How long will it take (bougainvillea bush)?

Question

OK, I made a few mistakes while trying to turn little a boug (it was in a 6inch pot) into a bonsai yesterday. First I cut the roots for it to fit into the clay pot and then I fertilized it which was another big no no. Sadly I found all this out after I did it :( Right now all the leaves are green with new foliage coming in but how long might it take for me to see if my mistake is fatal? Also, what could I do in order to save my plant?

I live in FL so sun isn't a problem, I know you should water only when needed. Extra info would be greatly appreciated since I'm new to this plant.

Answer 1

Great choice - Bougainvillea can make awesome bonsai subjects. They can be a little tricky to take care of, but in Florida you should be fine. Because they grow quickly, you can develop a style rather quickly, and they are easy to recover from pruning mistakes.

They are a reasonably durable plant. As long as you haven't removed MOST of the root system you should be fine. If you are worried about crowding any new root growth too much (because the pot is very small) just move it up to a larger pot for initial training. You could even plant it in the ground and it will grow new roots even quicker.

If you fertilized with a granular fertilizer, just repot it again in new soil, or put it in the ground like I mentioned above. Since you just did it, that shouldn't be a problem. Even if you used liquid ferts, just water heavily to dilute it out. Most will still be in the soil's compost material. It takes time for the roots to take up the ferts. Then repot.

If there is any real damage, you should see the results of it reasonably quickly, since it is a fast growing plant, but I don't think you'll have any trouble as long as you didn't cut the roots too much and repot.

If for some reason it does take a turn for the worse, try to get some cuttings from it before it goes completely, as it can be easily propagated from softwood cuttings. You can google how to do that if necessary.

Answer 2

I would keep in the shade till it adapts to its new growing conditions.Move it out slowly as it puts on new growth, but not to much to dry it out rapidly. A little water soluble fertilizer wouldnt hurt.

Answer 3

That's an odd choice for a bonsai.  Bougainvillea is a very rangy, quick-growing plant.  I'd say plant it outdoors, and try again with a plant that's naturally smaller.  

Answer 4

I've never really seen bougainvillea used for a bonsai. It is so fast growing that it really isn't desirable for this type of gardening. Put it outside, with something to climb on though, and it will make a beautiful landscaping choice. I've seen those in places like Okinawa or Thailand, where it never freezes, cover an entire wall with fabulous foliage and flowers.