Will it survive and is it worth digging? Bougainvillea post hurricane Milton

[Barbells and bonsai]

Has kind of a cool lean and some girth but the guys repairing the fence weren’t thinking pre bonsai when clearing the bulk of it out of their way.
Thoughts?

 

[Shibui]

If you are asking whether it will survive transplant the answer is almost certainly. It's a bougie!
If you're asking will it be a show winning bonsai, that's much harder to predict.
It's big but that's not always great. There's very little taper up the main trunk but the smaller stumps may provide somewhere to chop back to get taper - much depends on if and where you get new shoots. Bougies tend to have softer wood but carving stumps can also alleviate lack of taper in collected stumps.

If you have the strength and tenacity to dig it, a bug enough container, somewhere to keep it and a few years to develop it I'd dig. Just don't expect miracles or results by next summer.

 

[nuttiest]

I would, but I have two that the top never healed even after 6 years so be prepared to broom the crown to hide it. They have long deep roots that splinter easily (if you get frustrated and rock it) then you have to cut any splintering off. Going to be cool enough outside to dig today but I would use a tow strap if dig gets tough, the bottom bark is already damaged.

 

[cbrshadow23]

I'd absolutely dig it up. I've collected a lot of bougies and every one of them get wide taper under the soil. It will survive for sure.

 

[Pixar]

Dig it up ( hope it survives )

 

[Bonsai_hope]

I’d love to know if you dug it and has it budded back. I have a few bougies in patio pots and put them in my greenhouse for winter. They seem impossible to kill if the temps stay above 40 F. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on making “show winning trees.” I will probably never enter a show and couldn’t care less if anyone thinks my trees are show worthy. All that matters is that I enjoy them.

 

[Barbells and bonsai]

I’d love to know if you dug it and has it budded back. I have a few bougies in patio pots and put them in my greenhouse for winter. They seem impossible to kill if the temps stay above 40 F. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on making “show winning trees.” I will probably never enter a show and couldn’t care less if anyone thinks my trees are show worthy. All that matters is that I enjoy them.

I did not. The landlord recently put up a new fence and flat chopped it at ground level and it’s been dead since. Looking back, probably should have pulled it.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

I did not. The landlord recently put up a new fence and flat chopped it at ground level and it’s been dead since. Looking back, probably should have pulled it.

That’s too bad. Better luck next time.