The balloon flower can be cut back after flowering, but it doesn't have to be. Decide according to your taste or understanding of a well-kept garden. However, with clever pruning, you can extend the flowering period.
The balloon flower is well suited as a cut flower for the vase
The care cut at the balloon flower
If you cut off the wilted flowers, the balloon flower will produce new flowers again instead of putting the energy into developing the seeds. This allows you to extend the flowering period a little. Whether you want to cut back the plant completely in the fall is a matter of taste. However, diseased parts of plants should always be cut off immediately so that the disease cannot spread to healthy plants or parts of plants.
Since the above-ground parts of the plant dry up and die in winter anyway, an 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. For this reason, pruning is often not recommended until spring.
Cut the balloon flower for the vase
With its bizarre shape, the balloon flower is very suitable as a cut flower. The best time for this pruning is when the buds have already colored but are still closed. Then they stay in the vase for a reasonable time.
Some varieties were specially bred as cut flowers. Of course, these special varieties last longer. If you want to cut balloon flowers for the vase more often, then you should plant one of these varieties.
The essentials in brief:
- no regular pruning required
- Pruning better in spring than in autumn
- excellent cut flower for the vase
- Clever pruning can extend the flowering period
tips
If you would like to regularly cut balloon flowers for the vase, ask your specialist dealer about specially bred varieties that are characterized by their longevity.