# How to Trim a Cigar Plant
The cigar plant (Cuphea ignea or Cuphea ignata) gets its common name from its shape. This tropical plant with its bright red flowers are favorites among hummingbirds in the summer. The plant dies in winter throughout most of the country, where it grows as an annual. In Florida and other warm areas in the South, the perennial thrives year-round. No matter where your garden is, trim your cigar plant in the spring. Also prune it in late winter if you grow it as a perennial.
Things You'll Need
- Cloth
- Alcohol
- Shears
Instructions
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1
Wipe your shears’ blades with a cloth dipped in alcohol. This disinfects and keeps the tool from transferring pathogens to your cigar plant.
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2
Prune the cigar plant back to its base in late winter to remove freeze damage. Position the shears at a 45-degree angle, 1/4 inch above a bud. This plant bounces back in spring, displaying healthy new growth.
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3
Trim the stem tips of the cigar plant two or three times in early spring. Then, let them develop undisturbed. The practice, sometimes called “pinching,” encourages a bushy form on a plant that tends to get leggy.
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1
Growing Flowers
