I have a new Red Chinese Lantern/abuliton outdoors. It looks a bit like a poodle right now with a lot of growth about 8" up, bare then another pompom topping it off-with buds, I might add. I would like to bush-up this plant. I have Sunday and Monday to work in my yard. I wanted to plant it up in a nice pot and trim it, too. We have about 6-8 weeks in our growing season left but it is cooling down quickly into the 80's. This week will be in the 60's at night. Should I wait til spring? Or trim it and bring it indoors in front of a sunny window?

This isn't a particularly authoritative source, but it sounds like a trimming won't hurt anything.
http://gardening.about.com/od/...
This article says to trim in late winter or early spring:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/c...

Thank you, woofie. I will let the current buds bloom, then give her a little haircut when the weather turns cold. She will be coming in the house to winter over. I hope that helps her take root as well.

I have a small one that I just brought in today and I'm planning on doing a bit of trimming on it, too, as it looks a bit leggy. I've never cut one back before, but it certainly sounds like it will improve its appearance. Do keep an eye out for vermin! Seems like every time I try to bring something indoors, I end up with bugs!

I'm scared to cut it but it looks a little silly the way it is now unless it decides to grow something from the middle. What do you think?

Could you air layer the top section and cut if off when it roots?

Oh gee, that looks a lot like mine! And I was thinking about snipping off the top section and trying to root it. Paul's sounds like a good suggestion, although I've never tried air layering.

Paul, From what I've read, abutilon roots well from semi hard/green cuttings. Do you think air layering would be better? The branch is thin, half a pencil in diameter or less.

I do not have any direct experience but think if it were mine I would try the air layering.

Paul, do you have a link to some clear instructions for those of us who don't have experience with air layering?

How odd, no one has done an air layering idea tutorial. I haven't done this in decades but remember it being super easy, at least with Holly and Euonymus. Split the branch at centerline...carefully, in this case the main stem. Insert tooth picks to maintain the gap. Wrap in wet sphagnum. Wrap in wet plastic baggy or plastic wrap. Tape the ends closed to hold in water.

Woofie? Are you going to try to air layer? I am sorta chicken to slice into it since mine is so thin.

I was thinking about trying it, because it seems preferable to just lopping off the top and hoping that it might root. (I was thinking of trying to propagate whatever I trimmed off.) That's why I was hoping for some specific instructions.

I believe Abutilon is a Dicot. Some links @woofie
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advices...
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hi...
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext...

If you have a sturdy stool or table of the right height, and the stem is flexible, you could set a shallow pot at the right height to lean the stem over and bury a section of it.

What type of moss is the best for air layering? I am familiar with Spanish Moss but I can't recall nurseries carrying other kinds. I think I am going to try air layering. We have many weeks of warm weather and sunshine and I will take advantage of it.

Here is an illustrated example of doing air layering. Although, this recommends doing it in the spring.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...

OK. I keep reading and I've changed my mind again. . My abutilon branch is too small for air layering. The rooting occurs on semi soft, green wood. And from what I understand it is not in the "difficult to root" category. From this website:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...

"On woody plants, stems of pencil size or larger are best. The stem may be much thicker on the more herbaceous plants."

That's hysterical, woofie! We were reading the same article at the same time! Great minds....

Too funny! So what are you going to do? Mine has a few more branches than yours (I should snag a photo of it), but they're very similar looking.