How to Deadhead Balloon Flowers for More Blooms

The balloon flower, or Platycodon grandiflorus, is known for its whimsical flower buds that swell up like small balloons before opening. These perennials produce charming, star-shaped blossoms during the summer. To keep these blooms appearing throughout the season, a simple maintenance technique called deadheading is used. Deadheading is the practice of removing flowers that have finished blooming.

Why and When to Deadhead Balloon Flowers

Removing spent flowers encourages the plant to direct its energy into producing more blooms rather than seeds. A flower left to produce seed signals that the reproductive cycle is concluding, which can slow new bud formation. Deadheading also keeps the plant looking tidy and leads to a longer-lasting floral display.

The ideal time to deadhead is right after a flower has passed its peak. Look for petals that have started to wilt, shrivel, or lose their vibrant color. Check your plants weekly during the blooming season to remove any fading flowers.

The Deadheading Process

For deadheading, use clean, sharp pruning snips or small scissors for a precise cut. While you can pinch the spent flowers off with your fingers, using a tool ensures a clean break that is less likely to damage the surrounding plant tissue.

Trace the stem of the faded flower down to where it connects to a larger stem, often near a set of leaves or a developing side bud. Make your cut just above this junction. This stimulates new branches and subsequent flowers to form.

Removing just the flower head without the connecting stem is less effective. Taking off the small stem along with the flower ensures the plant’s resources are used more efficiently for new growth. For taller varieties that get leggy, you can cut stems back by one-third in late spring or early summer to encourage bushier growth.

Care After Deadheading

Balloon flowers do not require specialized care immediately after deadheading. Simply continue with your standard maintenance routine to keep the plant healthy. This includes ensuring the plant receives adequate sunlight and is watered appropriately, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. The plant has fleshy tap roots, so avoiding overly saturated soil is important.

Consistent deadheading throughout the summer is the most effective way to prolong the blooming period. This ongoing process keeps the plant in a continuous state of flower production. Once the flowering season concludes and the first hard frost arrives, you can cut the entire plant back to the ground. Marking the plant’s location can be helpful, as the foliage is often late to emerge the following spring.