Hi all,
last spring I've purchased this Bougainvillea at a nursery for a few Euros and I'm planning to train it as a bonsai.
It has a fairly nice trunk and I believe it has a good potential.
Can you indicate what is the best period to prune and shape it? I've had opposite answers so far...
Of course I'll leave it in that pot for at least one more growing season (it's bigger than the one it came in, I just slip-potted it),
I live in Milan, northern Italy, so we are in Autumn now and it has stopped flowering - also, I will shelter it below 10°Celsius this winter.
Thanks!
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In fact, however, I am not planning to repot it for the next season - I'll do it in early spring 2024.
The question was on pruning to shape it... on some websites (like B.E.) I read it should be done in Autumn-Winter (i.e. within 1-2 months for me), though I've also read (and heard) this must be done in Spring... so I am asking advice to you guys here!
Oh, I've misread... I think spring is better, trees react almost instantly, Bougainv. have soft wood, so you got to be really carefull about scars, on some colder climates it can shed it's leaves, that might be where winter info comes from,
When you say "trim" do you mean only maintenance trimming of young shoots out of profile - or also harder pruning to start shaping it?
In fact, come November or December, I also have to shelter it from the cold (I do not bring it in, but cover it with a nonwoven fabric cover).
So I want to be sure I choose the right period for this.