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Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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Posted by susanlynne48 z7a-OKC (My Page) on Thu, May 5, 05 at 20:13
| I planted some cheap bulbs (corms, whatever) from Home Depot last spring, in a 20" plastic pot. They came up and the foliage looks a lot like liatris. They didn't bloom or anything at all. I just left them in the pot over winter, on the North side of my house.
They began to grow new spikes of foliage last month, but it's still only about 4-6" tall. Lo and behold, there is a bloom stalk coming up!
I didn't think these were supposed to bloom until summer??? Anyone else have any experience with them, and has anyone else planted them in containers? I don't know if I should wait until they are finished blooming to plant in the ground, or what. I read something on Dave's Garden website that you shouldn't move, divide, or do anything until they start producing offsets, and that they get pretty big (the plant).
I would like to have input on how to maintain this plant. Thanks! Sometimes the things you get and never expect to really do much are the ones that surprise you!
Susan |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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My experience with them indicates that they are very tolerant of anything you want to do to them whenever you want to do it.I take off the oldest, winter ratty leaves in Mid March and they shoot up new leaves and bloom in May.
Mine are under a sycamore tree and do well with very little intervention. I haven't fertilized them and they spread like wildfire. The person that gave them to me just pulled them from the ground by the tops. They are strong plants. Good luck with them. They are very pretty and hummers love them.
Leap |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| I purchased a red hot poker plant this year. How tall do the established ones get? No blooms for me, yet..... |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| Good question - can you answer that Leap? Last year (first year planting) the foliage got about one foot tall. But, I think they can get 2-3' tall in ground. Mine are in a pot, and will like be smaller. Susan |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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Mine are about 2 feet tall, when they bloom the spikes are about 3 feet. I'll see if I can post a picture in the gallery. Wonderful easy plants to grow.
Leap |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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I've had mixed results with these.
The first year I planted them, they bloomed at right about the same time the yucca planted nearby bloomed. They even bloomed the second year.
However, for two years now there have been no blooms.
Now, I'm seeing the posability of blooms. Go figure.
Maybe the last two years were too wet?
Maybe they had too much shade from surrounding plants?
Maybe the mole disturbed them?
I did clean out the old nasty leaves each fall, so it wasn't for lack of care. |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| I've got these planted in a part shade area - I did have them in full sun but had to move them because they got so darn big! These were among several that I started from seed - and they have never bloomed for me. I am hoping that this will be the year that they bloom for me - this will be their third year in the ground. I was told that if you grow them from seed it can take three or more years for them to bloom. I almost ripped them up until I found that out. Still hoping for blooms. Hoping that a little shade won't deter them. They do get sun - in the morning until about noon. Then it's shade. Do you guys think that will be all right? |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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Mine are 5 years old and planted under a sycamore tree. I never fertilize them and they bloom reliably every year. I don't think they really like anything other than cleaning off the old leaves.
Leap |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| Oh joy - now I'm doing the Red Hot Poker Polka, too! I looked at my Pokers just a little bit ago and saw that several are sending up a flower stalk! I can't believe it! I just moved them, too! Well - it must not have detered them from flowering - I can't wait until the bloom matures. I wonder - do they bloom once or several times during the summer? I'm glad I didn't give up on them. Jill |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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Congratulations! Mine only bloom once a year. Glad you didn't give up :)
Leap |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| Thanks. I'll try to post pics when they bloom fully! Jill |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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Can't wait to see them. :)
Leap |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| You know, it's funny - I thought it would take a long time for the bloom spike to get going. I swear that I went out today and they must have grown an inch! Seems like it anyway! Sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation! Well, not really, but I've got my happy pants on! |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| What color are yours, CJ? Mine are orange and yellow. Congratulations on the blooms! I think they are pretty neat plants! Susan |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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Jill,
They do shoot up quickly. Happy Pants :))
They come in different colors? Wow Susan, now I have to find some different colored ones..neat!
Leap |
I've got my Poker Face on...
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| Hey Susan - judging from the package they are the more common (no less beautiful, though) variety. The pic on the seed packet looked like Leaper's pic in the gallery. I've seen some spectacular varieties since - but not for sale very often in the local nurseries. I recently spied a coupla Pokers at one of our local nurseries, but I never looked at the tag to see what variety! Now you're making me want to run up there and have a look! |
Poker Pictures
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| Hey Leaper - Have a gander at this link - All the pictures of Red Hot Pokers you could ever imagine! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Kniphofia varieties
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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Uh OH...I think I NEED the Kniphofia Tysonii
Thanks Jill :) |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| Wow, gorgeous pics, and what a variety! Some I'd really, really like to try. Did you find out what kind you have? Susan |
RE: Doin' the Red Hot Poker Polka!
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| Well, I hate to say this, but I was a dweeb and threw the package away. I think I could easily find out though - I got the seed packet at Lowe's and I think they still carry it. If I had more space in my flower beds, I would love to collect a few more varieties of Kniphofia! I am going to have to create some more beds, I think! |
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