Rhodochiton atrosanguineus 'Purple Bells'

I wouldn't....they're climbers, so best leave the leaders. They'll bush out anyway as they grow

 

Funny you mention this, I pinched one out the other day.
They are always kind of spindly and wanted to see if it would give me a shorter but bushier plant.
I'm expecting it to delay flowering a bit.

 

Nip will make it more bushier but delay flowering that picture looks stunning John , do they flower all summer ?

 

I've never thought of putting them in a hanging basket, might try it this year.

 

Just a thought but they do root from softwood cuttings, so you could cut the one plant back by about 4 ins and use it as a tip cutting.

 

I retract If you're not growing it as a climber, then no reason not to pinch it out. I wish mine had looked half as good as that! I wasn't going to bother again....

 

I've grown some from seed for hanging baskets and were debating whether to pinch them out, I didn't bother in the end .

 

Last time I lost them overwinter, but I have overwintered on the dry side and frost free like you did.
I think I kept them too damp last time.

 

I have a feeling that basket spent a fair while getting established under glass before putting outside.
The are not good in cool wet conditions.

 

thomson and morgan have young plants selling off at a reduced price as it late in the season to grow from seed as it not long till mid summer solstice on the 21 June lol

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus | Thompson & Morgan