Alstroemerias help please

JRsrule

Hi, I wonder if anyone could offer some advice on an alstroemeria?

I have a small potted one outside which seems to have almost finished flowering for the year. I’ve realised that most of the old flowers have turned to seed heads. I’ve seen online that I should pull those stems out (or have I left it too late?) but if I do that I’m pretty sure there will be no plant left. It’s a small plant, about 18 inches tall which flowered beautifully all summer.  

Can I just prune these off with secateurs … and if so is it worth collecting the seeds or is that not usually successful? 

Any help much appreciated please! 

Brie

from RHS website:

Pruning and training

Alstroemerias need little pruning. During the 

The period of time when an individual plant is in active growth. This will depend on the local climate and light levels, and can vary between different plants, although it is broadly from spring to autumn.

growing season just remove the spent flower stems right at the base to encourage more to grow, then remove any remaining old stems in early spring before the new shoots appear. 

Perennials: cutting back

Perennials: cutting back

Propagating

The quickest and easiest way to make new plants is by dividing mature clumps. The resulting plants will be exactly the same as the parent plant.

Alstroemerias can be tricky to grow from seed, and if using collected seeds the resulting plants may differ from the parents. Plants grown from seed will take several years to reach flowering size.By division

Established plants have been in their current location for two or three years and so have well-developed root systems able to support strong growth with healthy foliage and flowers.

Established plants can be divided in April. However, the roots are fragile, so lift and divide plants with care, and replant the new divisions immediately. See our step-by-step guides below.

How to grow alstroemerias / RHS Gardening

Woolsery

There should be rhizomes in the pot and whether you pull the stems or not, they will probably shoot again this year. As alstroemerias are hungry plants a sprinkling of  slow release fertiliser worked into the soil would be a good idea. Even better, if they're ready, take them up a pot size.

[Deleted User]

In my last garden i grew a lot of different Alstro's , different heights and different colours, they're incredibly easy to grow if the situation is right.

They will flower from spring to first frosts and in a mild area they'll not die down in winter either, their flowering period is very long.

Their preferred growing conditions are thin, poor soil and full sun and then will reward you with a rapidly spreading mass of colour.

Yours being potted won't really help it, it won't be able to do its natural thing and you'll stunt it.

Pruning isn't necessary at all.
Remove spent flower stalks as soon as possible by gently grasping the mid-base area of that stem and pulling it up and out, leaving those stalks on the plant won't help it.

They will colonise an area and look gorgeous for months on end.