Starting 1st Neagari, using Bougainvillea

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

Alright here is my first go creating Neagari… a Neagari? I’ve seen some really cool Azalea Neagari, some Bougainvillea and others on here and I wanted to give it shot so here it is. I have a bunch of Bougainvillea cuttings I’ve been growing this year, this one is a ‘Hugh Evan’s’, which has really cool blooms that come out in like pink and orange. I’ll add a picture of the blooms from online.

Until today it was growing in a little 6in terracotta pot with 50/50 compost and perlite. I didn’t have my usual bonsai mix, I’m waiting on some components to arrive, so this is super heavy on the perlite, with a very little pumice, akadama, vermiculite, lava rock mixed in. I think it should work fine?

The trunk on it is super straight with no taper so that’s something I’ll have to address in the future, I’m not sure you would even call this a pre bonsai yet. But I suppose I have all the time in the world to develop it so it’s all good. Just wanted to get a Neagari started, next I’ll try with an Azalea.
If anyone has any tips or feedback on what I’ve done so far or advice on developing these I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Nice project! I want to start something like this myself. You have it outdoors right? If you don't just say you do, or the pitch forks & torches will show up, also known as help.

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

Nice project! I want to start something like this myself. You have it outdoors right? If you don't just say you do, or the pitch forks & torches will show up, also known as help.

Thanks! ya I just bring it inside to work on it no need for pitch forks, yet….You should do it, it was pretty fun. I need a better place to take pictures too. Something with a solid background. Im a little worried because the root ball wasn’t as big as I was hoping it would be, but it has definitely been growing with some vigor.

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

17 day update since the transplant and we have some roots! I had trimmed the roots a bit harder than I would have liked when I put this together so I was a bit nervous. But it has reacted really well. it’s been pushing new growth up top and check out the roots it’s sending down the tube. I guess I’ll let it continue to grow as is until spring, then I’ll slowly start exposing the roots by cutting an inch or 2 off the top of the plastic. Open to suggestions though…