What conditions do red hot pokers like?

Asked by: Shannon Baca

full sunfull sun, but tolerates light afternoon shade in hot climates. Soil: Red hot poker is tolerant of many soil types, but doesn’t grow well in poorly-drained soil that stays soggy after watering or rains, especially in winter.

Where is the best place to plant a red hot poker?

full sun

Planting in borders and containers



Kniphofias are generally easy to grow given the right conditions. For optimum performance choose a spot in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil that isn’t too wet over winter.

Why are my red hot pokers dying?

Crystal, Your Kniphofia (Ret Hot Poker) probably has Rhizoctonia (a soil borne fungus) or another kind of fungus. The spread of Rhizoctonia and other fungus is caused by poor watering practices. Water your Kniphofia in the morning if possible and you may need to cut back the water.

How do you care for a red hot poker plant?

Red hot poker plants prefer full sun and must be given adequate spacing to accommodate their mature size. Although poker plants are not fussy about the type of soil in which they are planted, they do require adequate drainage and do not tolerate wet feet. Plant torch lilies in the early spring or fall for best results.

What kills red hot pokers?

The red hot poker thrives in direct sunlight, although they can tolerate shade too. They need soil able to provide proper drainage because although they are hardy plants, the one thing known to kill them is poor drainage.

Do red hot pokers come back every year?

Cutting Back Red Hot Poker Plants



The plant will go dormant for winter and much of the foliage yellows at this time. The plant rests for several months to begin growing again in spring.

Can red hot pokers be grown in pots?

Red Hot Poker plants can be grow in containers, as well.



Keep the container well-watered, and fertilize every 2 weeks with a liquid fertilizer.

Why is my red hot poker plant not blooming?

If your area is below normal temps or the temperatures got too high too soon, the blooming schedule would be thrown out of whack. Lack of light can also cause insufficient or lack of blooms in Red Hot Poker. If your area has become shadier than it has been in the past, you will need to move your plants.

Do you deadhead red hot poker plants?

They bloom intermittently from late spring to fall, and to help encourage flowering, you should deadhead your red hot pokers; otherwise, if left to go to seed, these plants will slow down their flower production.

Are red hot pokers poisonous to dogs?

Kniphofia pauciflora has no toxic effects reported.

Do red hot pokers need feeding?

A native of South Africa, Madagascar and Yemen, this perennial grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 5 to 10. Easy-to-grow kniphofia tolerates most soils, although it prefers a rich, moist, well-draining soil. Fertilizing red hot poker increases the appearance and profusion of blooms.

Are red hot pokers poisonous to humans?

While it’s not recommended for you or your pets to consume this plant, there are no toxic parts. One concern of ingestion, especially in larger quantities, is calcium oxalate. This substance is a leading cause of kidney stones and found in a wide range of garden plants.

How do you propagate red hot poker?

Red hot poker propagation can be done with seed or division. If you already have a big clump of the plants, they will need to be divided every 3 to 5 years for better flower production. The plants also produce numerous babies or offsets that can be dug out from the main clump and planted separately.

Is red hot poker drought tolerant?

Red Hot Poker plants are heat and drought tolerant. But, we do recommend watering them during the driest periods of summer. They will do well in mid-summer heat. In cold weather areas, add 2-3 inches of mulch before winter to protect the crowns.

When can you move red hot pokers?

Some perennials, including Astilbe, Hosta and Kniphofia (red hot poker), produce fleshy roots that are not easy to pull apart. The best time to divide these is towards the end of their dormant period when their buds begin to shoot and you can easily see the most suitable sections.

Is red hot poker an aloe?

Common names: Red hot poker aloe, Prickly aloe. This species is native to South Africa. They are succulent plants that form a rounded rosette and reach 60 cm in height. The leaves are long, light green with light spots and thorns on the margin and on the surface of the leaves.

Are red hot pokers succulents?

There are two plants which have striking red flower spires in winter. Both are known as red hot pokers. One is the aloe, a succulent plant from Africa. The other, also from Africa, is a perennial called kniphofia, which forms a tufted, grass-like clump.

How do you grow fire sticks?

Basically just do a normal cut like you would any other plant. And then what I do and what I've been told you're supposed to do is put them in a cool dark place maybe your garage.

Is kniphofia a succulent?

And the Red Hot Pokers I know and love (and have in my garden) are kniphofias. Both plants are originally from Africa, and the flowers look remarkably similar. But one is a succulent, and the other is not. When most people talk about Red Hot Pokers, they mean kniphofias, which feature clumps of grass-like leaves.

Are Kniphofia drought tolerant?

A Long-Lasting Perennial Planting Idea with Kniphofia, Achillea and Leucanthemum. Create seductive plant combinations like this one. Easy to grow and drought tolerant, these plants will contribute to a fabulous garden that you will admire day after day, all summer long.

How long do red hot pokers take to grow?

Red hot poker plants can be started from seed, but the seed needs a chilling period, consistent 70F temperatures and still may take up to 3 months to germinate.

How wide do red hot poker grow?

Red Hot Poker

How do you deadhead red hot pokers?

So red hot poker plants also known by their botanical. Name nafophia have these gorgeous tubular flowers here as you can see. And they come in a variety of colors orange red yellow gradients all that

Is red hot poker a bulb?

Red Hot Poker – Flower Bulbs – Garden Flowers – The Home Depot.