How To Pinch Out Plant Tips

Gardening Tips
Pinching Out

Pinching plants is a type of pruning that encourages branching on the plant. Pinching out the stem tips of your bedding plants will prevent them from becoming leggy, and encourage bushier plants with lots more flowers. Pinching back makes the plant to grow twice as many stems, which results in a fuller plant and it helps to keep a plant compact.

 

Pinching is a very easy process and this video shows you to make the best of your summer beds and baskets with this simple guide.

 

Some Tips

  • The way to pinch a plant is really easy. The term “pinching” comes from the fact that gardeners use their fingers to pinch off the tender, new growth at the end of the stem.
  • You can also use a sharp pair of pruning shears to pinch the ends.
  • While your plants are still young simply pinch out the growing tip of each stem between your thumb and forefinger.
  • Pinch the tip back to a node (or pair of buds).
  • You can do this for a second time once they have produced two or three more sets of leaves.
  • If you follow these tips for pinching a plant, you can bring out the best shape and fullness in your plants.