winter cherry Solanum

Every year I like to buy these winter cherry plants and I take cuttings every year and they grow so big this one is quite small to some I have grown.

How do growers keep them small like the one below the leaf on the bottom photo are quite small yet my leaf grow quite big

what is the trick to keeping the plant & leaf small?

 

For Bonsai you keep removing the leaves so they grow back smaller but it is a slow process.

 

My guess is they use a dwarfing hormone that we cant buy.

I think it goes on a lot with the likes of Poinsettia and Chrysanths.

 

It looks a bit 'leggy', so I suggest keep pinching out the growing tips. This should encourage branching and a more compact plant.

 

Victoria already suggested the best way to keep them small.

In other words, root restriction from the pot and regular pruning keeps them small.

Regarding leaf size - if kept in less than optimum light levels indoors, some plants will grow bigger leaves to compensate for this lack of light.

The opposite is also true. If kept in direct sun light outdoors, those same plants will produce smaller and more robust leaves.

Next year, try growing chillies on the window sill to observe this leaf size phenomenon.

Germinate chilli seeds in January and grow them indoors on your window sill.

Take note of the leaf size in June and then defoliate the plants, but do this only if the plants are healthy. Afterwards, when the weather is warm enough (minimum 10degC), place the plants outside in direct sun light and wait for the new crop of leaves.

 

I have had those overwinter outside in my garden if given a nice sunny spot.

 

Solanum pseudocapsicum



This isn't mine but it has been under my care since late 2019.

It is growing in a tall dustbin outdoors 24x7x365.

As pete mentions, they can take some cold weather and frosts but all of the branches will die back to the trunk.