I want to make a tree!

[blupit007]

So I need advise once again.  Since I have started this hobby, I have acquired about 20 or so different cv's.  I would like to make one of them into a tree.  I have been really good about pinch pinch pinch, so most of mine are nice and bushy.  (I am a picker, ask my dog or horse, if they have anything on their skin, I have to pick at it, it may be a mental disorder).

I do have some super small cv's that can be trained into a tree that I have left alone, along with my 4" My Blue Heaven that I think is a graft.  (If it is it is a really good graft because I only think it is a graft...good job Charlie)  MBH is the only one that I have left alone and seems to be a good canadate as it has grown tall and strong.  But I do not know if it is a good idea to make a grafted cv into a tree? 

Other options I have are right now tiny; Byron Metts, Illuminati, Delicia Amoris, Valentines Day, Sleeping Beauty, Haute Couture, Acapulco Gold, Nightfire, Eye of the Storm, & Roman Candle (which is a terrible graft that I got from another vendor that is now a 2' tall skinny twig with leaves on the tippity top).  Photo attached of MBH, RC, & GP

I also saw on your website a photo of Gator Pride as a very nice tree.  Unfortunately I pinched that one you gave me and now it has about 5 wispy branches coming out of its tiny 4" pot.  So I think I ruined the chances of that one ever being a tree.

So out of the ones I mentioned, is there a particular cv that would make a better tree then the others?  Is it better to make mini's into trees like GP?  Can I still make GP into a tree, or is it better to let the bush I created do it's thing?

Thanks for the help
~Kristen 

[helixturnhelix]

Illuminati likes to grow tall too, so that is a possibility.  Most of these new CVs are fairly compact, so most trees you see are grafted on a thick garden variety trunk, just like roses.  I am seeing a bunch of hibiscus trees, with those cool Canadian CVs, but they are too expensive and in 5 gallon pots.  Really cool effect, check out my post of the Heaven Scent tree I took a pic of.  It might be under the mystery cvs...

[Charlie]

I missed this topic the other day. Interesting subject, and one that comes up a few times a year. I should write about this in a newsletter some time.

Anyway, hibiscus trees are quite popular and most garden centers carry at least a couple of them made from fast growing garden variety type hibiscus. There are several ways to make them but if you eliminate the ones that involve grafting then there is just one approach that will usually give good results.

Since what you want to end up with is a tall straight trunk without leaves but with a nicely developed ball of foliage and flowers at the top the first thing to do is to select a plant that is likely to grow that way. Then it must be trained by sticking a bamboo pole into the potting mix directly next to the main stem of the plant. Using twist ties or ribbon tie the plant's main stem so that it is as straight as possible, using the pole to secure the twist tie or ribbon too. The hibiscus main trunk will expand over time so do not tie it too tight to the pole. If you do need to cinch it tight just check it from time to time to see if it needs to be loosened. If the twist tie is digging into the bark of the plant it has become too tight.

Allow any leaves that are growing on the main stem to remain during this phase. But, if any side branches start to grow cut them off flush with the main trunk. We want all the energy and growth hormones to go to the top of the hibiscus so that it will grow upward as quickly as possible. Do not cut the top growing tip yet.

Once the hibiscus main stem reaches 3 feet in height, if any side branches start to grow close to the top do not cut them off. They will become part of the ball of foliage at the top.

When the hibiscus reaches about 3/4 of the final height you want it to be, then cut the top growing point and 1 to 2 inches of the main stem at the top of the plant. If you want you can post a photo of it before you cut so we can see what you are working with. The idea is to prune it hard enough to force side growth but not so far back that it is shorter than it has to be.

OK, so at this point the hibiscus will still slowly grow taller but most of the visible growth will be from side branches that come out near the top of the plant. The variety that you are growing will determine what type of side branches and the appearance of the ball at the top. Most likely you will have to remove the growing tip of the first side branches that come out so that they, too, will branch out and give a fuller appearance to the top growth. Of course the hibiscus makes buds on every branch so the more branches the better.

Once the top ball is developing well you can remove any leaves still growing on the main trunk since the ball at the top will provide the energy that the plant needs. To get a 4-6 foot tall tree standard with a nice ball of blooming growth at the top will probably take 3 summers or growing although it could start looking pretty decent at the end of the second summer. You can remove the bamboo pole when the plant has established a straight upright main trunk but after the top is cut to encourage side branching.

Now to the varieties. My Blue Heaven should be rooted although I might have grafted a couple. It doesn't look like it to me from the photos but it does not matter anyway. You can make tree standards from either rooted or grafted plants. My Blue Heaven is a good choice because it is a good vigorous grower and the foliage is attractive. Rainbow Christi and Gator Pride are not as good because their natural growth habit is to make a lot of side branches and not be so upright as the tree standard needs. The photo you saw of Gator Pride on our website grew that way naturally so all I had to do was encourage it a little - a fluke, really.

One of the hardest parts of getting a nice tree is developing the ball of foliage at the top. If the variety does not branch well you can end up with just a few branches coming off the top instead of a ball of dense foliage. Illuminati would probably do that because although it grows upward well it does branch that much. I don't yet have enough experience with My Blue Heaven to predict for sure how it will behave but the original seedling plant of it is very attractive and if is works out it will be a pretty standard. If you do not need for the tree standard to conform to pre-set ideas of what is beautiful you can make them with individual characters that suit the variety. Some might have a weeping top, some a twiggy dense top, and some an upright growing top.

It's a neat project. Please let us know the progress and if anything above is not clear or you think of any questions please post them.

Charlie

[Doll]

Albo Lacinatus is an excellent and easy one to train into a small tree. Loaded with blooms everyday during the growing season is an added plus.

[blupit007]

Wow Charlie,

  Thank you so much for the explanation!  I think I will give MBH a try.  It is about 2' tall right now with a straight trunk.  It will make for an excellent looking tree I think.  I think I will post a photo of the trunk so you can see which one you gave me.  If you need a closer look, I will take another photo.  I am very excited about this project!  Will keep you posted!

[davidwood]

 Having read what Charlie says I think I could have made Cranberry Muffin easily into a tree, it grew nearly 3 feet on a thick trunk with no branches. It was not till i decided to prune it that i got lower side branches.
Saying that i did not want it looking like a tree so i am happy,but it may be worth thinking about if someone does.

[Charlie]

Kristen, that plant is a rooted one. I really look forward to seeing how it does as a tree standard.

Charlie

[blupit007]

Meee tooo!

[Doll]

Thanks to the Cherry Glow that Charlie sent me this summer, I have the perfect candidate to make a tree. It was 45" tall when I received it and had a perfectly straight main trunk. I chopped off the top 3" and it has branched out wonderfully at the top. It probably won't bloom till spring as it is starting to really cool down now. I couldn't take a pic today as it is very windy and it has blown over in the pot. Will have to stake it up.