- Prune shortly after flowering
- Stimulate bushy growth with pruning in spring
- Is the purple bell suitable as a cut flower?
- Cutting cuttings - what to pay attention to
With good care, the purple bell grows between 40 and 75 cm high. It presents itself from its decorative side all year round, especially with its contrasting foliage. But if you neglect cutting, you will not enjoy the plant for long…
Regular pruning is good for the purple bells and promotes even growth
Prune shortly after flowering
Don't be afraid to grab a pair of scissors in summer. Then it's time to remove the old purple bell flowers. The flowering period of this perennial usually ends in August.
Cut to where and why?
Cut off the withered flower stalks to just above the ground and discard them! If you didn't cut them off, the seeds would form and cost the plant a lot of strength.
Stimulate bushy growth with pruning in spring
Without a radical pruning, the purple bells grow rather stunted and look desolate. A dense and ground-covering growth is something else… It is therefore advisable to cut back this perennial regularly every year. As a result, it branches better and appears bushier in growth. But in principle, this pruning is not compulsory.
If you decide to do this, you should take care not to cut the purple bells back to no less than 10 cm above the ground. The ideal time is before the new shoots around February. In addition to pruning, you can also remove dead, dried up and damaged leaves. The perennial can then be divided and fertilized if necessary.
Is the purple bell suitable as a cut flower?
Yes, the purple bells are even ideal as a cut flower! Its long flower spikes, composed of purple flower bells, are extremely decorative when placed in a vase. Cut them off just above the ground!
Cutting cuttings - what to pay attention to
A cut is also useful when propagating by cuttings:
- Use head or basal cuttings
- should be 10 to 15 cm long
- stick in potting soil
- keep moist
- ensure high humidity
- Rooting after 5 to 6 weeks
tips
Use sharp pruning shears to cut and clean them beforehand! This will prevent any fungal pathogens from spreading to the plant and causing problems for it.