I know most of these comments are from a while back, but I would love any advice. I have 3 clumps of 3 river birch trees. A landscaper (16 years ago) suggested these (and I didn't argue since I love the bark and look) and planted them about 10 feet from our screened porch and patio on a small hillside. They love it where they are, but in the last few years they have become HUGE. They provide great shade, but the clean-up of the debris they produce is not worth it. My husband and I want to take out at least 1 (there is one in each grouping that is really leaning over our roof and huge) from each clump. Would this be okay? Would we take it down to the stump? Can we cut the others back significantly, too? I would love any and all suggestions except to leave them as is. I am sweeping and picking up tons of small branches off of our patio every single afternoon.

I think some of us would be interested in your results, but it's not something that every gardener has tried. I've read about propagating different types of trees from truncheons. I've never heard of propagating a crApe myrtle that way, although I wouldn't be surprised if it worked. After all, a truncheon is just a large cutting (although there are some pluses and minuses compared to smaller cuttings). I am wondering why you used the glue. Sealing the cut is often useful for storing cuttings in relatively dry environments, but here your growing media should have enough moisture to prevent desiccation. I'm also wondering if removing most of the leaves was a good idea. After all, one of the big advantages of truncheons is that they are supposed to have more stored energy and moisture to push though the time before roots develop. More leaves would mean more food production for growing roots. I do not know whether it would be better to keep the leaves or not, I am just wondering about the rational for removing them. Keep good records and let us know what happens!

wow! I'm glad I asked. I was about to cut up the other one, too. So, just to be clear--I have the two sister plants--one that I cut up, and one that I held back on. I agree with you that this looks similar to underwatering--but I do remember it looking a bit underwatered not long ago, and giving it lots of water to perk up, so I'm fairly certain that it's overwatered (especially since I'm squeezing water out of the wilted leaves). Just to make sure--despite that the very bottom near the trunk is quite squishy now, judging by the inside of the sister plant after I cut it up, maybe I'll hold off on cutting up this one for the time being --- but I should trim the roots of BOTH plants (?) here is the plant still in one piece, that currently still is squishy on the base stem right near the roots: And if you're curious, here is everything I have from the sister plant that I already cut up (i assumed the base trunk was rotten, so made several mini trees out of it)--I assume (hope) I cut them in a good spot, but can still correct if it doesn't look good: Per your suggestion, I trimmed the little portruding piece of branch off the trunk and see if the trunk comes back to life (maybe I got too close?). Here it is now: I think the cuttings for this are clean and not rotting. They are basically firm. Maybe I'll give them a little bonsai wire in addition to some rocks so they can stand up... As far as repotting--the rocks in the white container were just decorative on top of the soil, and just got mixed up. I use 50/50 perlite/succulent soil---in fact, I think you taught me that a couple of years back! :) .... I would be curious if you have an opinion on using rooting hormone on the stem. I notice in your other thread you suggest cinnamon... would either one suffice? Here is what I have: also--some websites--including some of the threads here--say that I should wait to repot until roots are showing.... but that could take weeks, I would think. Is it ok to repot without roots? Maybe I should use more perlite in that case (75/25)? Anyway, thanks again! I'll be interested to know your final thoughts, and I'll give you an update down the road and let you know how the jades are doing!!!! :)

Yes, it is quite a bit. See all those skinny shoots with leaves spaced far apart? They should be much compact. It is very nice, fat-trunked plant and could - and should - be improved. Consider getting some lights because window exposure isn't enough. Lights should be directly above the plant. Light reaching plant from any direction is obviously not enough. Pruning is best done in period of active growth. You could have plant doing whatever it wants during this winter, because all that growth needs to be pruned off. In spring, I would prune all of them to about 2-3 sets of leaves. And prune off/shorten considerably branches that are too long, many with just a few leaves at the end now. And make sure plant is getting much more light, otherwise it will grow just skinny, sparsely-leaved branches again. Here is an example of reasonably compact growth: distance between sets of leaves is very short. Leaves are also larger, thicker, do not droop but point upwards, and have some reddish on the margins = because pant is getting sunlight.