Drakes bougey #1

[SFDrake]

I got this big ol bucket of bougainvillea last weekend (almost 5 gal?) from a nursury that sells mostly trees. Looks like it might have been neglected a little bit. When I got it the soil was pretty dry, but not too bad. Planter still had some weight to it. I've been watering it when the top couple dry out, wich is every couple days down here right now. Rain season is right around the corner so it is going to rain every day.

Its got new leaves pushing at the ends of the branches, and I think new bracts also. First and foremost, do i leave it alone and let it grow out....or do I get it out of this crappy soil right away and into a training box or something?
I have some inorganic on hand, and I can build a training box in two shakes of a squirrels tail.
Second question is fertilizer. I watched some Florida dude on the tube that has a garden around Orlando I think that has a couple of big guys, and he feeds them "bogain" after each prune. Anybody have any experience with this.

Lastly, if ya guys have any tips on getting this buddy a little pep in its step to green up, lt would be helpful, as I have another bougainvillea but it is small and cake to care for....TACH]

 

[SFDrake]

Update:
Growing strong considering the conditions. I guess the beacts are orange? I'm dying to get it out of this pot, I can't even see in it? Anybody working with these know if it is a good time to get it out of this nursury soil?

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Update:
Growing strong considering the conditions. I guess the beacts are orange? I'm dying to get it out of this pot, I can't even see in it? Anybody working with these know if it is a good time to get it out of this nursury soil?

I was told to repot bougies when it's hot out, mid-summer for me, but that's everyday for you. I read you could be aggressive with root removal, I took 70% off mine but I believe they can be bare rooted. I also read that you can defoliate it, at the same time and I did not do that . I'd say you can do it anytime now. They're really tough plants. Orange is pretty cool too.

 

[SFDrake]

I was told to repot bougies when it's hot out, mid-summer for me, but that's everyday for you. I read you could be aggressive with root removal, I took 70% off mine but I believe they can be bare rooted. I also read that you can defoliate it, at the same time and I did not do that . I'd say you can do it anytime now. They're really tough plants. Orange is pretty cool too.

Awesome! Thanks so much! Did you cut yours back at the same time as the repot?

 

[Bonsai Obsessed]

Warm weather is definitely time to repot bougies, also as a note all the cuttings can be stuck and typically get a very high success rate on taking as rooted cuttings! Yes cut back is recommended if you’re doing major root work. Looking at that monster you’re gonna have a lot of cleanup to do just cutting back crossing branches etc. bright side is you’ll have lots of cuttings to grow out! Good luck.