I grew Gazania when I lived in California and they never seemed to need much care. Now that I'm in Michigan it seems they need more care? The flowers bloom further away from the green leafy part of the plant and it seems the energy taken by those stalks slows the new growth. Can I cut back the already bloomed flowers to enhance new blooms? They are growing beautifully, and the plants have tripled in size, but these tall, straggly stalks look strange and eventually die with the flower? Rambling...that's me!

I never considered that! But, I don't think that is the problem this time. It is rather a mystery...there are two large oak trees in the front yard - one had a flower bed planted beneath it, the other had nothing. I thought it made the yard look odd, so I put in a planter last spring - new soil, etc. The older bed has plants just blooming like crazy - they are all healthy and growing strong. The new planter - well the plants look healthy, but they have not changed their size whatsoever...except the tall stalks on the Gazania.
A mystery for certain!
Thanks again.
Babs

Thanks....I'll trim them all back this evening. The canopy of the maple tree is very high, so the plants get plenty of sun. Again, my heartfelt thanks.
Babs