Collected Purple Bougainvillea

Right on "V"..... You Da Man!! (Or Wahine ) There's some I saw with really gnarly trunks and I thought that it would be to much work to dig it out. Now, I think "Miss Kitty" is going to have a fit!!

A Hui Hou,
-Tim

Can't wait to see what you get!!!

The gnarlier the better... and they are easy to carve. So you can get mad character in them quick... and a few short seasons and you've got a very well established branch structure. I love bougies for that reason.

V

Howzit all,

I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season. I wish you all the best in the coming year. It's been six months since my last post of this bougie and this is just an update.

A Hui Hou,
-Tim

Heres mine. I never treated the deadwood either, just as Vic says...drill drain holes to ensure it stays dry, or at least dries quickly. Mine has never bloomed damnitt! I collected it in Indiana in a greenhouse where it had rooted into the floor many many yrs ago. I've tried everything but bougain to get it to bloom. I carved it again this week and refined the deadwood. Its amazing how fast they develop, even in a crappy climate for tropicals. Its the one and only tropical one I have. Any tips on blooming and I'd be interested in hearing them.

4 yrs ago after collecting (a big cutting)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sQq0e5jsUXY/R5shoiv0u9I/AAAAAAAAAC4/DmBbhlgc5y0/Boug%20May.JPG

2 yrs ago after defoliating


1 year ago after it got a new pot & leafed out after another round of defoliating. Its sitting under lights in the basement sulking right now.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sQq0e5jsUXY/TNaE37s8rHI/AAAAAAAAEmY/WwkZTU502v8/s512/boug2%205%202010.jpg

With out a doubt the more common red does better in a container than the more exotic colors, but if you have tried a "Bloom Buster" type fertilizer (high middle number) try watering less. Bougies like to be pruned and dry.

Thanks Billy. I have just recently started to let it dry out more. Its in a pretty free draining mix....Haydite, pumice & akadama in equal measures. I fed it something similar a couple of times this season.

Its a nice tree that I have enjoyed training, but seeing it bloom would be the icing on the cake.

I am not sure the bougie benefits from "akadama." I have never used it but where I have seen it, it held a lot of moisture.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:I am not sure the bougie benefits from "akadama." I have never used it but where I have seen it, it held a lot of moisture.

Howzit Billy,

In my bougies I do use akadama and volcanic cinders and yes it dose hold more moisture so I don't water as much. In my soil I use 30% akadama and 70% volcanic cinders. Half way down the grow box I very the size of the cinders. I just collected this so I'm hoping after a year or so the bracts will come out. Will keep you posted.

A Hui Hou,
-Tim