Bougainvillea Pre Bonsai

[KayaMooney]

This will be my first post on this forum and of a bougainvillea pre-bonsai that I purchased at Dragon Tree nursery in Palm City, Florida last month.

My plans for it so far are to:

• re pot it in a larger pot or in the ground this spring
• keep the two thicker bottom branches as sacrifice branches to thicken up the base of the tree
• to do something about the inverse taper going at the top of the tree.

I don't think this will be put into an actual bonsai pot for another 2-3 years.
I uploaded the photos to imgur as I'm not to big a fan of how the photos are displayed on this forum and I found imgur to be much more convenient.

Here is the album: http://imgur.com/a/DqBWQ

 

[Cadillactaste]

I personally do not like to click links to view a photo. Many won't wish to mess with the additional time. Also unsure of poster...and link. That said...I love Bougies...and did open the link. Do you have anything to give a size comparison?

I'm to new to Bonsai to give you an honest good opinion...but must say...I just love Bougies.

If I am seeing the reverse taper properly...another option tossed out (maybe) air root it below that area...keeping the lower part of the tree. Making two trees. And keeping the lower branches to create something else with it. Maybe a semi-cascade? Though I see possibly doable in your second photo. But again, I am so new to this...that I maybe laughed at for my thoughts posted. And...if so...I'm able to handle that. Gotta start somewhere.

But...I am assuming this is a larger boogie...if it's not as tall as I am picturing...then letting it grow out a few seasons would be the best bet.

 

[KayaMooney]

I personally do not like to click links to view a photo. Many won't wish to mess with the additional time. Also unsure of poster...and link. That said...I love Bougies...and did open the link. Do you have anything to give a size comparison?

That's weird, especially considering Imgur is a very well known hosting site. I typically go on Reddit and that is almost all they use.. Anyways, yes I do have something for size comparison!

Here is the tree next to a Zephyrhills water bottle: http://imgur.com/a/LD5fx

 

[sikadelic]

That's weird, especially considering Imgur is a very well known hosting site. I typically go on Reddit and that is almost all they use.. Anyways, yes I do have something for size comparison!

Here is the tree next to a Zephyrhills water bottle: http://imgur.com/a/LD5fx

Fellow redditor here! I was used to linking imgur too but have since stopped. It's not the norm here. Since I came here for help and guidance I figured I would make it as easy as possible for those helping me.

 

[A Random User]

The biggest prob. you are going to have with this tree is going
to be with the trunk. After it takes the first bend it continues
straight all the way up the trunk. Which is not very appealing
visually... If you have a very straight trunk, then fine. A very
curvy trunk with a lot of bends, fine... But, the combination
does not work.

2 ways to move forward with the understanding that this will need
to be addressed. You can either chop the trunk down now to either
the first or second branch up from the first bend. Which ever branch
you pick will then become your new trunk and will allow the trunk to
then have a change directions. After this is done plant it in the yard
and allow it to grow with out any further cutting to the tree for a
couple of years to allow the trunk to thicken up.

Or Just plant now in yard, let it grow without cutting for a couple of
years to thicken up, then reduce the trunk to about 3 to five inches
above the first bend. New growth will pop up and you will need to
create the rest of the trunk at the apex from there. Which you will
want to go off in another direction.

The fastest way to achieve a thicker trunk would be the second, seeing
that you will not set the tree back by it having to heal from the damage.
Down side will be that you will have an even bigger scar to deal with
as well as will have to wait longer to establish the proper taper between
the existing trunk and what is new.

 

[KayaMooney]

I didn't really think about that when I first bought it, It hit me a few days after. I'm sure you can tell but I am still a beginner with bonsai..

I think I'll choose the second route as it goes with the idea of what I would like for this tree to look like some day. I'll go ahead and attach a photo of what I hope for it to look like even though it may be very unrealistic realizing how awkward this tree is.

I've never actually planted a tree in the ground with the intent of digging it back again, is there anything I should take into consideration when planting this? Details are very helpful!

 

[A Random User]

Can I make a suggestion... You don't have to do this but, Seeing that
you are newer to Bonsai, it is not going to benefit you much in learning
how to do Bonsai by putting this in the ground for a couple of years...

I think you would benefit much more by working what you currently
have in the tree. Besides in a couple of years you are going to actually
have something to show for it...

You would end up with a different looking tree than the photo of the tree
that you liked... But, here goes...


I would cut where I have shown in the first image, where the red lines are.

I would when you go to repot slightly adjust the planting angle as is demonstrated
in the second pic. Obviously when you go to repot, don't put it back in the soil that
it is currently in, put it in a Bonsai soil. I would go ahead and pot it in a bonsai pot,
just a slightly larger one than is needed, just to give a little more room to grow.
Get ahold of Bougain fertilizer and use it.

I would start learning and practicing how to wire a tree's branches, cause you are
going to need it. The last pic is what I would aim for when you do go to wire.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I think that at this angle...I can see your vision with this Bougie...I see movement verses the curved then straight trunk. A straight on photo of the entire tree this side when you have time...may shed more light on the direction you are going. Growing it out maybe your best option.

 

[KayaMooney]

I am newer to bonsai but I still have many other trees to train and learn from, It's not like this is my only tree at the moment. I do know how to wire but I definitely still need practice, I know that will help with this tree.

I do like your design idea but I don't think It'd look well on a Bougie, especially knowing how they fill in. It seems more like something that you would aim for with a juniper or a pine.

 

[A Random User]

Here is what it might look like filled in...
And knowing how bougies fill in, you could in essences
have a tree with nothing but flowers.

 

[KayaMooney]

Hmm, that photo has convinced me to do what you suggested. It was just the way the first drawing looked didn't make sense to me.

When I do the cut showed in this photo should I use a concave cutter so that its more rounded off or just cut it off at a straight line as shown in the photo. Also what time of the year should I do the cut? I'm located in South Florida.

 

[A Random User]

Hmm, that photo has convinced me to do what you suggested. It was just the way the first drawing looked didn't make sense to me.

When I do the cut showed in this photo should I use a concave cutter so that its more rounded off or just cut it off at a straight line as shown in the photo. Also what time of the year should I do the cut? I'm located in South Florida.

It is the nature of bougies to have die back when cuts
Are made, also unlike alot of other plants, the don't really
Heal over...

So with this in mind I would do a straight cut with a saw
Slightly above the red line leaving a stump for now that can
Be reduced at a further time.

When you are working with plants that do have a die-back
Characteristic this is a common practice. Leave a stump so
If it dies it doesn't die back into the trunk as much. If one cuts
Flush with the trunk, it could cause more severe damage to
The trunk.

One of two things will happen, it will either die , and after it does
It can then be cut flush with the trunk. The second scenario is that
It might send out new growth that can then be worked into the
Style of the tree.

Now, before you cut go to home depot or lowes and by a bag of
Sspagnum moss, it will be in the orchard section.
Put it in a bucket of water. When you cut the top portion off
Take some moss ring it out, so it is just damp, put it in a
Clear grocery bag, put the cut off portion in, then squeeze the
Moss around tight against the base, then wrap the whole thing
Tight all around it with twine, and tie it off. Like you are making a
Ball. Then in between the twine cut holes with scissors in the plastic
Bag, so the moss can breath.

Set it under a porch, protected from direct sun and rain, cold.
Once a week stick it in a bucket of water to moisten. And in a month
It Will sprout roots and you will have another tree.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Just checking back in...was curious if you might add a photo of your worked on Bougie.

 

[KayaMooney]

I'm not going to work on it till next month, It's been very cold this week and I had to bring my bougie in.

 

[KayaMooney]

Forgot to post these photos when I got around to chopping this back in March, here they are anyways. I'll most likely post some more photos of the tree as It is leafed out later today.

 

[Cadillactaste]

What direction do you see taking your Bougie in? I'm seeing...you chopped off the left larger branch on the lower left...so...your largest branches are all on one side? Or is it the angle of the camera shot? Just curious...your bold...in your chops. (Not saying that is a bad thing)

 

[KayaMooney]

What direction do you see taking your Bougie in? I'm seeing...you chopped off the left larger branch on the lower left...so...your largest branches are all on one side? Or is it the angle of the camera shot? Just curious...your bold...in your chops. (Not saying that is a bad thing)

I'm going by a sketch someone did earlier on in the thread for the most part, I attached a photo of it. being In Florida I don't think It will be to hard to get branches where I want and to have them thicken up... I've got time. You can't really tell from the photos but that branch was in a very awkward place.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I would imagine your climate perfect for bougainvillea...though...I do recall Sam who is huge into Bougainvilleas...and I believe lives in Hawaii? (Assuming it's not marked but from what I think I read in an old post I assume this) He stated his Bougies grow slower in pots. I recall his mentioning that once...so...maybe tossing this into the ground may help you as well since it can weather well in your zone. Just tossing this out there...as an assumption.

 

[KayaMooney]

I was thinking about this as well.. I'm making a grow patch later this summer and that might get plopped into it.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Went and found his post about growing in ground verses pot...
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?14355-tropical-ramification