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Bottle brush plant

Hi
We've had a bottle brush plant for around 8 years now and I have to say we unfortunately have never pruned it.  So it's branches are very long and wayward looking with the brush at the tips.

How do we prune it and when.  Also if we cut it back to make it neater will it spoil any future flowering.  The thin branches are currently around 2.5ft long and look disproportionate to the trunk.  We feel really bad and would like to start looking after it properly if we can. 

Many thanks
Water, feed, tweak - then start again......... 

Posts

  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    8 years is a long time in that pot! I'm actually surprised it's as well as it is. As already said, replant it in a much bigger pot. Add some grit to the soil based compost too. They come from a hot dry climate. You can prune them back as soon as they have flowered. They then branch out a bit from wherever you cut. 
  • CasparCaspar Posts: 32
    Thanks both for your advice.  I was worried if I  cut it right back, it wouldn't sprout again.  I will lovingly tend to it's needs over the week-end, now that I know what to do.  After flowering, Is there a particular length I should only cut back to, just to be sure? 

    Water, feed, tweak - then start again......... 
  • CasparCaspar Posts: 32
    I feel really bad and sad for the poor thing now.  Hopefully I can make it feel very happy over the week-end thanks to the lovely people on this forum.  
    Water, feed, tweak - then start again......... 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    @Caspar is it possible to plant it in the ground? Ours looks fabulous but never would it look good in a pot.
  • CasparCaspar Posts: 32
    @bertrand-mable, we've never put it in the ground because as far as I know, they can't be left outside over Winter due to frost.  We put it in the greenhouse in those months.
    Water, feed, tweak - then start again......... 
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Mine has grow from 3ft when I bought it to about 7ft six years later. Been in the ground the whole time. They just need a very sheltered position. Frost's don't seem to harm them and nor did the Beast from the East all those years back when it was young. BUT they hate drying, cold winds.

    Mine is against a garage wall, east facing (so only gets sun til about 1pm) but it's the most sheltered spot I have in my annoyingly windy garden. I had another years ago in a more open windy spot and it looked terrible after every winter - lots of scorching. It did used to recover mind you. Until I tried to transplant it... Didn't recover from that sadly. 


  • CasparCaspar Posts: 32
    Thank you Robert, very Informative Indeed!
    Water, feed, tweak - then start again......... 
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    A neighbour has about 6 of these in his front garden in the ground, been there for at least 3 years I would guess so seems hardy enough.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    @Caspar ours is in a sheltered place but this year like last year In April we had frosts after frosts. The plant didn't suffer and we don't fleece it during the winter.
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