I don't know any scientific facts to support the benefits of pruning plants back to the new growth. It works well with some varieties and not so well with others. The Fourth Of July variety I mentioned earlier produces more suckers and side shoots than any variety I've ever seen so it is easy to cut back. Other varieties simply produce new growth from the root ball up or from large main stems near the bottom of the plant. If they produce new growth higher on the plant, I just cut back to where the new growth emerges. Some varieties like Taresenko 6 grow very fast after being pruned back so I may prune it back more than one time. I try to keep the plants height restrained until it starts blooming again. When it starts producing blooms, I let it grow as fast as it wants. For me, it has always been important to make sure new growth has emerged from a stem before it is pruned back. I sometimes stimulate the emergence of new growth by giving it a shot of fertilizer and plenty of water before I prune it.
Ted
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July 18, 2011
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