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Should I cut guara back by half to encourage more flowers?

CopperdogCopperdog Posts: 617
Can you divide it too please? 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I usually cut back the flowering spikes to the top of the plant, if that makes sense.
    I have tried dividing gauras in the past with mixed results, they have quite a long tap root.

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @copperdog,  I leave my guaras all over winter as the stems go a beautiful brown colour like grasses and they sway beautifully in the wind. They seem quite strong and don't collapse in a big heap. I don't divide them either as they seem to self seed readily and I just pot these up.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • CopperdogCopperdog Posts: 617
    Thankyou @AnniD and @Lizzie27 x do you think I’m better off putting them in the ground - although I hardly have space or would a pot be suitable? 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    They like good drainage so a pot will be fine but you'll need to protect it from frosts as they're not very hardy.   Theycan get little brown spots on the leaves if they get too many dips of temperature at any time in the growing season.  Don't worry, it's not a disease, just a response to shivering.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    As with a lot of things, a lot depends on whereabouts you live and any microclimate in your garden.
    Having them in pots gives you more options in that you can move them to a more sheltered position should the need arise. As @Obelixx says they need good drainage whether in pots or the ground  :)
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