Should I prune this shrimp plant?

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Plants4myPots Palm Bay, FL(Zone 9b) Jan 25, 2011

I'm hesitating to prune this shrimp plant, because it's still "winter" here in Florida. There aren't many leaves on it, and there's new growth starting at the tips. What do you think?

Thanks,
Rose

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Malus2006 Coon Rapids, MN(Zone 4a) Jan 27, 2011

If you leave it looking like this it will be rather leggy. Also you have some water/salt issues as the remaining leaves have brown tips. Pot look too small for it. Maybe try gradual trimming it back by 3 to 4 inches, not all at once if you still enjoy the flowers.

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Plants4myPots Palm Bay, FL(Zone 9b) Jan 28, 2011

Thanks, Malus. I was pretty sure the legginess wasn't going to go away unless I chop chop chop. I need to get over it that I'd be chopping off the only part that's growing right now for the healthier plant later. I'll trim 'em back and see if I can get the pruned bits to root.

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Honigirl Pieve di Compito, Italy Jan 28, 2011

Ciao Plants4MyPots....Your plant looks a little leggy, for sure....try clipping it back to just above where the new shoots are growing out...
so you don't lose too much growth....give the plant a good soaking to leach out the salts or old fertilizers....give it more light, if possible...and after it energizes, re-pot with new soil-compost....not too much water...and a mild liquid food now and then, when it is growing...has it been exposed to cool drafts or colder air? Looks a little shocked.....but they are sturdy...should respond to a little TLC....good luck.

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Plants4myPots Palm Bay, FL(Zone 9b) Jan 29, 2011

Hi Honigirl,
Depends on your definitions of cool drafts or colder air, but I'm pretty sure the answer is "yes". These are outdoor containers, and we had about three short "cold spells" here this winter, when the temperature went down to freezing with even lower wind chills - and I brought all my plants inside for those. When they were inside for a couple days at a time to protect 'em from the cold, they didn't get much light, either. The low temperatures for the rest of the last couple months has been around 50(F) 10(C) degrees and would feel colder sometimes due to wind, and the plants have been exposed. If the plant needs more light, it's just going to have to wait 'til summer gets here, because it's already out where it can get the most sun possible.
I'm sure you both have a good point about the pot being a little small, too. It isn't big enough for the size potential of either the shrimp plant or the copper plant. Oh boy, repot!
Thanks again,
Rose

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