The Mühlenbeckia or the wire shrub is one of the garden and house plants that do not need regular pruning. This makes the wire shrub quite easy to care for. With its long tendrils, this plant is also well suited as a traffic light plant.

Mühlenbeckia tolerates pruning well

Nevertheless, the Mühlenbeckia tolerates pruning very well, which means that it does not immediately take offense to a fairly radical pruning. If you have planted Mühlenbeckia as ground cover, go over them with the raised lawn mower in the spring. In this way you stimulate the plants to a lush and dense growth.

When does it make sense to cut back the Mühlenbeckia?

A pruning is always recommended if you are not satisfied with the appearance of your Mühlenbeckia. If so-called horny shoots (weak and colorless shoots without leaves) appear in winter or in a location that is too dark, you can cut them off in spring. However, if the Mühlenbeckia complexa, which is not hardy, has frozen to death, cutting it back is no longer of any use.

If some shoots disturb the harmonious overall picture of the plant, then these shoots can be cut off without hesitation. But you can also put climbing aids in the flower pot or planter and let your wire bush grow as you wish. It may then be advisable to cut back in autumn in order to be able to overwinter the Mühlenbeckia. This makes it easier to transport the plant to the winter quarters.

What do I have to consider when pruning my Mühlenbeckia?

Even if the Mühlenbeckia is quite robust, you should always use clean and sharp tools for pruning. In this way you avoid unnecessary injuries to the plant and the possible transmission of pests or diseases. You should cut off dried and diseased shoots as soon as you discover them. Cut off strong shoots, then check their suitability as cuttings for propagation.

The essentials in brief:

  • regular pruning not required
  • Cut possible at any time
  • Cut off horny shoots in spring
  • Mow ground cover in spring
  • possibly cut back in autumn before moving to winter quarters

tips

If you would like to encourage your Mühlenbeckia to sprout particularly lushly and vigorously, then mow the plant in the spring.

Category:

Indoor plants