Hi all,

Late last year I trunk chopped a bougainvillea as you can see in the first photo. It exploded with growth which was awesome and since I'm happy with the trunk thickness I've eliminated the unwanted stems and left a branch on the right and 2 on the left (haven't decided which of the 2 I'm going to keep) as you can see in second photo.

Im a bit unsure about creating the sidd branchs and my question is about thickening and developing the branches. Do I leave the terminal buds and let them continue to grow significantly longer than wanted then cut it back to the desired length when it's thickened up and become more woody?
Or should I cut back now when they are still green and thin?

I've read alot about leaving the first lateral branch in order to thicken the main branch how ever there is obviously no lateral branch yet. Will these developed later by letting the branch grow out or should the terminal bud be removed now to encourage lateral buds?

I've tried my best to read as much as I can but couldnt find an answer to this.

Thanks in advance

Greg

don't know much about this species..

but

what soil are you using?

get that bridge out of the container

why did you repot it so high with the roots all exposed?

First of all I should add I'm in Australia.

I use debco bonsai soil which was highly recommended to me.

The tree is currently in a pond basked not on display.

The bridge is just laying around and ended up there instead of storing it in the shed and probably forgetting about it. May I ask why it must be moved.

And the depth in which I removed the bougainvillea from the ground is the same depth it was replanted.

Any one have any advice on creating the branches?

Cheers

www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATDeciduousBonsaiBranchStructure.html
Read these articles , they helped me alot

Thank you for sharing that link. They have been so helpful, and this one in particular adds insight into their long-term planning. Much appreciated.

Thanks enaisio. That was well worth the read. I learned a bunch from that also.

I apreciate the thanks but i dont want to take the praise for it as it was Cronic that linked them to me just a few days ago, so thank him
Regards
Nico

Thanks Cronic!

Thanks. This was perfect! I've removed one of the branches on the left and will wait till the others get alot thicker. Maybe double to what it Is now.

Great info about the trunk aswell in this article. Will allow to grow alot thicker before any cuts being maDE. Only problem is because this bougainvillea I'd a vine species the leader is growing soooooooooooooo long compared to its thickness I'm scared it will snap in the wind. Might place afew braces or something to it.

Cheers

Greg