Texas Gardening: The bittersweet blooms of Fall..., 1 by Lily_love

Lily_love wrote:
Jatropha's seedpods. This is my 1st year with this tropical, gessigail, it's said that this plant blooms all year round. From my observation it's blooming on new growths. If you trim them back you're going to lose those potential blooms?
If you must shape the shrub, do so selectively on those weakened and dead branches. Prune out the crossed branches that impedes air-circulation. While you do that, I'd recommend repot it with fresh potting soild. Prune the root ball 1/3 off, trim off all encirclying, and dried brittle roots. By root prunning, you'll rejuvinate your potting plant. Remember to keep your newly 'pampered' plant pot out of direct sun for a few days before you gradually 'harden them back out to its usual sunny area.
Important; do not give full strenght fertilizer immediately after prunning the root. You could however, soak your plant's root ball in root stimulator's solution, or Vitamin B-1 while you working on repotting 'em.
Happy gardening.