Pia is a nice compact bush that blooms on old wood, watervillegirl. It should not be pruned starting around August-September in order not to prune away next year's flower buds. It also needs winter pritection in Zone 5. If not protected, Pia's stems might freeze & dry out; the shrub would always return from the ground with new stems.

Possible problem: If you are pruning the shrub in August or September, this would prune off next spring's flower buds as August-September is when they form. I suffered this problem a few years ago. I once told a friend she could have my blooms for drying purposes. She said that she planned to pick them up prior to August but was delayed and did so in mid-August. The next year, I had a total of 2 blooms from all plants. Oh well, live and learn they say. Hee hee hee.

The exact month/time varies with the weather. Here in the South I should not prune starting some time in August. On the other hand, you will have more extra time in the northern states. Many people there report being able to prune later than that (in the month of September).

Possible problem: you did not mention if you were applying any types of winter protection techniques or not. If not, the flower buds are probably getting zapped by the cold weather during Ohio's winters. But if you a-r-e applying winter protection techniques then these may not have helped and may need to be tweaked to provide more protection during the worst of the winter weather (i.e., add more leaves).

You can review Hayseedman's thread on winter protection techniques in the link below. These consist of (a) adding chicken wire around the shrubs and piling dried leaves until the stems are covered or (b) placing a cardboard on top of the shrub, gently applying pressure on the plant until the stems are horizontal on the ground, hold it in place with some rocks and pile leaves on top. This last method does not harm the stems and they recover in spring when you remove the cardboard. If these techniques do not help, consider piling yet more leaves and/or more distance between the end of the stem (where the buds are) and the edge of the protected zone.

Does that help you, watervillegirl?
Luis

Here is a link that might be useful: An excellent thread by hayseedman on winter protection techniques

luis pr

Thanks for all the info. I did not prune the pia at all last year. This year it started with the wood and the green started growing up this a little early in the season. Since then it has not done anything else. I did just recently finally cut the wood back. Does that make any difference?

I did not winter protect but neither did my neighor and hers looks great.

I guess my question is do I keep it here and hope it grows and blooms next year or should I move it and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any help.

Hi Wvg - I'm experiencing a similar problem with my 3rd season Pia. She was a gift to me in the Fall of '06 ... not knowing any better then I sank her in the ground - when I could have over-wintered her in original pot in the garage. I did encaged her & mulched heavily w/ wood chips & dried leaves - she survived & was growing beautifully but got zapped back by the famous 2wk freeze of Apr '07 - died back to the ground! I was so heartsick! Â:(. In Jul '07 she sprouted 2 tinee-tiny canes with healthy little leaves. She stayed small & never added anymore canes. I flatboarded her last winter.

This Apr. I decided to dig her up, containerize & sank the container in a hole where she would get a bit more of mostly AM sun. She has grown 3x fuller but remains a petite little lady ... I guess the blooms will come next season ... I'm just tickled I didn't lose her!!! Â;)

Come Fall - 'not sure whether to pull the containter from the hole & over-winter in the garage or just protect her in situ, as she is doing so well where she is. What do you think Luis? TIA!