Alstroemeria, commonly known as Peruvian Lilies, are cherished for their vibrant, long-lasting blooms and continuous color in gardens. These beautiful plants, native to South America, produce trumpet-shaped flowers often adorned with unique speckles or streaks, making them popular for garden display and cut flower arrangements. To ensure these prolific bloomers continue producing stunning flowers throughout the growing season, a specific maintenance practice called deadheading is employed. This involves removing spent or faded flowers to encourage further blooming.
Benefits of Deadheading Alstroemeria
Deadheading Alstroemeria offers several advantages for the plant’s health and flowering performance. Removing spent blooms promotes continuous flowering, as the plant is signaled to produce new flower stems instead of diverting energy into seed production. This redirection of energy is crucial; if left to form seeds, the plant’s natural reproductive cycle would prioritize seed development, often at the expense of creating more flowers.
Removing faded flowers also contributes to the plant’s overall vigor. This practice prevents exhaustion from seed production, allowing it to maintain strong growth and develop more robust rhizomes. Furthermore, deadheading maintains the aesthetic appeal of your Alstroemeria by eliminating unsightly withered blooms, keeping your garden tidy and visually appealing.
Timing Your Deadheading Efforts
Proper timing is key for effective deadheading. The ideal moment is when individual flowers within a cluster have visibly faded or an entire cluster has finished blooming. It is important to act before the plant begins to form seeds, when its energy redirection mechanism is most responsive.
Regularly observe your plants for wilting petals or browning flowers to guide your timing. While Alstroemeria generally blooms from late spring through fall, the exact period varies by cultivar and local climate. Prompt removal of spent blooms encourages new growth and subsequent flushes of flowers.
The Proper Deadheading Technique
Unlike many other flowering plants where spent blooms are simply snipped off, Alstroemeria requires a unique “pulling” or “snapping” technique. This method is distinct because it encourages new growth directly from the plant’s underground rhizomes. To perform this, grasp the spent flower stem firmly at its base, as close to the ground as possible.
With a gentle but firm tug, pull the entire stem upwards until it detaches from the rhizome. You might hear a slight “pop” as the stem releases, indicating a successful pull. This action removes the old stem and stimulates the rhizome, prompting the plant to produce new shoots that will bear more flowers.
If a stem breaks improperly, leaving a stub, try to pull the remaining portion again or carefully remove it to prevent rot and encourage proper new growth. This pulling method is the preferred practice, even used by commercial growers for harvesting. However, for newly planted Alstroemeria that haven’t fully rooted, it may be better to cut the stems until the plant is well-established.
After Deadheading Care
After deadheading, appropriate care supports continued blooming and overall plant health. Consistent moisture is important, so ensure adequate watering, especially during dry periods. While established Alstroemeria can tolerate short droughts, regular watering encourages more prolific flowering.
Consider a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a high-potash liquid feed during the growing season to replenish nutrients and encourage new blooms. This additional feeding helps fuel the energy demands of continuous flowering. Regularly inspect your plants for any signs of pests or diseases, addressing issues promptly to maintain plant vitality.