The Bergenia hardly expects any care from its owner. But one or two things should not be forgotten when it comes to maintaining the he alth of this plant. This includes, among other things, cutting.
When and how do I cut a bergenia?
Cutting the bergenia promotes the he alth of the plant: cut withered inflorescences down to the ground, remove old leaves at the base and cut back close to the ground if there is overgrowth. Cut rhizome cuttings in spring for propagation.
Cut off wilted inflorescences
Pruning the bergenia is not absolutely necessary to keep the plant alive. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to prune this flowering perennial after its flowering period. The flower stalks that held the fantastic umbels high up should be cut down. Cut them down to the bottom.
Some varieties bloom twice a year. They show their inflorescences a second time in November and December. You should also remove them after they have faded. If you don't cut off the inflorescences, you won't prevent the fruits and seeds from forming. This costs a Bergenia a lot of energy.
The bergenia has grown too big
Pruning can also be useful to stop the growth of the bergenia. This plant grows taller as time goes on. At some point it looks like a big bush. If you don't like it, cut the plant down. You can take a radical approach without worry.
Consider the following aspects:
- Cut down close to the ground (maximum to the rhizomes)
- tolerates pruning extremely well
- provide with complete fertilizer after cutting to stimulate new growth
- water abundantly
- this cut works like a rejuvenation treatment
- If you're lucky, you'll be able to see flowers after weeks
Old leaves are removed
Don't forget that old and wilted bergenia leaves should also be removed. You can simply cut them off at the bottom. Such unsightly leaves occur especially during and after the winter period.
A cut can also be made in the root area
On top of that, you need cutting tools if you want to propagate bergenia through rhizome cuttings. Spring is the best time. Plant the cuttings directly into the bed or grow them in a pot. Don't be surprised if these rhizome pieces don't bloom in the first year.
Tip
You don't need an expensive cutting tool to cut bergenia. A pair of scissors or a knife is enough.