Come fall and cooler temperatures, many species of spiderwort will happily begin again, sending up new shoots and sometimes new blooms. I love the length of bloom and the fact of it re-blooming; the second flush of blooms in my garden are not as heavy as the first. Plants need cutting back frequently. Cut back after first blooming flowers begin to fade. Spiderwort can also be grown indoors or in containers if you lack garden space. Perennials that benefit from cutting back: Cut back foliage to soil level if it begins to look spent or go dormant. Foliage is generally the first thing to decline, becoming yellowed and limp. Reed Pugh July 9, 2012 at 9:46 pm. Fertilizer encourages excessive (read floppy) growth in most native plants, spiderwort included. Cutting back – a little different from pinching, this delays blooms and makes plants bushier. Typically done in spring/summer. They are placed 4-6 inches deep when planted. The habit is leggy and sprawling. Once flowering has ceased, cutting the plants back can often promote a second bloom and help prevent re-seeding. Literally – step back so you can check to make sure that’s where you want them. The lightly fragrant flowers (2 This plant was probably named for the delicate spider web-like filaments that surround the anthers of the flower or the threadlike secretion that emerges from the stem upon cutting. Spiderwort (Tradescantia) Agasche (Hyssop). (This step is especially important for plants that are harder to replant – like trees and shrubs. Cut back to 6-12" in mid-summer to encourage fresh growth and repeat bloom. Grow it by itself in a large container near a bright, sunny window. Virginia spiderwort is a native, perennial forb. Bloom may be less profuse in shade. New growth and a possible second bloom cycle may be the reward. This is a tough weedy plant … Place the new divisions in the garden where you want them, then step away from those plants! Grow in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. When this happens, plants can be cut back to the ground. 3. Cut it back after it blooms to keep it tidy and encourage another round of flowering. Cutting the stems back to a joint will encourage the plant to grow wider and bushier. I go harder on cutting back the Nepeta (halfway again), but I do much less on the Geranium. Since Tradescantia is a vigorous grower, it is probably a good idea to divide the plants in … This is a common problem with spiderwort. Cut the stems back about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) from the ground. I was just heading out to cut back my spiderwort – glad to see I’m on the right track. Spiderwort is an aggressively growing plant that can get overly leggy with bare lower stems. The plant will respond well to cutting back with more stems and often more flowers. The usual suggestions are to grow it in partial shade and to cut it back to 12 inches after the initial bloom period to stimulate a second bloom. Hi, I cut mine way back, about an inch from the ground, almost all my family, friends and trades now have spiderwort. General: Spiderwort Family (Commelinaceae). To avoid legginess, regularly pinch back the stems by at least 25 percent. unfortunately, it’s a step I’ve sometimes ignored it in my haste.) It isn't practical to deadhead each flower individually---you need to cut the stem to the ground. Good work… Everyone has there own way of doing things. Cutting back spent blooms and seed pods will also prevent rapid spread of spiderworts through self seeding, a trait for which this perennial is infamous. Ve sometimes ignored it in my haste. bloom cycle may be reward... My haste. then step away from those plants a common problem cutting back spiderwort spiderwort from those plants the divisions... 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