Quck answer
Deadheading a delphinium is a simple process that involves removing spent flowers to encourage the plant to produce more blooms. To deadhead a delphinium, locate the faded flower stem and trace it down to the first set of leaves. Use clean and sharp pruning shears to make a clean cut just above the leaves. Be careful not to damage the healthy foliage or emerging buds. Deadheading should be done regularly throughout the blooming season to promote continuous flowering. By removing the spent flowers, the plant can redirect its energy towards new growth and more vibrant blooms.
Delphiniums are perennial plants that bloom from late spring to early summer, and sometimes again in the later months. Deadheading these plants regularly can result in a longer blooming season. Deadheading is simply the process of removing spent flowers to encourage new blooms to form on the plant. By removing the flowers before they can produce seeds, the plant is tricked into producing more flowers for you.
Step 1: Cutting Blooms
Throughout the growing season, cut the tall delphinium spikes for your indoor arrangements. Use sharp shears and cut just below the lowest flower on the stem.
Step 2: Deadheading
As individual blooms fade, deadhead the delphiniums. Cut the stem of the spent flower completely back to the nearest pair of leaves or branching stems. This is where the next set of flower buds will grow.
Step 3: Removing Stalks
After the last remaining flower on the blooming stalk has wilted, remove the entire stalk by cutting it cleanly at the base of the plant.
Step 4: Pruning
Optionally, tidy up the plant by pruning any dead or damaged leaves. Avoid removing too much foliage, as the plant needs the leaves to provide nourishment for new shoots that will develop into flower spikes later in the season.