillea

Posted: June 10th, 2013, 10:43 pm
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)

Re: Bougainvillea

Posted: June 10th, 2013, 11:17 pm
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.
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This is another option I am considering...but I am still not 100% sure.
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Something like this but with a bit more length on the lower left section.
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