Growing indigo isn’t difficult as long as you can provide ample sunlight and warmth. However, pruning true indigo regularly keeps the plant healthy and attractive. Indigo is especially attractive when trained against a sunny wall and tends to be quite a bit taller. Read on and we’ll explore indigo plant pruning and cutting back indigo.
Cutting Back Indigo
Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) is an ancient plant, famous for the intense blue dye which is extracted from the leaves. Although most clothing manufacturers have switched to chemical dyes, true indigo dye is still favored by people who prefer to work with natural dyes – especially manufacturers of premium denim. A beautiful, arching plant that shoots up from the base, indigo produces masses of purple or pink flowers that burst forth in summer and early fall. Indigo is a hardy plant, suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Keeping the plant cut back not only keeps it healthy and manageable but cutting the plant back a few inches (7.5-10 cm.) from the ground is a common way to harvest the foliage for those wanting to prepare their own dye.
How to Prune Indigo Plants
Pruning of true indigo should be done in spring if you live in a frost-prone area. Cut all the previous year’s growth to near ground level. Be sure to remove winter damaged growth. If you live in a warmer climate, cutting back indigo can be a little less drastic. Just shorten the plant by up to half its height to maintain desired size and shape. Pruning will also prevent the plant, which can reach heights and widths of 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) from becoming too large. During the summer, remove dead blooms and yellowing leaves regularly to keep the plant looking its best. Cutting the plant back for harvesting of the leaves can be done throughout the growing season as needed. The plants usually regrow quickly, within a month or so, for another round of harvesting.
-
2024 Plant Of The Year: Why Experts Say Philodendron Is The “It” Plant Of The YearWe aren’t surprised that philodendron was designated the plant of the year. Versatile, easy-care and lovely, it’s the houseplant of the year 2024!
-
10 Best Apartment Plants To Turn Your Small Space Into An OasisThe best apartment plants can lend an ambience of the tropics, brighten up a space, or add a touch of drama, and turn an apartment into a relaxing oasis.
-
What Is True Indigo – Tinctoria Indigo Info And CareIndigofera tinctoria, often called true indigo or simply just indigo, is probably the most famous and widespread dye plant in the world. It’s a wonderfully useful plant, however, and very much worth growing for the adventurous gardener and home dyer. Learn more here.
-
Indigo Plant Harvest – Tips On Picking Indigo For DyeAlthough the popularity of the natural dye stalled when a synthetic dye was developed, picking indigo for dye is making a comeback. If you want to learn how to harvest indigo to make your own dye, click here. We’ll tell you how and when to pick indigo plants.
-
Indigo Plant Varieties: Learn About Different Indigo PlantsThe popular color “indigo” is named after several plants in the genus Indigofera famous for the natural blue obtained from the plant leaves. Some varieties are used medicinally, while others are beautiful and ornamental. Learn about different indigo plants here.
-
Watering Indigo Plants: Information On True Indigo Water NeedsWhether you are growing indigo in your garden to make the dye or just to enjoy the pretty flowers and growth habit, indigo irrigation requirements are important to understand to help it thrive. This article will help with that. Click here for more information.
-
Indigo Dyeing Guide – How To Dye With Indigo PlantsWhat if you want to make your own plant-based dye and bypass all those chemicals? Dyeing with indigo allows you to ensure the dye is non-toxic and you get to watch a fascinating chemical process as a green plant goes to blue. Learn more in this article.
-
Dye From Indigo Plants: Learn About Making Indigo DyeUnlike other colors that could easily be obtained, blue remained a difficult color to recreate – until it was discovered that dye could be made from indigo plants. Making indigo dye, however, is no easy task. So, how do you make dye indigo plant dye? Learn more here.
-
Indigo Seed Planting Guide: When To Sow Indigo SeedsTrue indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) can be grown successfully by seed for a pretty flowering shrub or to provide you with leaves to make a natural blue dye. Click this article for tips on how and when to sow indigo plant seeds in the garden.
-
Indigo Insect Pests – Dealing With Bugs That Eat IndigoOne reason indigo plants have so easily spread globally is because there are very few bugs that eat indigo. Learn more about pests of indigo plants in this article and find out if control measures are necessary.
