My experience with them indicates that they are very tolerant of anything you want to do to them whenever you want to do it.I take off the oldest, winter ratty leaves in Mid March and they shoot up new leaves and bloom in May.
Mine are under a sycamore tree and do well with very little intervention. I haven't fertilized them and they spread like wildfire. The person that gave them to me just pulled them from the ground by the tops. They are strong plants. Good luck with them. They are very pretty and hummers love them.
Leap

I purchased a red hot poker plant this year. How tall do the established ones get?

No blooms for me, yet.....

Good question - can you answer that Leap? Last year (first year planting) the foliage got about one foot tall. But, I think they can get 2-3' tall in ground. Mine are in a pot, and will like be smaller.

Susan

Mine are about 2 feet tall, when they bloom the spikes are about 3 feet. I'll see if I can post a picture in the gallery. Wonderful easy plants to grow.
Leap

I've had mixed results with these.
The first year I planted them, they bloomed at right about the same time the yucca planted nearby bloomed. They even bloomed the second year.
However, for two years now there have been no blooms.
Now, I'm seeing the posability of blooms. Go figure.
Maybe the last two years were too wet?
Maybe they had too much shade from surrounding plants?
Maybe the mole disturbed them?
I did clean out the old nasty leaves each fall, so it wasn't for lack of care.

I've got these planted in a part shade area - I did have them in full sun but had to move them because they got so darn big! These were among several that I started from seed - and they have never bloomed for me. I am hoping that this will be the year that they bloom for me - this will be their third year in the ground. I was told that if you grow them from seed it can take three or more years for them to bloom. I almost ripped them up until I found that out. Still hoping for blooms. Hoping that a little shade won't deter them. They do get sun - in the morning until about noon. Then it's shade. Do you guys think that will be all right?

Mine are 5 years old and planted under a sycamore tree. I never fertilize them and they bloom reliably every year. I don't think they really like anything other than cleaning off the old leaves.
Leap

Oh joy - now I'm doing the Red Hot Poker Polka, too! I looked at my Pokers just a little bit ago and saw that several are sending up a flower stalk! I can't believe it! I just moved them, too! Well - it must not have detered them from flowering - I can't wait until the bloom matures. I wonder - do they bloom once or several times during the summer? I'm glad I didn't give up on them.

Jill

Congratulations! Mine only bloom once a year. Glad you didn't give up :)
Leap

Thanks. I'll try to post pics when they bloom fully!

Jill

Can't wait to see them. :)
Leap

You know, it's funny - I thought it would take a long time for the bloom spike to get going. I swear that I went out today and they must have grown an inch! Seems like it anyway! Sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation! Well, not really, but I've got my happy pants on!

What color are yours, CJ? Mine are orange and yellow. Congratulations on the blooms! I think they are pretty neat plants!

Susan

Jill,
They do shoot up quickly. Happy Pants :))
They come in different colors? Wow Susan, now I have to find some different colored ones..neat!
Leap

Hey Susan - judging from the package they are the more common (no less beautiful, though) variety. The pic on the seed packet looked like Leaper's pic in the gallery. I've seen some spectacular varieties since - but not for sale very often in the local nurseries. I recently spied a coupla Pokers at one of our local nurseries, but I never looked at the tag to see what variety! Now you're making me want to run up there and have a look!

Hey Leaper -

Have a gander at this link - All the pictures of Red Hot Pokers you could ever imagine!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kniphofia varieties

Uh OH...I think I NEED the Kniphofia Tysonii
Thanks Jill :)

Wow, gorgeous pics, and what a variety! Some I'd really, really like to try.

Did you find out what kind you have?

Susan

Well, I hate to say this, but I was a dweeb and threw the package away. I think I could easily find out though - I got the seed packet at Lowe's and I think they still carry it. If I had more space in my flower beds, I would love to collect a few more varieties of Kniphofia! I am going to have to create some more beds, I think!