Gaura. The bride (butterfly flower)

[bobbin]

Hi all.
I sowed a packet of Sara Ravens "Gaura. The bride, or butterfly flower ...white, last September on my allotment and though not all germinated I got a good return on my packet of seeds. Well, I dug them all up and re potted them just so I could safely overwinter them in my unheated green house. I'm proud to say they are doing really well!
However the have started a spurt of growth from the base leaves and I guess it's what will be flower stems eventually.they are about 6" long and around 5-6 on each plant. I feel inclined to cut them back to conserve energy in the plant for later in the season and promote a healthier plant also to stop early flowering. Is that the right thing to do? I would like to post a picture but don't know how sorry.

[bobbin]

Oh dear no answers! Has no one grown this? It's gorgeous! Fabulous in pots in the summer.

[Scarlet]

I've never grown them, so I may well be talking a load of nonsense these can be sown in Autumn in a cold frame so should be hardy. Don't cut them but slow them down by gradually harden off by putting them out during the day with the aim of keeping them somewhere sheltered - they don't need yo be kept in the GH now.

[ancee]

Usually with perennials, they have a good idea of what they are doing, so I let them get on with it. If any bits die off in the autumn I leave them for a while then tidy them in the spring. I think that any bits of them that have fallen protect the plant for when it starts to come through again. Ive just sown some Gaura, first time for me, so we'll have to compare them, if mine ever get their heads out of the soil!!

[bobbin]

Ancee have you sown into pots or ground? Direct into ground was pretty successful. Will yours flower this year? It's a lovely flower. My garden centre ones last year flowered for ages. Not keen on the pink and it doesn't seem as robust as the White. Good luck with them.

[bobbin]

Oh and thanks Scarlet too.They have only been in the greenhouse (unheated ) to avoid frosts. So should be pretty robust anyway.

[ancee]

Hi Bobbin. I've sown into pots on my bedroom windowsill. The blurb on the packet said to sow in March for flowers the same year, so they should hurry up and get on with it!