The balloon flower can be cut back after flowering, but it doesn't have to be. Decide based on your taste or understanding of a well-maintained garden. However, with clever pruning you can extend the flowering period.
When and how should you cut the balloon flower?
Balloon flowers do not require regular pruning, but targeted pruning can extend the flowering period. Cut off wilted flowers to allow new flowers to form. Pruning is recommended in spring; special cut flower varieties are suitable as vase decorations.
The care cut for the balloon flower
Cut off the withered flowers, then the balloon flower will produce new flowers again instead of putting the energy into developing the seeds. This way you can extend the flowering period a little. Whether you want to cut the plant back completely in the fall is a matter of taste. However, diseased plant parts should always be cut off immediately so that the disease cannot spread to he althy plants or plant parts.
Since the above-ground parts of the plant dry out and die in winter anyway, autumn pruning is not absolutely necessary, but some garden owners find the pruned plants to be “prettier”. However, the dry plant material also serves as winter protection. Therefore, pruning is often not recommended until spring.
Cut the balloon flower for the vase
With its bizarre shape, the balloon flower is ideal as a cut flower. The best time for this cut is when the buds have already colored but are still closed. Then they stay in the vase for a reasonable amount of time.
Some varieties were bred specifically as cut flowers. These special varieties naturally last longer. If you would like to cut balloon flowers for the vase more often, then you should plant one of these varieties.
The most important things in brief:
- no regular trimming required
- Pruning is better in spring than in autumn
- excellent cut flower for the vase
- The flowering period can be extended through clever pruning
Tip
If you would like to regularly cut balloon flowers for the vase, then ask specialist retailers about specially bred varieties that are characterized by their long lifespan.
