Hi everyone.
I recently decided to grow Pookie, my granny smith apple tree. Here's the story in my intro thread if you're interested: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=52217#52217
IT's about 5-6 weeks old approximately, and I really want my baby to grow. So I'm trying to learn what the right thing to do is. The first picture is Pookie at 2 weeks, and the second one is today.
[url=https://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2weekskr2.jpg][img]https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/8058/2weekskr2.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=5weeksjw4.jpg][img]https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5661/5weeksjw4.th.jpg[/img][/url]
It jut outgrew the small pot and I re-potted it yesterday. Some of my friends are saying I should remove the smaller leaves on the bottom so that the tree can grow and develop a trunk. The leaves they're referring to are the little ones on to bottom of the second picture. Is that true? Do I need to cut out the smaller leaves? I don't really want to hurt it.
I think what I want to grow it as is a bush. I like the natural looks. Besides, I'm not starting a whole plantation, so other other methods would be meaningless, right? SO my questions are basically these?
Should I hurt my baby by removing the smaller leaves?
What's the difference between a regular bush and a dwarf bush?
How do you dwarf a tree?
I think oyu have already learned that the chances of Pookie even bearing fruit (let alone it being edible) are not great.
However you can certainly train it into a bush. Here's how.
For now, do not take any leaves off - plants breathe and absorb sunlight (which helps them to grow) through their leaves. However, if you see a side branch appearing (they usually sprout from where the leaf joins the stem) then remove it by tearing it off the main trunk. You want one single, straight growth to begin.
As your plant gets bigger, put it in bigger pots.
When Pookie is about 3'0"-3'6" tall, cut the top off, so you leave a straight stem 2'6" tall. You will see side branches appear below where Pookie lost his/her head. Leave these on - they are the branches that will make your bush.
Post a picture when you are done
However you can certainly train it into a bush. Here's how.
For now, do not take any leaves off - plants breathe and absorb sunlight (which helps them to grow) through their leaves. However, if you see a side branch appearing (they usually sprout from where the leaf joins the stem) then remove it by tearing it off the main trunk. You want one single, straight growth to begin.
As your plant gets bigger, put it in bigger pots.
When Pookie is about 3'0"-3'6" tall, cut the top off, so you leave a straight stem 2'6" tall. You will see side branches appear below where Pookie lost his/her head. Leave these on - they are the branches that will make your bush.
Post a picture when you are done
Thank jdeb. I guess the little tree still has a long way to go before reaching 3'. It's only about 4" tall as of the moment.
Is it normal for the growth to pause when I repot it? It used to sprout leaves all the time, but now the plant looks fresh and healthy, but it's not sprouting new leaves from the top as fast as it used to.
Is it normal for the growth to pause when I repot it? It used to sprout leaves all the time, but now the plant looks fresh and healthy, but it's not sprouting new leaves from the top as fast as it used to.