>>>>>I have been looking at mine each weekend and wondering whether it would >>>>>weaken the plant and cause non-flowering to cut down the foliage now. It's still green and healthy looking but lying horizontally across everything else in the bed. Does anyone else cut down their C foliage before it turns brown? Hi Janet, It's OK to cut stems of tall masoniorum and paniculata hybrids half way, especially in exposed, windy areas, as this will prevent the scape tearing away and damaging the corm below, of course any tearing could later lead to infection. Regarding the leaves though I generally leave mine on until late February here, in colder areas the leaves could be left until late March. The dead / dying leaves give a degree of frost protection and insulate the soil. Here they are also used by hedgehogs who regularly roll the leaves into a ball and hibernate in them. To tidy up I generally wait for a dry spell in February and make a small fire inside a metal wheelbarrow and then burn the dead leaves of all the Crocosmia, which by then, depart from the part very easily; a whole collection burnt tidied and looking good in a couple of hours and then of course I sprinkle the ashes back on them. Waste not want not. Re. staking, infrequently, I simply use a bamboo cane, cut it to the desired height around the neck on the clump and then with strong string form a loop around the plant and tie off at the top of the cane. Of course larger hybrids, those over 6ft tall may need individual staking during establishment. But bulk of the Crocosmia collection here is grown in 21m long beds, everything is supported by a hoop and string system, the string running from one end of the bed to the other. The string supports the plants in summer but also in conjunction with the hoops, supports a fleece in the winter and keeps it off emerging growth. Best Wishes, Dave David Fenwick Snr. The African Garden 96 Wasdale Gardens, Estover, Plymouth, Devon. England. PL6 8TW Tel: 44 (0)1752 301402 NCCPG National Plant Reference Collections of Crocosmia with Chasmanthe, Tulbaghia, Eucomis with Galtonia, Freesia (Anomatheca Group) and Amaryllis Websites The African Garden http://www.theafricangarden.com/ Wildflowers of the Devon and Cornwall Peninsula http://www.aphotoflora.com/ Wildlife of the Devon and Cornwall Peninsula http://www.aphotofauna.com/ Crocosmia Heritage http://www.crocosmiaheritage.com/ -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.0/167 - Release Date: 11/11/2005