Pruning Advice (photo + OT bonus photo)

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dizzymizzy

Registered:1395839462
Posts: 33

Posted 1396397187	Reply with quote #1

Hi, all. Newb here. I broke down and bought a Ischia from the local Lowes and repotted it. And now I'm wondering if I should prune it to my desired shape, or leave it alone until next Fall/Spring. It seems as if its Spring growth is already vigorous (I'm in Florida). I want this to keep a shrub-like shape. So, would you trip the leaves of the 6 or so main branches, or leave it alone until Fall/Spring? Heck, any advice in general would be great. Here is a close-up of the growth: By the way, does anyone care to speculate how old this thing is? My Frenchie and Fig: __________________ Florida, Zone 9 Cuttings Wish List: The LSU varieties...

dizzymizzy

Registered:1395839462
Posts: 33

Posted 1396397267	Reply with quote #2

Also, please let me know if anyone has any trouble viewing the images. :) __________________ Florida, Zone 9 Cuttings Wish List: The LSU varieties...

IamKriya

Registered:1382711126
Posts: 254

Posted 1396400265	Reply with quote #3

No images __________________ Zone 9a, Central Florida "Be the change you want to see in the world" ~ Gandhi ebay ID: churl82

dizzymizzy

Registered:1395839462
Posts: 33

Posted 1396400790	Reply with quote #4

And now? __________________ Florida, Zone 9 Cuttings Wish List: The LSU varieties...

drphil69

Registered:1390113240
Posts: 803

Posted 1396401330	Reply with quote #5

Nice looking tree. You may want to wait for th real fig experts to chime in, but generally to encourage branching u prune 6 or more inches off the top when dormant. Pinching the tips often results in just one new leader, generally speaking. Great looking dog! __________________ Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.

dkirtexas

Registered:1341345900
Posts: 1,330

Posted 1396401630	Reply with quote #6

Probably 2 yrs old, could be younger in Central Florida, you basically have the equivalent of three growth seasons down there in most years. The trees I brought with me from Florida really slowed down after the first year out here. __________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.

recomer20

Registered:1378013757
Posts: 402

Posted 1396405096	Reply with quote #7

I think I'd let it go the first year....let those little trunks get some heft on them. I experimented with pinching young plants to shape them early on, but probably the traditional method of letting the trunks get some thickness to them before whacking away is the better idea. Thick trunks can produce strong new growth, so after the first year, don't be afraid to prune hard (if that's what your chosen shape requires). As for the little tiny "branchlets," feel free to snip them off if they don't seem to be doing much....chances are they might never produce: you're more apt to get good branches from future pruning than from little spindly side growth. __________________ Rick C. Birmingham, AL z7b --- INGROUND: S.C.Lemon ("Dr.Welch"), LSUpurple, Celeste (Std) POTTED 3rd Yr: Alma, Atreano, BattGreen, GrnGreek, HardyChicago, ItalianBlack (Becnel), LSUGold?, MBvs, Sal's EL, Southern BT?, St.Jean, Jackie'sUnk POTTED 2nd Yr: SunbirdUnkJP, BourjNoire, JHAdriatic, ValleNegra ROOTING: RdB, ScottsBlk, BlkGreek-MN,Preto

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1396406320	Reply with quote #8

i would wait a yr or two... or when the tree reach the height you want. or, if you are good at this kinda things, start shaping now. i'm really bad at shaping trees, so i do lot of stupid things and all my trees look funny. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1396433743	Reply with quote #9

Hi dizzymizzy, From the dirt there seem to come 2 stems - corresponding to two cuttings put in the ground. So I would tare them apart and make 2 pots/trees . The reason for that is the second stem counting backward from the right. It is thick and vigorous. But because it is placed in the middle of the pot, it should be trimmed. So I would make 2 pots, and let them grow and see how they grew at the end of the season - so no trimming no pinching for now due to the small size of the stems. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

dizzymizzy

Registered:1395839462
Posts: 33

Posted 1396439162	Reply with quote #10

Thanks, everyone. I will wait to prune them. JDSFRANCE: I picked this one from the store because it looked like it had the most growth and cuttings, but I wasn't sure. If this indeed has two cuttings, and it wouldn't harm anything if I took them apart, I will separate the right one from the plant and repot it for two trees. Just for argument's sake, does anyone think I should not split this into two trees? __________________ Florida, Zone 9 Cuttings Wish List: The LSU varieties...

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,101

Posted 1396443429	Reply with quote #11

It is very possible that the smaller right side trunk is attached at a below-ground level node to the left hand trunk, and it might not have much separate root mass of it's own; separating them if that is the case could kill the right side part. I suppose you could gently probe or remove a little soil in the area and find out for sure, but that would be safer when dormant, I think (I'm not a fig expert but extrapolating from other growing experience). __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

dizzymizzy

Registered:1395839462
Posts: 33

Posted 1396530485	Reply with quote #12

After inspecting the plant, I am hesitant to break it apart. I will leave it intact, repot into a larger container, and prune during the Florida "winter." :-) __________________ Florida, Zone 9 Cuttings Wish List: The LSU varieties...

Dieseler

Registered:1215735852
Posts: 8,252

Posted 1396533426	Reply with quote #13

Pruning it depends on what shape you desire and inground or in pot culture. It may need to go in bigger container and or need root work when it goes back dormant if not going inground.

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