A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 Red Hot Pokers

Anyone have Red Hot Pokers? They are so cool! The stem grows so fast once they start a bloom head. Even though the night temps are down into the 40s and even have frosted the pumpkin vines, the RHP in the pot on the covered deck are headed for blooms again. New this year, one bloomed a while back and three more are coming on. The stems grow 2 to 3 inches a day. Incredible!

I have, or should I say had, 3 different types of Red Hot Pokers, but only one has survived and I need to move it soon to a sunnier spot. I made the mistake of moving the two that died in the middle of summer instead of waiting til now..they didn't survive the move. The one remaining is a red and yellow variety. When I planted it last year it was in a sunny spot close to a newly planted lespedeza....little did I realize the lespedeza would grow into a monster and overshadow the RHP. It didn't even bloom because of so little sun. The problem now is that I can't move it (because I can't even get to it) until the lespedeza finishes blooming, which won't be for a few more weeks. I may have to wait until next spring to move it...before the lespedeza starts to grow again.

What types did you have? The one I have is Yellow and Red.

Do you have a picture of them? I've never heard of this plant, but it sure does sound interesting!

Hey Ellen,

I just searched for them under their latin name: Knifophia, but couldn't find a photo that was worthy of them. Maybe your garden book will have a better one, or you can do a search.

I have a nice stand of them in front of my house. Mine do not tend to repeat bloom, but they are fabulous.

I put a few Tritoma pix on a wallpaper page...

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/cgi-bin/ubb/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=000102

I have heard they can get a bit gangly if
well, probly not in the sun,
is this true???
Or would that be from too much of something?
Fertilizers, sun, compost???
I don't have them, but have thought they would be a nice addition to my orange and yellow flowers..
Weezie

The one in the middle is the one I have I think. I have seeds from the one on the bottom that I "harvested" over on the coast. Mine are potted on my covered deck, in mostly sun with a little shade. I bought them on eBay early this summer and they have done well. One bloomed as soon as the soil settled, and now 4 more are blooming, even with one frost night and night temps in the lower 40s pretty regular.