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After flowering, the Montbretie can be cut
How are Montbretien cut?
The Montbretie is an easy-care, conditionally hardy garden beauty that enriches each perennial flowerbed with its exotic-looking flowers. In addition to the right location, the cut is important, so that every year the plant thrives on many new flowers and stays healthy.
After flowering
Once the arched overhanging umbels have withered, they will be cut out of the clumps. Always use very sharp and clean cutting tools for this care, so that no pathogens can penetrate into the tuber through the small injury.
If you want to gain seeds, the flower stalks are only separated when fully mature. Unfortunately, the time until the onset of winter is often not enough to harvest germinable seeds in breeding varieties that flourish until October. In the early flowering varieties, however, the offspring from self-procreated seeds is quite rewarding.
Leave leaves
Avoid removing the leaves of Montbretie during the summer months. It supplies the small tubers with important nutrients for the next growing season.
When will the foliage be cut back?
In mild regions, the Montbretie may overwinter in the bed. The yellowed foliage in this case serves as a natural cold protection and should not be cut back. Extend the winter protection
a few inches thick over the foliage of the Montbretie and secure it with some twigs.
Montbretien which must overwinter in the house must be cut back. In this case, shorten the leaves to about ten centimeters and carefully dig out the stolons. Leave as much soil as possible on the tubers and store them in a small box in a dark and cool place.
Tips
Montbretien are doing very well in the vase. Cut the pedicels, however, only when the lower flowers have already opened.