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How to Make Miniature Myrtle Topiaries
How to Make Miniature Myrtle Topiaries. Topiaries were created by the Romans and have graced yards and landscapes for centuries. The shaped trees and shrubs add a formal touch to gardens. While many types of plants can be grown as topiaries, you should choose miniature or dwarf myrtle trees if you live in a region with temperatures consistently...
Topiaries were created by the Romans and have graced yards and landscapes for centuries. The shaped trees and shrubs add a formal touch to gardens. While many types of plants can be grown as topiaries, you should choose miniature or dwarf myrtle trees if you live in a region with temperatures consistently above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if you live in a cooler place, miniature myrtle topiaries can be grown indoors.
Things You'll Need
Shovel
Water
Mister
Houseplant fertilizer
Pruning shears
Larger container
Potting soil
Plant dwarf myrtle topiaries in full to partial sun. They will grow in the ground if the soil drains well and there is no danger of freeze. The plant can also be kept indoors and brought outside for periodic sunshine.
Water the topiary to keep it consistently moist. Myrtle should not be allowed to dry out, but the plant also cannot sit in water. Avoid using softened water because the increased salt content may hurt the topiary.
Let summer flowers die off naturally. Pruning the stems will not cause new stems to grow. Shaded myrtle topiaries will not flower as much as those planted in the sun.
Mist the leaves every five to seven days.
Prune the topiary in mid-summer, after the foliage has hardened off. Trimming in the spring when the growth appears can damage the tree. Eyeball the topiary in mid-June and cut off stems that are growing too long. Step back periodically to look over the shape and make cuts where necessary.
Apply a diluted solution of houseplant fertilizer every month during the growing season. Myrtle that is fertilized too often will need more pruning to maintain its shape.
Repot the miniature topiaries every year or two to keep the roots from becoming tightly tangled. Remove the myrtle from the pot and separate the roots gently with your fingers. Transplant it into a container that is an inch or two larger. Use the soil the plant was originally in, along with some additional potting soil. Run water over the plant until it runs out the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Keep the soil moist until the plant becomes established.
