Crinums..Can They Be Cut Back???
tropicalfreak
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (10)
katkin_gw
15 years agocorar4gw
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Do Rhododendron Back Bud When Cut Back.
Comments (2)Growth buds on rhododendrons form in the leaf axils (where leaf joins stem). If you make a cut just above a rosette of leaves, new growth will emerge from the dormant eyes there. If cutting into a branch below any leaf rosettes, look for faint rings on the bark which mark the ends of previous growth periods where there once were leaves. Careful inspection should reveal small bumps which are growth buds under the bark. Make your cuts just about the rings and dormant buds below them should be stimulated into growth. If you can't find any rings or dormant buds on bare branches, make your cuts where you must, after, when new growth starts, remove stubs down to new growth. Azaleas however, have dormant growth buds all along the stems just under the bark......See MoreTime to cut back and propagate the cuttings?
Comments (5)Sorry.. wrong. Hibiscus are generally easy to root. And easy to root plants sometimes root in water. But having said that... water is never the best way to root anything, it's only the easiest for some people. Cut semi hardwood shoots, 4 to 6 inches, partially defoliate, dip in IBA talc or solution, and stick in perlite peat mix, keep in humid environment, most root in 30 days or so. Fall is not the best time for hibiscus cuttings in my experience, but you should get decent results anyway becasue they are so easy. I think people tend to prune in fall in zones where they are not fully hardy to make protecting them easier. Best practice for the plant is probably spring. Pruning generally encourages new growth. But again, plant is pretty tough shrub so knock yourself out....See Moreto cut back or not to cut back?
Comments (7)hi -- if you're in a new yard, you'll probably have a better idea in the spring of what method works best for the conditions you have. personally, by late fall i've pretty much lost the motivation to do much yard work. -- the messy look of the dead/dying leaves doesn't bother me, so i don't do a thing to my hostas and let the leaves turn to compost on their own. i gather up what ever is left of the old leaves in the spring when i have more enthusiasm and when the new growth is emerging. in contrast though, my mother always does a major fall clean-up. in her zone (5) and her yard conditions (shadier and wetter than mine), if she doesn't get the dead leaves up before winter, her garden becomes not only the wet slimy mess that you describe, but, as a result, also a MAJOR slug party. the only way for her to stay ahead of the slug invasion is to clean the beds out in the fall. lucky for me, i don't have a severe slug problem, so i don't have those worries. in general, if leaves are still green, they're still producing food, and so best to leave them alone til they turn....See MoreCutting Back Stems After Transplant With Plant Shock?
Comments (13)@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) Okay, but I did do a brief search in Google Scholar, which gives a much less clear indication that top pruning will not affect survival. I will also say that Dr Scott's article contains no citations, and having interacted with her Facebook group, you quickly realize they are extremely anti-scientific in most of their discussion. God forbid you actually show them scientific evidence. What really matters in that group is that you repeat the words they tell you to speak, like a mindless robot. These are just two random studies: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15592324.2019.1621246 https://www.auburn.edu/academic/forestry_wildlife/nurserycoop/PDF%20files/effects%20of%20top-pruning%20on%20survival.pdf In the first study: "Repetitive pruning increased absolute root dry weight 43% to 61% and root:shoot ratio 55% to 56% above that of control plants that were not pruned. One year after out-planting, the pruned plants were greater in shoot dry weight and plant height than the control plants. More importantly, control plants exhibited 70% to 80% mortality, but the pruned plants exhibited 100% survival." Okay, that was for one specific species. And it is about pruning while the plant is growing, not pruning as a rescue method, but it does hint at the idea that reducing the burden of leaves on a transplant may be helpful. The second study: "Published studies suggest that top-pruning can increase overall survival of loblolly pine and longleaf pine by 7 and 13 percentage points, respectively. Pruning various hardwood species (mainly after lifting) increased average survival by 5 percentage points. Benefits of top-pruning appear greater when seedlings experience stress after planting and when non-pruned seedlings have low root weight ratios (root dry weight/total seedling dry weight). On some droughty sites, a seedling with a 0.3 root weight ratio might have a 26 percentage point higher chance of survival than a seedling with a 0.2 root weight ratio." Again, that is for a different genera of plants, but the results do suggest top pruning enhanced survival and they say explicitly that the benefits are greatest when the plants experience stress after planting, which is my case. We might run a scientific study on my exact plant and do the pruning after the stress of a transplant develops. That study might end up showing I kill the plant more often by top pruning it. But a quick search of Google Scholar would show anyone that my idea is not being pulled out of thin air, and there is a non-zero chance that my idea might improve plant survival....See Moretropicalfreak
15 years agonatives_and_veggies
15 years agocorar4gw
15 years agonatives_and_veggies
15 years agotropicalfreak
15 years agoSophia Edwards
13 days agosultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
13 days ago
Related Stories
DECORATING GUIDESThe '70s Are Back. Can Ya Dig It?
No need to cringe. These 21 groovy blasts from the past are updated to look fabulous today
Full StoryMOST POPULARSee the Difference a New Back Deck Can Make
A dramatic 2-story porch becomes the centerpiece of this Ohio family’s renovated landscape
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES7 Ecofriendly Gardening Ideas That Also Cut Chore Time
Spend less time weeding, less money watering and more moments just sitting back and enjoying your healthy garden
Full StoryHOME OFFICESQuiet, Please! How to Cut Noise Pollution at Home
Leaf blowers, trucks or noisy neighbors driving you berserk? These sound-reduction strategies can help you hush things up
Full StoryDIY PROJECTSCutting Corners: Miters Spruce Up Woodworking Projects
These basic woodworking cuts add another dimension to simple corners
Full StoryFLOWERSBest Cutting-Garden Beauties for Late Summer
Pick blooms bursting with color or in classic white for bouquets to give away or keep all to yourself
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNIs Your Garden Cut Out for Matisse Inspiration?
Look to the artist’s paper collages for a creative and easy approach to garden design
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Counters: Try an Integrated Cutting Board for Easy Food Prep
Keep knife marks in their place and make dicing and slicing more convenient with an integrated butcher block or cutting board
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESOn Trend: Cut It Out With Norwegian Seating
You may find these nipped-out chairs extra full of modern style and comfort, thanks to their savvy designs
Full StoryBASEMENTSBasement of the Week: Smart Cost Cutting, Beautiful Results
A stylish multipurpose basement for less than half the usual cost? See the budget-saving tricks that helped this underground space
Full Story
happy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand