Yes, producing a scape does affect the vegetative growth (leaves, etc.) of the daylily plant depending on the growing conditions and environmental factors. There are trade-offs between vegetative (leaf) and reproductive (scape, flower, etc.) growth.
If/when? you cut off the scape I would cut it as high as possible. That way the plant has the largest amount of tissue left on the scape from which it can scavenge resources for later vegetative growth.
Anyone who is interested in a reasonably valid test of the triacontanol idea should remember to also do a control. For example, if say a tablespoon of alfalfa pellets are added to the planting hole of five test plants then a tablespoon of some other organic pellet (not known to contain triacontanol) should be added to the planting holes of five other test plants. Of course the test plants in the two groups should be matched so that they are as similar as possible in all respects.
