How to prune paddle plant (flapjacks)

Remove flower spikes as soon as they appear if you want to extend rosette life; clean up dead foliage year-round. Cut the flower spike close to the base before it opens to redirect energy to offsets. Once the parent rosette dies naturally after blooming, cut it away cleanly at the base.

As needed; once at end-of-life for the main rosette. Paddle Plant is monocarpic — the main rosette dies after flowering, typically after 2-4 years. Remove dead or yellowing leaves regularly. When a flower spike emerges, you may cut it off early to conserve the plant's energy and delay the main rosette's decline. Once it dies, remove the spent rosette and grow on the offsets.

Cut the flower spike close to the base before it opens to redirect energy to offsets. Once the parent rosette dies naturally after blooming, cut it away cleanly at the base.