Do you have to cut back for winter dormancy?

16 years ago

Someone said if you cut back to 10", the plants will flower at around 5 feet the following year.

If you want to have larger plants to start next year, (meaning keep them at 5Â) can you just strip the leaves and leave all the stem growth on them? Or does something happen to the little, skinny stems during dormancy?

This will be my first year trying this "dormancy" thing Â and I just want to make sure they all make it.

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Comments (8)

karyn1
16 years ago
I cut most of my plants back to about 10". Some of my older big plants with thick woody stems throughout I just cut off any green growth. They look kind of funny but come back well in the spring. I have left some just because I never got around to trimming them back. The soft green stems will shrivel and sometimes that will continue down the trunk. It's best to cut them back and allow the end(s) to callus over. I also remove any new growth that pops up while they are dormant. Even though they are in a dim, cool area they often get new growth. This type of growth is weak and is best removed.
Karyn
karmahappytoes
16 years ago
karyn1, excellent information for a newbie!!
technodweeb, it just depends on what you are wanting the plant to look like and that depends on what you are willing to do. You can even cut them back to the soil line and have a bushier plant for next year. Lots of folks will not cut below the 'Y' if they are up north.
It depends on the space that you have available, we try to keep them at all sizes.
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16 years ago
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technodweeb
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Karen! I was looking at that outside and I had to ask - and BOY am I glad I did!

I just couldn't imagine the spindly little greenies on the ends being "healthy" through the dark winter.

KHT - I'm up north - an my season isn't as long - but the "Y"s are "green" too. I'm more interested in a "tree" than a bush for the larger ones. The pinks are dwarfs - so I wouldn't mind those being "bushes."

Ok - If I gotta cut 'em (MAN I want to keep the "Y"s on a couple of these though - just don't know how!) - I'll pot up the cuttings then. And have even more then. (Mutts - no one wants to trade.)

Thank you so much Karen and Karmahappy. . .appreciate the input.

Dweeb
karyn1
16 years ago
Dweeb unless someone is serious brug grower I don't think they mind if a brug is named or not, as long as you know what the bloom looks like. I'd love some more oranges, and other intense colors, named or not. People that aren't growers get too hung up on named varieties for no good reason. There are several brugs that I'd like, Daydreams, New Orleans Lady, etc.... but if someone had a bloom that looked similar to the varieties I want I'd jump on it even without a name.
Karyn
technodweeb
Original Author
16 years ago
Day dreams, New Orleans Lady, I'll look those up. I don't know what they are. If I've got something like those, I'll let you know.

I like my mutts, except my whites - those guys are gonna get it. They're gettin' whacked - those jerks! (Watch, they'll be the ones that outperform next year.)
karmahappytoes
16 years ago
technodweeb, I'm a trunk lover especially once they are 8" across!!
technodweeb
Original Author
16 years ago
Karmahappy:

Me too, I just had this vision of "trees" - the canopies that you see are so beautiful. and to be able to stand "under" all that beauty (ok, don't think about the bugs. . .)

Do you have some that are 8" in diameter? Now, THAT'S a BRUG! Boy I'd like to get one to be that big.

Question Karma - if you put them in the ground (I know you said your water table is too high) - but if you do, how do you tell WHERE to dig it up at? Wouldn't that be like a root prune which hurts them?

I ask because, everyone says "put them in the ground, you'll be amazed" - so, I'm thinking I will, but, is there a measurement for each foot of height, 6" of diameter on the roots or something?

Was considering this - but it almost sounds like "Purgatory" - dig, pot. Now unpot, dig, dig, and pot. . . .I'd do this with a COUPLE, just not all.

I know - "it's not rocket science!" - but if I can do it right, I'd like some real beauties.