Hi JB, Your streps look great!!!
Yes they can get very large leaves, I left mine on while the plant was blooming, but I think its your choice.
I was told (but haven't confirmed this, and don't know if its for all streps or just certain ones) that the blooms come from the individual leaf, each leaf will produce 15 or so blooms and then its done. Mine have always been prolific growers and bloomers (probably because of the Shultz's liquid fertilizer that I use)
I do cut the leaf as soon as the bloom stops - although only if you don't like the look, there are several that I loved because the leaves were so grand - 2 feet or more long and a foot wide, so I just potted it into a 12inch pot and let it go!! Most people don't have that kind of space, so it is fin to cut the leaf. (whew, guess you got the long answer
)
Also when cutting the leaf, you can just trim the tips, you don't have to take the whole leaf until it begins to die back!
