The Australian wax flower grows beautifully bushy. Every year from March it adorns its branches with numerous flowers. Can pruning measures make a useful contribution to their cultivation at all? The plant itself does not ask for it.
The Australian waxflower does not need pruning
Cutbacks are not required
Chamelaucium is one of those plants that do not require pruning to care for. On the other hand, the shrub tolerates the use of scissors well and can be cut back if necessary. The only question is when and how cutting makes sense.
shape the shrub
You can cut back the Australian wax flower in the following cases:
- when it grows too tall
- when the bush has grown too wide
- when the crown has lost the desired shape
- if denser branching is desired
Wait for the ideal time
During flowering, the scissors should remain in the garden shed, because now the Australian shrub deserves only admiring looks. The best time for cutting is then missed anyway. Wait for the next hibernation.
Prune the shrub as soon as it is allowed outside again in spring. So around March, just before flowering. If things get cramped in the winter quarters, you can exceptionally use scissors in the fall. Then only cut as much as absolutely necessary. The rest can be trimmed in the spring.
tips
Use sharp cutting tool to leave smooth cuts. It is also important that the scissors are well cleaned and disinfected before and after use. This means that any germs do not have the opportunity to spread from plant to plant.
Cut branches for the vase
From March onwards, all branches of the Australian waxflower are overflowing with small flowers. Depending on the variety, they are white, pink, violet or even multicolored. The flowering period lasts into summer. Although this plant is not a typical cut flower, its long branches can enhance any bouquet.
It doesn't harm the Australian waxflower if you cut off a few branches for the vase. Distribute the cuts so that the shrub retains its presentable shape.