I inherited a justicia from my aunt who lived in Mrytle Beach SC. She had been very sick and had not taken care of it. I have been trying to rejuvinate it but I'm doing something wrong. It is slow growing and tall and spindly. It has bloomed all summer, but as it grows the edge of the bottom leaves start turning brown and eventually fall off. I'm left with a tall plant with a few leaves at the top. I have rooted a few sprigs, but they are slow going too. We are in Birmingham AL on the border between zones 7 and 8. It is in a 2 gallon pot and lives on the back porch where it only gets some late afternoon sun. Is it too late to cut it back? Please help. This plant was originally my great grandmothers and I really don't want to lose it.
Justicia carnea
You can cut them back anytime and root the tops in water if you only cut them in pieces about six inches long. The middle section of the plant is probably too woody to use for cuttings, but if you cut back to about 8 or 10 inches, you should get a nice bushy plant before long. The more sun the better for this one. If it has been potted for a long time, I'd give it some new soil to live in. Just for the heck of it, you might want to wash it down good in case it has some mites or something, tho I've never known this plant to attract bugs here in Iowa.
I agree with Brugie's instructions. Mine gets large and leggy also so I cut it near to the ground every year.
