Pruning after a spider mite infestation

[DavidU]

I've had my share of challenges with indoor plants this winter.  This is my second year of growing tropical hibiscus indoors and I must of had some beginners luck last year because my plants all did very well with minimal pest damage sans some aphids which were relatively easy to control.

This year I encountered my first battle with spider mites. Sadly I had my first attack while I was away on vacation and lost a very nice space oddity plant in the process.  Fortunately, researching the forums here helped me get the infestations under control without completely losing any other plants and I have to say that I learned a lot this winter.  With that said, there was some significant damage to other cv's as well.  One being a very nice Rocket's Red Glare plant that I absolutely adored as it was a wild growing, floriferous beast!  RRG was also my very first tropical hibiscus so it holds a special place in my heart. 

With all of the background out of the way, my question is more in regards to pruning after a mite attack.  I've included a before and after of this plant and was wondering if I should prune a fair amount of the plant back now that it is so sparse from the mites.  The problem I see with this is that if I cut back all of the tops I would be taking off most of the remaining leaves. I am also curious to hear if more experienced growers would recommend completely cutting off the lower hanging branches as I have seen others comment that this is beneficial to the overall growth.  It is my hope that I can restore this plant back to beauty soon... or perhaps have it grow even better with the proper pruning methods.  Thanks in advance for any help! 

[Ellen]

Yes, me too.  And I am no expert and also would appreciate advice.

I do have one anecdote to share tho.  I have a treasured Tequila Sunrise that has limped along for years.  Winter before this my beloved bulldogs ate it down to about 5 inches of stem.  This was not done in one pruning, but the bulldogs became very persistant and the end result looked like a dead and goner.  Keep in mind this was a mature plant (6-8 yrs), if that makes a difference.  Last spring when they all went back outside, it came back like gang busters.  Then I used growth hormone on it and it exploded into a 4' X 4' bush with dozens of flowers.

[Charlie]

If it was mine, I would prune it. See the HVH web site pruning page if unsure how to proceed. If the plant is too damaged it won't come back but I would rather find out quick than have a sickly plant hanging around for weeks or months. After you prune it new growth will start to show in about 2 weeks, depending on temperature and weather.

Good luck!

Charlie

[Kyle]

David,
Microscopic mites are a constant battle for me in and outside.   Pruning is an effective way to get rid of pest.  
Many people have mites and don't even know it because they are so hard to see.    People see yellow leaves and think, Oh I better fertilize  when they are actually slowing the plant down and making things worse while the plant is under attack.  
If you have a limited amount of leaves, try selective pruning it.    I would start with the big center branch and cut at least half of it off.  
When I prune I start with the biggest, longest branches first and think shape.      Cut 2 branches at a time and 3-4 weeks later cut more branches.   It may take several months of pruning and you may need to go back and cut more off as you wait for leaves to grow in on other parts of the hibiscus.  

Keep in mind if you don't cut the branch low enough the new growth will form at the tip of the branch and look funny when it grows in.    For me the idea of pruning is to wake up the lower growth so the plant branches from the bottom not at the tip of the branch.     If you don't cut the branch low enough, the plant will branch at the tips and become to top heavy and look funny.      Also, the time of year and the amount of light the hibiscus receives effects how well it braches.   You can prune now since the days are getting longer.     When I make a cut, the plant is only going to branch 1 or 2 nodes below the cut so keep that in mind where you want the new branches to grow in from.      It is often I need to cut the plant way down in order to force new branching from the bottom.  
I will say that once I start pruning I can't stop, it's addicting!    
I highly recommend the pruning shears that HVH offers because they are commercial quality sheers at an affordable price.  Friskers can't compare!
-Kyle-
 

[DavidU]

Ellen - thanks for the anecdote!  I'd have been so sad if a pet ate my hibs but it seems to have worked out for the best and was probably a good learning lesson about the resiliency of these plants and how cutting them back increases growth.

Charlie - The resources on your website have been invaluable to me.  I've probably read every article and post on this website multiple times trying to learn more about growing these plants, so thank you and of course, Cindy too 

Kyle - Thanks for the awesome tips.  I will take your advice in selectively pruning this cv.  Perfect timing as I was considering doing a hard prune on this one, but wasn't sure if this was the best course of action considering I will be keeping this plant indoors for the next couple of months here on the east coast.  The plant is by a window and receives approximately 2-4 hours of sun daily, so I hope that's enough to begin the new growth process.  As you can see from the picture, it is currently in a quarantine zone, but I will be moving it to an area that receives a bit more light after I begin pruning. You mentioned that fertilizing during a mite attack slows the plant down and makes things worse.  Do you recommend not fertilizing or using growth enhancer at all during an infestation period?

I have also noticed growth at the tips of other plants that I have pruned instead of lower growth as well. To avoid having these plants become top heavy and look unproportioned as they continue to grow, do you suggest that I cut these plants back now or wait until spring once they are brought outside?  Funny you mention the friskers as that is exactly what I have at the moment.  Back to the HVH store it seems!

[Ellen]

  Charley, just looked at your pruning instructions, and I thank you too.  The picture you included for "hard pruning" looks exactly like what my dog left, except your branch ends are clean cut and hers were, well, kinda chewed.