Thread by @Beccabluesky

@xstitchyn426 @ezraklein This is a huge south facing window.

Also, since they're long-lived perennials that *want* to grow into a 4-5' shrub, the bigger a pot you can give them, the happier they'll be. Keep em in a small pot & they end up wanting to give up.

@xstitchyn426 @ezraklein So not only are they 4-5' tall shrubs, they also evolved in a Mediterranean climate, meaning they developed a deep, deep root structure to find water in a seasonally dry climate. Again, another argument for them wanting a big pot to be happy.

@xstitchyn426 @ezraklein I think it's probably best to plant them in a pot with bottom drainage, in a saucer, and bottom-water them to fool them into thinking they're very good at water-finding so they can feel successful ;)

@xstitchyn426 @ezraklein Maybe that's not actually a thing, but I tend to think the more you can keep a plant thinking it lives in its native ecosystem, the happier it is...

The less top-watering the better, probably.

@xstitchyn426 @ezraklein Finally, they respond *really* well to pruning. If a growing tip gets to more than 6" tall, cut it back to 4". This promotes the plant to strengthen its main stems and causes it to grow 2 growing tips to replace the 1 you pruned.

@xstitchyn426 @ezraklein If you let the plant grow long branches without pruning them back, it might not bush out nicely which means it doesn't seem to grow much.

Once the initial seedling is 6", cut it back to 4" even if it seems excessive, and keep on that "program".