Lift it from the container & evaluate the roots & soil. How long since last repot? How badly rootbound? Does water drain through soil quickly or slowly?

The first thing you need to do is get it healthy. You can keep it compact easily, if your pruning skills are OK.

Al

Thanks for the rapid reply!

Now ya know I'm going to have more questions for everyone, right? :)

The water drains pretty good.

I doubt if it's ever been repotted. And I don't think my neighbor (NOT a gardener :)) knows either.

I'm going to assume it needs new soil. (I've been reading about Scott's planting mix. Would that be good?)

*evaluate roots* Oh, my. Do you mean are they all twirled around?

Getting it out of the pot to evaluate will pose a bit of problem. I really should be in Accessible Forum, due to chronic illness and lack of bend-ability and strength. But this forum has more *stuff*. lol

Maybe I can con a nice healthy neighbor to do that for me.

As far as my pruning abilities---- never done it on a lantana but I imagine there much be something on the Web to teach.

The hardest item for last.

*Get it healthy*. That leaves me wondering what I should do. Do you mean repotting, pruning will make it healthy?

Sorry for all the questions. But I really need guidance.

Al is much more knowledgeable (and older) than I. Maybe he will advise further. However, in my neck of the woods lantana are ubiquitous and I have had some in containers. My novice two cents follows:

my guess is that if the plant has been in that container for any length of time it is root bound in there. In the growing season they are prolific. I dug a few out of my landscape this spring and potted them bare root (maybe six, seven weeks ago) in big containers. Last weekend I planted them somewhere else and fibrous roots had already consumed the container. It sholdn't be too tough to lift the plant right out of the pot.

Pruning.... I wouldn't prune the plant itself now. I dont "prune" these at all. It's an herbaceous perennial here, in the winter when it looks dead I cut them to the ground completely. Maybe the roots if you're repotting. But again Ill defer to someone else.

Making it healthy.....I dunno what does it look like? I've never seen one sick. Sometimes bugs get at them. I spray permethrin and it doesn't hurt the plant. Some wimpy organic may work too.....

They like sun and heat. Dont need too much water....Pretty easy here. should be easy where you are. Doesn't everything grow in CA?

**** Doesn't everything grow in CA?****

Not when I'M taking care of them. LOL

In my zone--- this lantana doesn't lose it's leaves in the winter. Just looks sad.

I'm sure it must be pot bound. But I can't let it get too much bigger so, do I understand that repotting it, MAYBE trimming a bit of root, new soil (Scott's?) cutting dead branches and some TLC and it will be happier?