AusBonsai

Hi everyone, I picked up this bougainvillea today and I'm pretty happy with it. But I have no idea how to proceed with the overall design. I like the hollow front, but I think it'll need some work to make it look better, how would I go about preping the wood?. Any thoughts/ideas? I'll post more pics and update my ideas when it stops raining

This is the current front, showing the hollow front:


I really like this as a front possibility because it shows a gnarly trunk and some cool taper, but the base is a little weak from this view. I'll try correct this by rotating it a bit.


Here is another possibility


And another. This was my initial idea of what to use as the front, because it shows taper, base flair and the hollow front


Also, general care: full sun, they like to be a little dry, I can prune at this time of year, maybe some light fertilizer. This sound right? Also, I should be selecting a single branch from each "bunch" to encourage strong growth for the selected branch, right?

Thanks

Lovely trunk and agree to your front.

Cut back hard and yes keep only 1 of the shoots / branches where they leave the trunk. Cut back to the second of 4th leaf like any tree to build ramification.
For me I would repot in spring and till about 2 deg to the right to get some dynamic movement out of the ground and let that bend bring the apex back over the base.
I fertilise mine all through winter as the do not stop growing. I assume you woud be the same?
I still am trimming and cutting mine and will be for a few weeks yet till they slow down.

Treat the deadwood with Earls wood hardener as I have had great success with mine doing that

Ken

This is what I have done, maybe it helps, would love to get my hand on this one, lots of potential. Hope you get some idea.

viewtopic.php?f=132&t=21679

I like #1 or #4 as the front. In that order. I see what you say about weak base in #1, but you get to appreciate the flowing effect of the shari. #4 has a better base but everything is just bang up and down and not as interesting.

I'd keep the foliage all in tight and low i.e. I wouldn't add any more height to the tree, but create the canopy to sit as a cap directly on the top of the trunk. Capitalise on the powerful trunk, rather than diminishing it by adding height.



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any other advice?

and I'm thinking of brushing the inside with lime sulphur. This a good idea?

sheepdawg wrote:

any other advice?

Reluctant to add to this, as everyone has their own idea, and I also suck at virts.
But I'm with Nate - No.1 front, and keep foliage tight to highlight the curves you do have, and accentuate the trunk thickness.
But that is the more Japanese look I gravitate towards - each to their own.
More directional movement can be given to the trunk using foliage placement (silhouette).

Difficult to translate my idea in a drawing because I am a crap drawer, and it is difficult for me to show any depth, but something like this :

I can see where you going, I like the idea.

My advice is not to wire. Wired bougainvillea look awful. Clip and grow..is the way to go....

I forgot to add...

I think wiring to get the first main branches in position is sometimes necessary with these a they have a tendency to shoot and grow straight up. After that I agree .. Clip and grow

I've enjoyed watching this guy grow this summer, and this is what I have so far. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions. Thanks

Just looking at it now, I wish I had some lower branches.

I'm also not really liking the "T" near the top, but I can't really see a way to fix this. Maybe remove the higher branch on the right to reduce the impact of the bar branching? Like this