Bougainvillea Styling Advice

This tiny bougainvillea was being thrown out so I thought I'd save it. I have been staring at it for months but have no good ideas for how to shape it, especially given the stumps from the three large, broken-off branches. Suggestions?

Assuming there is a drainage hole in the bottom of that "pot" you are doing fine. Just let it grow until next year. No pinching, no pruning, no nothing except water and fertilizer.

Work on it next spring and summer.

My worry is that bougainvilla branches become stiff and set pretty quicky, so if I don't have them at least growing in the general direction, I'll have to cut them back and start over. This is especially true when the branches are growing straight up like this. I am not going to wire and shape this year, I just want to have an image in mind so (1) I don't grow branches that will have to be removed, leaving a scar and (2) I can train the branches to grow in roughly the right direction to avoid trying to make major bends after the branch has stiffened.

mbolos wrote:My worry is that bougainvilla branches become stiff and set pretty quicky, so if I don't have them at least growing in the general direction, I'll have to cut them back and start over. This is especially true when the branches are growing straight up like this. I am not going to wire and shape this year, I just want to have an image in mind so (1) I don't grow branches that will have to be removed, leaving a scar and (2) I can train the branches to grow in roughly the right direction to avoid trying to make major bends after the branch has stiffened.

IMHO, if you want to avoid "cut them back and start over" your going to have to start wiring it now before it starts to harden off. But if your not "going to wire and shape this year" how do you expect to "train the branches to grow in roughly the right direction to avoid trying to make major bends after the branch has stiffened" if you don't wire. There's no way to get around it, you have to have a plan in your mind of what you want it to look like then wire accordingly. Hope this helps.

A Hui Hou,
-Tim

Thank you for your comment Tim; I see the confusion in my earlier reply. I was trying to say that I don't expect to wire the tree into a final shape now but that I need to place the branches (through wiring) so that they can grow and thicken in the correct position. Any design recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Howzit mbolos,

Just to give you some idea of what you can do it you plan ahead. I had collected this purple bougie a few months ago. Just take a look at your tree and vision what you want it to be. I think it could look like a nice shohin. Good luck and keep us posted.

A Hui Hou,
-Tim

so if I don't have them at least growing in the general direction, I'll have to cut them back and start over.

Exactly! That's what you should do. But not all the way back. Cut 'em to stubs, let the stubs sprout, cut those back, ditto.

Get your tree healthy and well established on its roots now. Start the "work" next year.

Patience.