Heliconia
Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2006
by CrystalBeachGardener on January 11, 2006 11:38 PM
I live in Florida, just north of Clearwater on the west coast. I have heliconia in my yard, this time of year they look a bit scraggily and tattered, should I cut them back to the ground? If I do will they grow back lusher next year?
by tkhooper on January 17, 2006 03:13 AM
here is the information that I could find on the plant.
Grooming
As wonderful as heliconias can be in the landscape, basic grooming always improves their look. Some species are naturally easier to maintain at their best. Here are the basic steps to keeping your plants looking tidy.
1.) Remove any dead leaves and stems.
2.) Remove “flowered out stems” by cutting them to the ground.
3.) Remove damaged foliage, for example, if you have to remove more than two or three leaf blades, cut the whole stem to the ground, because removing the leaf blade causes the petiole to dry up, reducing the support for the pseudostem, causing it to lean or fall over.
4.) Strategically remove a leaf blade to show off inflorescences but bear in mind that each leaf removal will weaken the pseudostem from which it is taken.
* * * *
Grooming
As wonderful as heliconias can be in the landscape, basic grooming always improves their look. Some species are naturally easier to maintain at their best. Here are the basic steps to keeping your plants looking tidy.
1.) Remove any dead leaves and stems.
2.) Remove “flowered out stems” by cutting them to the ground.
3.) Remove damaged foliage, for example, if you have to remove more than two or three leaf blades, cut the whole stem to the ground, because removing the leaf blade causes the petiole to dry up, reducing the support for the pseudostem, causing it to lean or fall over.
4.) Strategically remove a leaf blade to show off inflorescences but bear in mind that each leaf removal will weaken the pseudostem from which it is taken.
* * * *
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