I have a beautiful thick mat of ice plants, but lately since we have had such wet weather in the DFW area I see a lot of spent blooms. Should I pinch them off? I've looked all over and can't find anything about it. I even asked the manager at our local nursery and he said it was because of the wet weather. But I hate to see them on my plants, I've never noticed them before. My beds are mulched well, they are facing south and the sun has been out for a couple of days. I've been pinching some off, does anyone know if I'm helping or hurting them. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi Sheryl,

Although not absolutely necessary, removing the spent blooms will result in healthier plants and continued blooms.

Art

By removing spent flowers, you are allowing your plant to put energy back into the plant instead of energy into growing seeds - an exhausting job for a plant.

Thank you, I've always done that on all my other plants. I just wanted to be sure, It's such a thick matt I've never noticed them before. I'm a firm believer in dead heading. Thanks again!