Red Hot Poker Flowering Period
Brilliant red hot poker plants (Kniphofia uvaria) add a splash of color to a garden or yard. Also called torch lily, these 4-foot-tall evergreen perennials form clumps up to 2 feet wide and attract bees and hummingbirds. The narrow, grayish green leaves grow up to 18 to 36 inches long. Tube-shaped flowers, which continuously appear in the spring, summer and fall, bloom upward from the bottom of the 8-inch long flower spike atop a 2- to 4-foot stalk. Cultivars, including “Border Ballet” and “Cobra,” bloom orange, red or yellow and fade to creamy white as new colorful flowers appear.
Red Hot Poker is native to Madagascar and Africa. It is also called Kniphofia, Torch lily, and Poker plant. The plant grows to a height of 36-60 inches and 2 feet in spread (60 cm). Red Hot Poker is known for their bright, rocket-shaped flowers. The plants produce spikes of hanging, red-to-orange flowers which have flowering spikes of pale yellow, ivory, apricot, orange and red.
Barely cover the Red Hot Poker flower seeds with peat moss and keep flower seed moist. Light aids in germination. Temperature should be 70-75° F with an average germination period of 21-30 days. Transplant the Red Hot Poker seedlings outdoors when they are about 2 inches tall. Kniphofia / n ɪ p ˈ h oʊ f i ə /, also called tritoma, red hot poker, torch lily, knofflers citation needed or poker plant, is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae, first described as a genus in 1794. It is native to Africa.
Location
Red hot poker plants thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10. Temperatures below 14 degrees Fahrenheit will harm these perennials. Native to South Africa, they grow best in full sun to partial shade with afternoon sun. They add dramatic color to borders, containers and rock gardens. Allow a space of 3 feet between plants.
Soil Requirements
Rich, well-drained soil with a pH level between 6.6 and 7.5 provides an optimal growing environment for red hot poker plants. Add compost to the soil to provide organic matter and improve drainage. These drought tolerant plants prefer dry to moderately moist soil but will not tolerate poorly drained, wet soil. If winter temperatures usually drop below freezing in your area, a winter layer of straw mulch will protect the plants from cold injury.
Care
Red hot poker plants tolerate drought, but they grow best with regular watering in the summer. To ensure summer blooming, water the plants as soon as the soil feels dry. Avoid overwatering to prevent crown rot, which causes wilting and dieback. To protect the plants from snails and slugs, move piles of firewood and other damp hiding places away from the plants and place flower pots on stands. Cut the stems back to the base of the plant after blooming finishes in the fall to remove unsightly leaves and renew growth.
Propagation
You can propagate red hot poker plants by division or from seed. Pry apart the roots of mature clumps and cut through the base of the leaves and stems with a sharp knife in the spring before new growth appears. Plant the divisions at the same depth as they originally grew. Seeds develop and dry in the seed head in the fall. Plant the seeds 1/4-inch deep in the ground in the spring or fall or start the seeds indoors in a tray six weeks before the last anticipated frost date. Flowers appear during the second growing season.
References (7)
About the Author
Judith Evans has been writing professionally since 2009, specializing in gardening and fitness articles. An avid gardener, Evans has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Hampshire, a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School, and a personal trainer certificate from American Fitness Professionals and Associates.
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Up to 45cm (17.7in)
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1 packet (20 red hot poker seeds) (27710)
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For best results, provide a humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun or part shade.
Sow February to June or September to October on the surface of lightly firmed, moist seed compost in pots or trays. Cover seed with a light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Keep at a temperature of between 15-20C (59-68F). After sowing, do not exclude light as this helps germination. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination can take 14-30 days.When large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3 inch)pots or trays. Gradually acclimatise young plants to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 30cm (12 inches)apart.
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