I planted some Kniphofia Rooperi seeds two years ago. Three grew into plants, two of which I cleverly placed in a sheltered spot over the winter and then neglected to water (thus enhancing my compost pile) but one of which I left outside all winter. It grew to about 8" in the first summer and then last summer it reached perhaps 2'. But it does not look like it is thriving and it sure showed no signs of flowering, even though I thought that it was supposed to flower in its second year. Before next spring I want to consider moving it. Right now it is in a typical Vancouver spot: between elm trees on the boulevard, where it gets some sun but not too much. Am I just too impatient, or does it sound like it is getting insufficient light?
Well, in the middle of the spring, as it remained totally dormant, I just cut it out of its then-current location, destroying half the roots, and tossed it into a pot in full sun. It started to green up and grow, so I planted it more properly, leaving it still in a container in full sun. It now have 4 plants (not sure of the right term - one plant but four areas where spikes seem likely to grow) about 2' tall, and the top of one spike has pushed up about 6" and appears about to open and rush upwards (or vice versa).
