GrowPlsPlant questions
Real questions from home gardeners, the kind people post with a worried photo, answered by GrowPls: what's likely going on, what to do about it, and when to worry.
Showing questions tagged #pruning · show all
protea
How can I save my potted protea that is browning and sparse?
The protea in the photo is stressed, likely from a mix of poor drainage/over‑watering and an unsuitable potting mix. Trim back the dead stems, improve drainage, and refresh with a very free‑draining, low‑fertility mix, then water deeply but only when the top of the mix has dried out.
hydrangea
Why is my five-colored hydrangea not blooming in a pot?
This hydrangea looks healthy but is likely missing the right light or has had its flower buds pruned off. Give it bright morning sun, avoid heavy pruning, and use a bloom fertilizer lower in nitrogen to encourage flowers.
bird of paradise
Can I cut off side leaves to make my bird of paradise narrower?
Yes, you can remove a few outer leaves of a bird of paradise to slim its shape, as long as you cut each leaf cleanly at the base and don’t remove too many at once. This plant naturally grows wide, though, so be prepared that it will keep wanting that broad shape.
strawberry
Why do strawberry runners need to be removed from the mother plant?
Strawberry runners are like little baby plants that steal energy from the mother plant. Remove most of them if you want bigger, better fruit, or let a few root if your goal is to make new plants.
peperomia
How can I make my peperomia look fuller and healthier?
The plant is healthy but very leggy, which usually means it isn’t getting quite enough light and needs a haircut. Move it to a brighter spot with indirect sun and prune the long, bare stems so it can grow back compact and bushy.
desert rose
Will a cut stem on my desert rose grow new branches again?
Yes, that cut stem looks like it has simply dried and callused over, which is normal. New shoots are most likely to sprout from just below the cut or elsewhere on the stem once the plant is in active growth and is kept warm, bright, and not overwatered.
plumeria (frangipani)
Why didn’t my potted plumeria bloom and should I prune it?
The plumeria in the photo looks leggy and likely isn’t getting enough strong sun or the right seasonal care to trigger blooms. Give it more direct light, a dry, coolish rest in winter, and then prune lightly to shape and encourage branching once it’s growing strongly.
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