Enhance soil drainage and adjust watering to prevent future rot. After that, these plants can survive in some periods of. Spotting the. Trim and treat with fungicide to combat root decay effectively. I like the plant - it should do well in my garden and. A plant I like, but for the moment is missing from my garden, is red hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria). Learn how to choose a variety of this unusual, flowering perennial for your growing conditions. . All about Red Hot Poker plants, aka Torch Lilies. Red hot poker plant care involves regular watering until these plants are established. Fertilizer. They aren't fussy about humidity. Red hot pokers do best in moderate temperatures, between 60ºF and 90ºF. Unless soil is of very. red hot poker plant poisonous.