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#1
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Cutting back Knifophia (Red Hot Poker)
Also known as Torch Lily. I would like to cut back the flower stems on
the ones that are spent or out of bloom. Is it better to cut all the way back down at the base of the stem or do I cut at the top of the stem where the spent flower begins? Thanks so much. A rookie installing a new dry garden, going eco-friendly, natural and eclectic in LA County. |
#2
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I cut the old flower stalks back all the way to the base of the stem. I
have also tried cutting the whole plant back after the first frost and also cutting it back in early spring. It seems to make no difference. The flower stalk will wither and fall over, so cutting it back all the way just seems right. huerochingon wrote: Also known as Torch Lily. I would like to cut back the flower stems on the ones that are spent or out of bloom. Is it better to cut all the way back down at the base of the stem or do I cut at the top of the stem where the spent flower begins? Thanks so much. A rookie installing a new dry garden, going eco-friendly, natural and eclectic in LA County. |
#3
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Thanks! I've also heard these plants are pretty drought tolerant. Does
that mean that I can let the soil get real dry in the summer and they'll still bloom and thrive or do I still need to water it a couple times a week? |
#4
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The only time I saw them really need water was during a terrific drought
we had 3 or 4 years ago. They seem to 'shrink' when they are really too dry. But pop right back with a bit of water. Most of mine are in beds that do get watered when it is very dry, so they do get water maybe once a week in the summer. I experimented with mine this year - I have several big clumps by the mailbox and I cut them (the whole plant) back to about 4-5" in the fall, then in the early spring they looked a bit tatty so I cut them back again. The flowers were not the huge 4' tall ones that I had last year. A respectable 2-3' but not so huge. The others - in a similar garden bed were not cut back except to remove the papery brown under leaves. They DID get really big. So this next time - spring of '06 - I will only cut back in the early spring. They need dividing about every 2-3 years. Sterling huerochingon wrote: Thanks! I've also heard these plants are pretty drought tolerant. Does that mean that I can let the soil get real dry in the summer and they'll still bloom and thrive or do I still need to water it a couple times a week? |
#6
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On Fri, 03 Jun 2005 19:05:52 -0400, Sterling wrote:
I cut the old flower stalks back all the way to the base of the stem. I have also tried cutting the whole plant back after the first frost and also cutting it back in early spring. It seems to make no difference. I've been wondering something about RHP myself-- I planted a few last year, and the have bloomed for the first time this year. Will there be only the one stem per plant per year or can there be more than one stem? |
#7
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The way I understand it, cutting them back encourages new flower growth
sometimes several times a year if the plant gets enough water. I am hoping to water a bit less and still get a steady production of flowers throughout the year by removing spent flower stalks promplty and frequently. But Im no expert. |
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