By Nite
Worcestershire, United Kingdom
I asked this question yesterday,my first time on this site ,about why my pampus grass keeps failing to flower.
It is 4yrs old fairly large i received two replies,it is in a spot where it receives about 50/50 sun &shade is there such a thing as a male and female pampus? i live in worcestershire.
Thank you.
- 7 Oct, 2015
Answers
I can't find the question you asked yesterday,stating today,you had two replies,Nite..have you deleted it ?
Sorry,I don't know the answer,as I have never had a Pampas Grass,but just to say,if you will bear with us,someone will answer shortly,I'm sure..We are not a professional site,just gardeners with a passion..and we can't always answer straight away..just when we have the time..Welcome to Goy..
7 Oct, 2015
There are, in fact, male and female plants - but both produce flowers, its just the female plants produce larger, showier, more feathery blooms than the males, so that doesn't explain why yours hasn't flowered.
They do not like heavy damp soil, so if yours is growing somewhere thats pretty damp most of the time, it won't like that too much, but if that was the problem, I'd expect you to be reporting other problems with the plant too.
Next question - have you ever pruned it or cut it back, and if you have, when and how?
Another question - how sure are you that it actually receives 50% of the day's sunlight YEAR ROUND and not just in summer?
7 Oct, 2015
You're right, Bamboo, they do have separate sexes - had my silly head on this morning!
7 Oct, 2015
Thank you for all your replies.Much appreciated
7 Oct, 2015
In answer to the reply have i ever pruned my pampus yes about 3yrs ago after that very bad winter,it really loooked though it had a hard time,so i cut it back to the ground.Hoping it would help it survive,which it did,was this a mistake?.
9 Oct, 2015
Well if its grown again, then its recovered, but cutting it to the ground would certainly have delayed flowering.
The way to handle a pampas grass is simple, though not pleasant. You'll need protective clothing for hands, arms, and eyes, a pair of shears, and a rake. Go out in March or early April (if you're in the north), cut all the grassy growth off, back to a central stump, leaving the height alone. Take your rake and scrape out the middle at the top, IF there is a hollow - if there isn't yet, that will develop once it starts flowering. When it does start flowering, you'll need to add a pair of loppers to the equipment list, because after cutting all the grassy growth back to a stump, you then need to cut out the flowered stems right at their bases, from the centre of the plant - and then rake out any rubbish that's left in there. As the plant gets larger, all kinds of stuff gets in the centre - mine was in my front garden and I often found crisp packets and the like in there. Now clear up the mess! Do this every year...
If you live out in the country and have a flamethrower, you can just flame/burn it all off - you end up with what looks like a blackened stump, but it all regrows. This plant has evolved in a place where fire frequently burns it back, so it doesn't do it any harm.
9 Oct, 2015
Thank you one and all i know how to look after it now cheers.
9 Oct, 2015
Previous question
No, it doesn't have separate sexes.
I wonder, did you ask your question on a different site? I can't see any trace of it here.
7 Oct, 2015