Welcome, Geno! It's a personal choice if you want to strip the leaves off the long stems. The brugs that don't seem to make many side shoots, I usually strip, but the brugs that do grow many side shoots, I usually let get bushy. The long stalks will eventually get stronger and thicker. If you get alot of damaging winds and storms,it can't hurt to support them. I take my chances with Mother Nature. If a brugs breaks I just stick it in ground to root and make a new plant.

Theresa

Hi. I also leave mine be to do whatever they want. Like Theresa said it depends on what look you like. You can prune to a single bare lower stem or not. I wouldn't worry much about the stems breaking and if they do you can always root them and make another plant.

Thanks for your input !

You can grow it like a standard by leaving the tallest straight leader and cutting the rest. Then stake it.
If you leave all the stems it will have more of a shrub look and since more stems, you will also get more flowers.
No need to cut off all the bottom leaves unless you are trying to grow a standard.