It still has a lovely bloom. No different from Metallic in growth habits.

Kitnor,
Metallica(grows more like J. Morange) is not quite as leggy as Barbados SG/Confetti. By no means was I saying that it was not pretty or desireable, just every plumie runs its course as a must have. A prime example is Rick Stones Ammarons Curly White and Sariah's Curly Pink, early in 2001 it was considered highly prized and expensive as Rick Stone was original grower and seller. I paid 500.00 in 2001/2002 for a 30" cutting, now you can get them for 35.00 or so. People pay a price to buy early on, when the cultivar is first released and prized, the beauty of the plumie does not change but the price does as it becomes accessible. Lots of JJ's plumies are the same Purple Jack, Jeena/Gina, Jenny, Jackie, etc., were over 100.00 for 1gal plant and now you can get them @ Lowes and HD for under 20.00. Again pricing or popularity has nothing to do with the beauty of the blooms.
There is a reason Confetti was so popular and desirable, it's the beauty of its blooms.
So cherish and enjoy her beauty.

but---I don't like here growth habit -- to big!

I have 4 confetti's and the growth is not leggy on mine. Here is a pic. Sorry I don't have a pic of the whole tree but it's about 4 feet tall from the soil line and had 14 branches before I cut the lower branches to make more confettis.

Lovely, maybe I should keep mine.

I rooted a four tipped Confetti and it hasn't bloomed for me yet, but I'm very happy to have it!!

James is right, supply and demand happens with them as well.. Some of us happen to think about the " classics" that aren't popular now, but are priceless to me. Like Mary Helen Eggenburger .. I bought one last year and I have been wanting one for a long time. We all get caught up in the frenzy of the new cultivars, but we also have to look at the beauties that are right under our eyes!!

Speaking of leggy trees.. I finally decided to take out the mid section of a few leggy trees today. I finally decided to Just do it since they were huge and " dog leg right". Lol.. Since I'm redoing my deck ( pool area) I promised the hubby that I wouldn't use the whole top deck area this year, so I have been really working on organizing my trees. Here are a few pics of " sectioning" my trees through slant cut grafting.

Before.

After...

Yes.. I'm sorry the pool looks awful. We are draining it and replacing the liner.. It's the last of the back yard project. We ripped up the top and lower deck... What a job..

Have a great night!!

Laura

Laura,

Beautiful job of "Downgrafting". I saw Paula Borcher Furtwagners post on it.

As for classics, I rarely keep a plumie that does not perform or is not exceptional. I do have a few oldies but lovelies I like the Slaughters Pink I bought from Paul Borcher Furtwagner, performs differently than the typical Slaughters I have seen so I keep her.

Cheers

James

you go girl! And I hear more are on the way????? :-)))

Has anyone ever cut the leggy plants in the middle to make it shorter and hope you will grow new tips?

Nice grafts, Laura!! :)

I have an "Aussie Confetti" bought from German C in 2013. It went a bit leggy the first year but bloomed on all tips last year and branched very nicely. Unsure if its the same variety. I have just a few relatively recent cultivars but like the classics each in their own way. You just can't beat a Penang Peach, Divine, ET Mardi Gras and a Dwarf Singapore Pink and others for their annual show and ease of maintenance. My Sariah's Curly Pink is a seed producing machine. There must be eight 12 inch long sets of pods maturing right now.

Since my ultimate goal is to plant my trees on terraces on a west facing reverse slope (down from the "future" house) I am ok with some leggy-ness.

Thank you Hollis!! Much appreciated!!!

Roxanne.. Lol. Thanks!! It time to get the tools out... Lol. !!

He is sending a few from the 15.98 Lowes .. Lol. Looking forward to seeing them!!! ;-)

K if I could keep them outside, I would take rebar and put the in larger containers. Then straighten them. They all look like little ladies with back problems. Ugh... But, ill repot those after the graft takes.

Good luck..

Laura

Laura, I have one very leggy plant that I would like to shorten this winter. would you mind posting step by step instructions as to grafting such a plant? thanks, Bill

Hi Bill!!

i believe you are wanting to shorten your tree that is leggy like a few I posted up thread ??? We call that down grafting or mid center grafting to reduce the long stem.

Here are those pictures...

This time of the year isn't the best time to do any grafting IMO because it's not the time of year for it to be at its most vital time of growth. You want to maximize the best growing period so that anything you do to your tree it will have the best energy to focus on grafting, pruning, repotting and healing from any stress . If you are thinking of any type of grafting, please think of doing this at its most vigorous time of the growing period so it can have the best chance to have the graft take and grow.

The slant graft is the type I used on those leggy trees above.

Here is a picture of a grafting box that a friend just made for me last week.. It's like a miter box to keep the line ... I can't wait to use this next summer!!!

Here is how I cut those trees above...

- June - When the start of the growing season has started.

- I wiped the two areas where I cut on the stem with cotton balls soaked with a few tsps of isopropyl alcohol to clean the areas.

- clean your cutting tool as well.

- make sure the areas match in diameter . Keep from cutting on a large area to graft onto a smaller area. Some people use a caliper to measure. I didn't use anything since it looked fine as far as it being the same size.

-cut midsection out using a slant graft and remove mid section. Take the top section and place it onto the bottom and wrap with grafting tape. I also used floral tape after the grafting tape to keep it secure. I used plastic tie straps to secure. ( you can see this in David M grafting video) my friend David M likes these as well.

- place the newly grafted tree and place it Somewhere protected from the rain. I also place them in an area that is not in the direct sun.

I also use a V graft and have this tool that a friend made out in California. ( David M) I will attach a video that he made at one of my friends house in Simi Valley.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J9EJ6wozcwo

Here is a link for David M ( V graft video...)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a6CKOI2ALX0&feature=youtu.be

Another graft style is a cut that is straight across. ( flat graft) . ( I do not use this style) Dennis S has a video on utube showing this style. (Thai Frangipani )

i hope this helps!!!

Good luck!!!

Laura

Thank you so much Laura, I believe you have convinced me to wait until spring, but I will use your advice then. I will for the time review the video links you sent me.

Hi Bill,

You are are more than welcome!!!!

Laura