Hi,
When I acquired this giant BOP nearly two years ago, I didn't think it would live through our Pennsylvania winter. I kept it in a bright bathroom and, surprisingly, it made it, but it never looked well enough for me to fool with. It's biggest challenge is bending stems -- so arched that the leaves nearly touch the floor.
I thought perhaps the pot was too small, so just this spring it seemed steady enough for me to transplant it to a bigger pot. Then the Pennsylvania summer hit. It's like Cambodia -- steamy all day, steamy all night, 85-95 degrees, tons of rain this summer...absolutely sweltering. It's finally flourishing in partial shade (morning sun/dappled blazing afternoon sun) on my patio. It's really taking off, with new shoots appearing that become healthy upright stems and leaves. I'm not sure if it's taking off because it's in tropical weather or because it was repotted or both.
So this seems like a good time to get some advice about where this guy and I are taking our relationship. (Apologies for my photos...this plant is very heavy and difficult to move in the sweltering heat here.) It stands about 5' high. It's actually a pot of three plants, although the roots may be commingled by now. Any recommendations regarding this 13" pot? Should I separate the three plants for them to flourish more? Does this 13" pot appear too shallow? Too small for three plants?
There are a few old burned/torn leaves that should be removed. Should I also remove older leaves that are healthy but still arched and not supporting their weight well? How should I remove them -- at the bottom of the leaf or at the base of the plant? Some older arched leaves have new shoots nestled inside them -- if I should remove the old leaves at the base of the plants, how do I remove it without harming the developing leaf?
How can I keep the leaves from arching in the future? Is this unavoidable during winter when PA gets much less sunlight? Would a deeper pot help it stand more upright? (Again, the newest leaves are standing quite straight.)
Should I remove the old brown leaf "shells" at each plant's base (see photo)? If so, how do I do it with current leaves nestled into those brown shells?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. I really dig this plant and I'm hoping we have a future together!
Susan.
