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Bottlebrush

Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
in Plants
I bought 3 small plugs of bottlebrush last year and planted them on in pots. They are growing well, but have not flowered this year. My question is, am I expecting this too soon? Do they need a year or so before flowering?
I’ve got them placed in a sunny spot. Is there anything else I need to be doing?

Posts

  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    They are probably busy making a good root system. Especially as you have recently potted them up. 
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
    Thank you Bijdezee - that’s reassuring to know. It sounds as if I need to be patient!
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
    Just just to update on the bottlebrush plants. They have flowered for the first time this summer, one slightly better than the other (the third one died, sadly), so it looks as if you were correct Bijdezee. The blooms looked really vibrant and the bees lived them.
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
    Oh, that is gorgeous, pansyface. Something to look forward to!  :D
    My pots are a similar size but the plants look a bit leggier than yours.  Can I prune them? ( I'm new to growing bottlebrush).
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
    Yes, I got them as plugs just a couple of years ago, 3 at the most, and put them into pots a similar size to yours. So perhaps I'd be better just leaving them to do their own thing for now. Many thanks for your advice. They are lovely, aren't they?
  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    I've got a shocking pink one, now about 4' tall. I wasn't sure whether the bees were able to get down to the nectar or if they were frustrated by the soft spikes.
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
    Do you mind if I ask you, Pansyface, but do you prune your bottlebrush at all to give it the lovely shape your plant has? Mine are starting to look a bit gangly, so wonder if I can prune them a bit either early Autumn or early Spring? I've just read somewhere that the flowers can be cut off once they have finished and this might encourage further flowering in the season, though don't know if that's true.
    Your shocking pink one sounds nice, SueAtoo. I believe several colours are available. I watched the bees around my plants and the soft spikes didn't seem to deter them.
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