Did it. Is there a problem?

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Posted by RyseRyse_2004 5 (My Page) on

Wed, Sep 4, 13 at 15:11

I cut back my perennial hibiscus a few weeks ago when the Asian Beetles were consuming all of the flowers and now I cut off all of the seed heads. It was all looking so ratty and I just figured that cutting off the seed heads was no worse than cutting down the whole plant.

Without energy going into seed making, won't energy go into a stronger plant next year? I only cut them down to below just where the flowers (what was left of them) were.

I really don't want all of the seedlings anyway so I hope I haven't hurt next year's growth.

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RE: Did it. Is there a problem?

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Posted by woodyoak 5 (Canada) (My Page) on
Wed, Sep 4, 13 at 17:37

I always remove the seed capsules - which involves cutting off the top 4" or so of the stem usually, plus individual capsules that formed from flowers in leaf axils lower down the stems. I started cutting them off this week. Removing them has certainly never bothered my hibiscuses - and I am too afraid of the risk of huge amounts of seedlings if I didn't remove the seed capsules! You did the right thing.

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