Melianthus Major

hi all, just a quickie. I have one that I bought last autumn and have kept it in it's pot in my unheated greenhouse. I have just re-potted it into a larger pot, but it has a lot of dead leaves lower down the stem with all the new growth at the top. Should I prune it and if so, by how much do you reckon?
Much thanks

 

Blackthorn, I find it a very leggy plant.
most of the good leaves are always at the top.
As are the flowers, if you think they are worth it.
I cut mine right down to ground level each spring, new shoots grow from the roots sometimes a few feet away.
If its hardy here you should be OK with it, so I'd plant it out this spring, its not a good pot plant.

 

Hi Blackthorn - I agree with Pete. Get that thing planted! Then chop it off at the socks in another few weeks. I have two plants here, no hardiness problems (to date) - maybe just some bracken or fleece in it's first winter outside 'til it gets really established. Although they are pretty drought-tolerant once mature I would make sure it's well watered in it's first summer.

 

Thanks pete & Tigerlily. I was intending to plant it out anyway around end of April time, it's just that the pot was a bit small. I will chop it's head off as you say and see how it gets on.
Cheers

 

I have a young plant in the garden. It sailed though most of the winter and was still producing new green leaves. However the cold snap in early March has cut it back to the ground. Poking around in the mulch, i have found buds forming so it should come back fine (i hope).

But yes get it in the ground!