From our perspective as Delphinium elatum, our towering flower spikes, which can reach heights of six to eight feet, are our greatest pride and our greatest weakness. Our stems are hollow, a design that allows for rapid growth and efficient nutrient transport but provides limited structural integrity against lateral forces. The sheer weight of our dense flower racemes, laden with dozens of individual blooms, creates a significant top-heavy load. When wind pushes against this heavy apex or when rain saturates the flowers and leaves, adding even more weight, the force exerted on our basal stem is immense. Without intervention, this force exceeds our stem's natural bending strength, resulting in irreversible damage: stems snap, or the entire plant collapses under its own beautiful, yet burdensome, weight.
For your support to be most effective and least disruptive to our root systems and growth patterns, timing is crucial. The optimal moment for staking is early in our growth cycle, when we are approximately one-third of our mature height, roughly 12 to 18 inches tall. At this stage, our root systems are still developing and are easily navigated without severe damage. Inserting stakes at this time allows our foliage to grow up and around the support structure, naturally concealing it and integrating it into our form. If you wait until we are taller and our flower spikes are beginning to form, you risk spearing through our vital root mass, causing significant stress and potentially stunting our growth or making us more susceptible to disease.
We respond best to support systems that offer firm but gentle contact. Rough, abrasive materials like wire or coarse twine can cut into our tender, green stems, creating open wounds for pathogens to enter. Instead, soft, biodegradable jute twine or stretchy plastic plant tape is ideal. The support structure itself should be proportionate to our final size. Single, sturdy bamboo canes or metal rods are suitable for individual stems, but for a large clump, a grow-through grid system, like a peony ring or a custom-built grid of stakes and horizontal strings, is far superior. This method provides a network of support points, cradling multiple stems across their height and allowing each one to move slightly without taking the full force of the weather, which actually helps us strengthen our stems naturally.
The method of attachment is as important as the stake itself. Ties should be secured firmly to the stake, but loops around our stems must be loose and flexible, employing a figure-eight pattern between the stake and the stem. This creates a cushion of space, preventing chafing and allowing for continued stem thickening and natural micro-movements that build strength. You must monitor our growth and add additional ties as we ascend. The first tie should be placed low on the stem for foundational support, with subsequent ties added every 12 to 18 inches. Always check existing ties as we grow to ensure they have not become too tight and are constricting our vascular tissues, which are essential for transporting water and nutrients to our magnificent flower spikes.
