The spiderwort plant (Tradescantia) is a popular perennial valued for its clusters of three-petaled, cup-shaped flowers. Deadheading is the practice of removing these spent blossoms, which significantly improves the plant’s appearance and controls its spread. Removing old flowers prevents the plant from setting seed, keeping this vigorous grower from becoming weedy in garden beds.
Why and When to Deadhead Spiderwort
Deadheading promotes a tidier look and encourages the plant to produce more blooms. Individual spiderwort flowers are ephemeral, lasting only a single day before fading, but the plant continuously produces new flowers from terminal clusters over several weeks.
If spent flowers are left, the plant directs energy toward seed development instead of new flower production. Removing them redirects energy back into creating further blooms, extending the flowering period into early summer. Deadheading should be performed frequently throughout late spring and early summer when the plant is actively flowering, ideally checking the plants every few days.
Step-by-Step Deadheading Technique
Deadheading involves targeting individual flower clusters that have finished blooming. Use clean, sharp pruning snips or your thumb and forefinger for smaller cuts. The goal is to remove the spent cluster without damaging healthy foliage or developing buds below.
Trace the stem of the spent cluster down to the nearest set of healthy leaves or a visible growth node. Make the cut just above this node to remove the spent material cleanly and allow the plant to quickly generate new growth. A clean cut prevents jagged edges, reducing the chance of disease entry.
Mid-Season Renewal: Cutting Back for New Growth
By mid-summer, the spiderwort often starts to look untidy, becoming leggy with the lower foliage yellowing and the stems sprawling. This decline signals the time for a more drastic mid-season renewal, which differs from simple deadheading. This technique involves shearing the entire plant back instead of just removing individual spent flowers.
Cut the entire plant back aggressively to a height of about four to six inches from the ground. Cutting back hard removes the tattered foliage and spent stems, effectively resetting the plant’s growth cycle. This action rejuvenates the Tradescantia, encouraging a flush of new, compact foliage. With adequate watering and cooler temperatures, this renewal often coaxes the plant into a second, smaller bloom period in the late summer or early fall, offering a fresh display.