Bougie

Earl

I plan to put this in a new pot next week. I have started working on the pads but they still need alot of work. I've already trimmed off 3/4 of the leaves and branches that were there. Please comment on any good ways to shape in the future. I have two specific questions. I have always considered photo#1 the front. But the branching isn't great and it just never looked quite right. I turned it around the other day and thought, aha! Maybe the back would be a better front. Do you think I should reverse it?

Question 2: It needs to be moved off center. Which way should it go? Right or left (I know that depends on answer to #1)

This is current front.

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Earl

This is currently the back, proposed new front.

Earl

This shows the movement of the trunk so you can imagine it with either front.

As for me, a lively spirited debate is just fine. Disagree all you want.

TreeBay

NO! I refuse to disagree! : Most bougainvilleas look terrible out of bloom, and this one is definitely an exception.

I kind of prefer #2 (the former back) but it depends to a degree on where the apex is going and it's a little hard for me to judge.

I always look at the photos first and then read the text, but that's probably because it's eye candy and it loads fast on a cable modem. I was thinking when it popped up, "that the first branch is too large," and it is big, but then I saw it was a bougainvillea, and a great one at that, and you really wouldn't have much if you removed it. Plus, they don't heal especially well unless they're crawling on your garage or something.

In this case, with it being a fine tree, I would go with the new front you have selected and I promise you when it is blooming no one will ever notice that the #1 branch is largish.

I think a glazed pot would be very nice and blue is a wonderful complement to the fuschia or purple flowers

Regards,

Matt

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Carl_Bergstrom

Earl,

That is one sweet tree! Especially, as Matt says, for a bougie. I'm off to a nursery for the day; I'll try to post some ideas tonight, if I have any.

Agreeably yours,
Old Mister

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GaryS

I like the back as the new front too. That's a nice one.
We only see bougainvilleas in hanging baskets around here!

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Rene_Voortwist

Earl,

I go with Matt, picture #2 is the best front.

rgds, René

Adam

I too think pic number two would make a better front.
Your friend
Adam

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Earl

Thanks for the comments. The back becomes the front by unanimous vote.

Matt, the blue is a good idea. Unfortuantely, it is a pot I made and I have already glazed it a moss green and it is coming out of the kiln tomorrow. So too late. Hopefully, the glaze will come out alright. I think I'm doing OK making pots, but I'm doing lousy in the glazing. They always end up with drips and runs where I don't want them!

I have had the tree about three years and it has never bloomed. I have to keep it inside in the winter so don't know if that affects it or not. It has also refused any attempt of mine at forming an apex. But I'll keep trying.