Backbudding technique question

[Baku1875]

I have been using the basic concept of 'grow until strong, then chop back to accomplish backbudding'. With ficuses, I noticed that they respond well to pinching in order to control growth .

With bougainvillea though, I have one that I did a major chop on and it budded at the top of the chop, nothing lower. Pics coming tomorrow but it's the 2022 air layer barbara karst in my bougie thread.

My question: When one has a difficult backbudding case, what else can you do?

 

[TrevorLarsen]

Some species will never back bud others do it all the time. That is a factor in what species are most desirable for bonsai.

 

[nuttiest]

Did you chop less than 1/3 the length, it might not have noticed yet give it a little time.