(This step is especially important for plants that are harder to replant – like trees and shrubs. unfortunately, it’s a step I’ve sometimes ignored it in my haste.) Come fall and cooler temperatures, many species of spiderwort will happily begin again, sending up new shoots and sometimes new blooms. Since Tradescantia is a vigorous grower, it is probably a good idea to divide the plants in … Cut it back after it blooms to keep it tidy and encourage another round of flowering. Cut the stems back about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) from the ground. Fertilizer encourages excessive (read floppy) growth in most native plants, spiderwort included. The habit is leggy and sprawling. Plants need cutting back frequently. The usual suggestions are to grow it in partial shade and to cut it back to 12 inches after the initial bloom period to stimulate a second bloom. This is a tough weedy plant … Once flowering has ceased, cutting the plants back can often promote a second bloom and help prevent re-seeding. Spiderwort is an aggressively growing plant that can get overly leggy with bare lower stems. To avoid legginess, regularly pinch back the stems by at least 25 percent. The plant will respond well to cutting back with more stems and often more flowers. Cut back to 6-12" in mid-summer to encourage fresh growth and repeat bloom. Cutting the stems back to a joint will encourage the plant to grow wider and bushier. Cut back after first blooming flowers begin to fade. Cutting back spent blooms and seed pods will also prevent rapid spread of spiderworts through self seeding, a trait for which this perennial is infamous. It isn't practical to deadhead each flower individually---you need to cut the stem to the ground. This is a common problem with spiderwort. New growth and a possible second bloom cycle may be the reward. The lightly fragrant flowers (2 Good work… Everyone has there own way of doing things. Bloom may be less profuse in shade. They are placed 4-6 inches deep when planted. Place the new divisions in the garden where you want them, then step away from those plants! I love the length of bloom and the fact of it re-blooming; the second flush of blooms in my garden are not as heavy as the first. Spiderwort can also be grown indoors or in containers if you lack garden space. Grow it by itself in a large container near a bright, sunny window. Cut back foliage to soil level if it begins to look spent or go dormant. Literally – step back so you can check to make sure that’s where you want them. I go harder on cutting back the Nepeta (halfway again), but I do much less on the Geranium. I was just heading out to cut back my spiderwort – glad to see I’m on the right track. Hi, I cut mine way back, about an inch from the ground, almost all my family, friends and trades now have spiderwort. 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