Red hot poker advice

Hi,

I was looking for some advice on dead heading red hit pokers.

Mine have finished blooming and I have read we can get new blooms this summer by dead heading.

I have read conflicting ways to deadhead, one being to cut just below the flower and the other to cut right down at the base.

Are both correct?

They are such striking plants I would love to have another round of blooms.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

Hi Colo,

I've always cut the faded stems right back to base and this way nearly always get more blooms.

 

Thank you. To be honest I am not sure as they were here when I purchased the properly a couple of years ago.

I have attached a photo if that helps (hopefully it works)



They have been in flower for a few weeks but now ending. On the left you can see where I deadheaded a couple of them.

 

Kniphofias flowering here too Colo.
Yes, as soon as the flowers start to go over cut them off right to the base. Do not leave them as you have done, viz, cut below the old flower head. Depending on variety, yours will reflower again occasionally; or as with many of the dwarf types (Glow/Popsickle) will flower all summer long

 

No kniphofia out here. It's strange because there are plenty of them out and about in full bloom.

G.

 

Dont worry.....I think you have Knip Mango if I recall and once it starts to flower it will comtinue. Just add an occasional scattering of fertiliser Gary

 

Ha thank you. Its more of a good photo rather than gardening skills. But I'm trying to put in a bit more effort this year as it's my new found therapy. I'm in Hertfordshire, I believe it's a SW facing garden.

Thank you. I will cut down to the base instead. I hope they come back up. I thought I had lost them in the Autumn as my puppy took a fancy to nosediving into them due to the moisture.

 

Hi again,

I just wanted to check this was correct.

I cut them down to the base and a whitening of the cut tip has appeared


Sorrt if this is a silly question but If they do grow again, does it grow from the same place or does it just mean that it doesn't put it's energy into the seeds and the flowers could pop up elsewhere.

Thanks

 

Same place, same plant Colo Likely to flower again this summer. A tomato feed will help this

 

Thank you, I have tomatoes feed so will give it a go. I am missing the vibrancy they brought to the garden

 

Hello @Colo I had two of these in our garden a few years back but got ruined with my dog keep urinating up them

They flower well once a year well mine did in june /july and gave a lovely show like yours and what I often did as I found it helped the plant was just removed any dead growth that died beneath the plant as it comes away easy and you'll find your next show the following year comes better plus in the autumn I used to cut the actual leaves down to a certain length because when snow comes it can crush them down heavy if left long

 

Kniphofias here make a nice, summer long flowering display. Early removal of flower spikes helps too as does the choice of variety. I have a few in flower now and will post pictures as the season develops.
Check out a relatively new breed of kniphofias with finer foliage, shorter and more prolific flowers and with some exciting new colours.....fun names too like Popsickle Mango, Pineapple, Lemon, Papya, Orange Vanilla etc.

 

This is how my mango popsicle looks. Lots of healthy looking leaves. No sign of a flower stalk yet though.

G.

 

Any day soon Gary....make sure it doesnt totally dry out.