cutting back after damage

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
marzissa Irvine, CA Sep 01, 2008

I have a plectranthus that was severly eaten by caterpillars. It has long, leggy branches, which are bare but for a few leaves on top. Tell me please what I should do to help the plant: cut it back or let it grow ?

There are signs of new leaves all the way up the branches.

Post #5495936
Quote
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Sep 02, 2008

Hi Marzissa, dont know your plant by name, but if you are seeing new leaves starting to grow, then it does mean all is not lost, I would make sure there are no signs of any more caterpillars on the plant or any close by, more times than not, these insects come in certain months of the year after hatching and just may have turned into butterflies by now and moved onto pastures new, at that stage they dont feed on our plants but go for the nectar in our flowers. someone else will maybe come in and help you out about what to do with the plant. hope so, good luck. WeeNel.

Post #5495998
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 02, 2008

I think if it's starting to put out new leaves all along the branch I'd leave it alone and see what it does for now.

Post #5496157
Quote
JasperDale Long Beach, CA(Zone 10a) Sep 02, 2008

WeeNel is right about making sure you eliminate any remaining caterpillars.

Plectranthus are pretty tough plants...if yours is in a pot and it looks leggy, you can cut it back to the rim of the pot and let it start over.

Usually the long hanging stems get pretty ratty looking after an insect attack, and won't recover very well.

I would just cut it back, give it some type of feeding, like miracle gro and let it start over. They grow fairly fast.

If it's been in the same container for a long time, you may want to add new soil to it and/or put it in a larger container. Potting soil gets "used up" pretty quickly and loses nutrients, so new soil would be a huge help for it.

Post #5496182
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP