I purchased this Honey Kiss from Truly Tropical in July. Planted in ground and immediately tipped the primary branch. To my surprise that cut produced only 1 new shoot. See Pic 1. I was expecting 3 or 4. Did I not trim enough off that branch?
Pic 2 shows lateral branch. Should that be removed? It's low to the ground.
Pic 3 is a view of the trunk. Is that fungus already taking hold?
Pic 4 is an overview of the young tree. It's about three feet tall presently and has grown a few inches since planting. It has received two light feedings of 8-3-9 since planting. Oh, and the ants are having a party at the base and running up and down the tree.
So. . .where and when should this future beauty be tipped and trimmed?
Advice welcome. Thank you!