- Stimulate a second bloom
- prevent self-seeding
- Cut back before winter sets in
- Avoid senescence of the plant
- Get cuttings to propagate
- Harvest capsule fruits for sowing
With an average growth height of 10 to 15 cm, the blue cushion is considered to be small. It doesn't take much to care for it, but you shouldn't go without cutting it…
A pruning can encourage blue cushions to flower a second time
Stimulate a second bloom
When the first bloom is over, the old flowers are cut away. You can use standard pruning shears for this. The purpose behind this is that a second flowering bloom is stimulated in the year. As a rule, this cut is appropriate towards the end of May.
prevent self-seeding
Furthermore, pruning can be done to prevent the formation of the fruit with its seeds. Check regularly whether the flowers have withered and fruit has already formed. Away with it if you want to avoid self-seeding of the plant.
Cut back before winter sets in
If you didn't cut off the flowers in May, you should still cut them back during the summer and by September at the latest. This prepares the blue cushion for the approaching winter. Cut the shoots back by half!
Avoid senescence of the plant
The blue cushion also grows without any problems without pruning. But in order to be able to serve as a green and optical enhancement of rock gardens, dry stone walls and Co for a long time, the cushion-forming and ground-covering blue cushion should be regularly cut back and thinned out:
- Cut away old shoots at the base
- remove crossing shoots
- Remove dead and diseased plant parts as soon as possible
- Aim: Avoid balding from the inside
- Result: bushy, compact growth
Get cuttings to propagate
On top of that, a cut may be necessary in the course of propagation. Shoots for cuttings are easily obtained. You should cut these off the blue cushion in late summer. Stick them in moist potting soil for rooting and don't plant them out until next spring!
Harvest capsule fruits for sowing
Last but not least, you can cut the blue cushion to harvest its capsule fruits with the seeds. The pods are spherical to ovoid and ripen in summer after the flowering period. Cut them off before they open. Otherwise the seeds will fall out quickly.
tips
The second bloom will be more lush if you fertilize and water the plant immediately after cutting.