How do I prune my lobster heliconia?

Question

I live in Florida. My heliconia has grown massively and there is a lot of dead growth now in mid-February. Should I just cut out the brown stalks or cut the whole thing way back? If so, how far?

P.S. love your site.

Answer 1

Go ahead and remove all the dead leaves and stems. You can cut the living stalks down to an inch or two above the ground; when the stubs have dried up, you'll be able to just pull them out of the ground.

Here's an article about this fascinating plant:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/lobster-claw-plant/heliconia-growing-conditions.htm