Pink Pixie stump

[tree4me]

Looking for styling help...



this is my initial thought...



All comments and suggestions welcome.

 

[Tona]

I think that is a good way to go. It maintains the interesting features of the trunk. Make sure you treat any Bougainvillea deadwood with lime sulfur and minwax wood hardener. It will rot out.
Tona

 

[JudyB]

I'm not a bougie person, but this is a nice one. For me, I'd loose the stuff on the right side, that isn't really part of the main trunk. I'd also keep the 3 dimples on the right part of the main trunk, those are really interesting to look at. I'd carve, but I'd carve around them, to keep them in the image. If you get rid of the extra stuff on the right, the image will be stronger.

 

[Poink88]

I'm not a bougie person, but this is a nice one. For me, I'd loose the stuff on the right side, that isn't really part of the main trunk.

I agree, my first thought also.

Regarding the left side, do not remove it as you did on your virt...turn it to a deadwood feature instead. Maybe even leave a lower branch behind it.

 

[A Random User]

Agree with those before me... all the stuff on
the right of your main trunk is confusing and
takes away from your main trunk line.
The big root on the left jutting out needs to
reduced.

As far as style... I would keep the deadwood to
a bare minimal and try to do more of a formal design.
On a Bougie... I would never create or plan to
have deadwood in the design, unless of course it
already has it. It rots way too fast, and Bougies will
shoot out growth everywhere there is something living.
So, take advantage of this feature.

 

[aidan13]

I think you could grow that branch on the top left of the main trunk out something like this:

 

[nathanbs]

I think you could grow that branch on the top left of the main trunk out something like this:

I'm nervously writing this as I don't want to offend you but I think in the interest of learning and sharing Ill do it. Although I admire your drawing skills I dont think the tree you've drawn is a good example of bonsai. The base is way too big and heavy to then have a sparse foliage crown like a bunjin. You've inspired me to draw more. Better to learn from a drawing then chopping and growing a tree for 5 years and receive the same criticism

 

[aidan13]

I'm nervously writing this as I don't want to offend you but I think in the interest of learning and sharing Ill do it. Although I admire your drawing skills I dont think the tree you've drawn is a good example of bonsai. The base is way too big and heavy to then have a sparse foliage crown like a bunjin. You've inspired me to draw more. Better to learn from a drawing then chopping and growing a tree for 5 years and receive the same criticism

No offense taken at all! I appreciate it. Being in school leaves me with limited options when it comes to growing bonsai, so I try to compensate by "working" with trees with pencil and paper in the hopes that once I finally find myself able to work with some real trees I'll have trained my eye to recognize what works and what doesn't.

I've developed a bit of a hobby of looking at pictures of people's trees and drawing out how I would shape them, though I rarely post them; I don't want to become the guy that offers virts for every tree people post, yet has no trees of his own! I appreciate the feedback, though.

 

[Poink88]

I've developed a bit of a hobby of looking at pictures of people's trees and drawing out how I would shape them, though I rarely post them; I don't want to become the guy that offers virts for every tree people post, yet has no trees of his own! I appreciate the feedback, though.

Feel free to post your drawings (if any) on my tree threads. Hopefully, we can all learn from it especially you seem to be a good sport.

 

[nathanbs]

No offense taken at all! I appreciate it. Being in school leaves me with limited options when it comes to growing bonsai, so I try to compensate by "working" with trees with pencil and paper in the hopes that once I finally find myself able to work with some real trees I'll have trained my eye to recognize what works and what doesn't.

I've developed a bit of a hobby of looking at pictures of people's trees and drawing out how I would shape them, though I rarely post them; I don't want to become the guy that offers virts for every tree people post, yet has no trees of his own! I appreciate the feedback, though.

Besides the horticultural factor you can actually become quite proficient at bonsai design through drawing so keep it up. Im envious

 

[aidan13]

Feel free to post your drawings (if any) on my tree threads. Hopefully, we can all learn from it especially you seem to be a good sport.

I think I actually have a doodle of one of your monster boxwoods lying around here somewhere. . . it's from a little while back I think, so it may or may not be quite relevant anymore depending on how you've developed the tree.

 

[tree4me]

View attachment 36600

As far as style... I would keep the deadwood to
a bare minimal and try to do more of a formal design.
On a Bougie... I would never create or plan to
have deadwood in the design, unless of course it
already has it.

Thank you for the input. I do agree that deadwood would be kept minimal. As for the removal of the trunk on the right it will leave that side straight and would that not take away from the image?

 

[jk_lewis]

Yes. Deadwood on a bougie simply won't work. I'd recommend wood hardener on what you have as some hope for it not rotting away (lime sulfur doesn't prevent rot, long term).

I have no real issue with your first suggestion.

 

[Beng]

Good looking trunk. Just let the leaders grow out and then work on the other branches. Bougainvillea pops buds from old wood easily, you can always grow secondary branches.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I would love to see a current photo of what you've done with this bougie...interesting trunk!

 

[tree4me]

I repotted in March and actually started cutting and carving today will post pics when I get a chance. One issue I'm looking at is the big root stumps on the side and back and how to deal with them.

 

[Ritika0123]

I think that is a good way to go. It maintains the interesting features of the trunk. Make sure you treat any Bougainvillea deadwood with lime sulfur and minwax wood hardener. It will rot out.
Tona

I also think same