I appear to be looking after my other plants okay, but the Rubella don't look well. Got 2 of them a couple of years ago, but they now appear leggy, and not as healthy. I do have them in the right environment, but I'm wondering if there is a way to prune them, to thicken them up ? Although, I've read they shouldn't need pruned. :-? Any advice would be most helpful. Thankyou. C.J.
CJ, is there another name for you plant? I am not familiar with Rubella, except as a form of measles caused by the Rubella virus.
Toni I hadn't kept the label, but looking through the internet I can identify it as 'Skimmia Japonica Rubella'. I don't know if it is the weather the past 2 years has affected them, but they do appear to need some help, either by pruning, or perhaps some kind of feed. C.J.
Oh, okay, I have heard of the Skimmia. I know it does best in light to medium shade. Is it in too deep shade, that could cause it to get leggy. Also, an alkaline soil will cause plants to become leggy...could it be getting too much nitrogen? I also read awhile back that you could prune it after flowering just to keep it symetrical in shape but not for thickening up per se.