How Do You Pinch A Pot?

Pinching is a pruning technique used to encourage plant growth and fuller foliage production. It involves using your fingers to pinch off the soft, new growth at the tip of a stem. Removing this new growth triggers the plant to produce two new shoots from below where it was pinched, resulting in a bushier, more compact plant.

There are several benefits to regularly pinching your plants: Pinching encourages branching and fuller growth, as pinched stems divide into multiple new shoots. It controls height on tall or leggy plants. It can delay flowering to extend the season. And it promotes compact, shapely growth rather than long, tangled stems. Overall, pinching is an easy way to guide your plants’ growth and productivity.

When to Pinch

Pinching young seedlings and established plants encourages bushier growth and more flowers. Knowing when to pinch is key to proper plant development.

For young seedlings, pinch once the plant has formed a few pairs of leaves on a stem. This is usually a few weeks after emergence. Pinching at this stage promotes side shoot growth and a bushy habit, rather than one main stem. See this source for more details.

For established plants, pinch shoots when they get long and leggy, usually in spring. This encourages branching and fullness. Time pinching on flowering plants so that you don’t remove flower buds. For example, pinch a mums in spring to shape growth before flower buds form. See this article on timing pinching to extend the flowering period.

Where to Pinch

When pinching a plant, it’s important to pinch in the right location for optimal results. The key places to pinch are:

Above a leaf node: Pinch the stem just above a set of leaves. This is where new shoots will emerge from after pinching. Leaving some leaves below the pinch provides the plant energy to regrow.

Above a flower bud: If you want to prevent flowers or delay flowering, pinch out the main stem above the first set of flower buds. This will remove the flowering stems and redirect the plant’s energy into vegetation growth instead.

In general, the most effective pinching happens right above leaf nodes or potential flowering stems. This triggers the plant to branch out at that point. Be careful not to damage the leaves or buds below the pinch.

What Plants to Pinch

Pinching can be beneficial for many annuals and perennials to promote bushier growth and more flowers. Some key annuals that benefit from pinching include:

• Ageratum
• Amaranth
• Anemone
• Basil
• Calendula
• Carnation
• Celosia (plume varieties)
• Cosmos
• Dahlia
• Gomphrena

As noted in an article from UC ANR (https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26939), pinching encourages bushier growth and more flowering for these annuals. Removing the top growing tip triggers lateral bud growth and results in a fuller plant.

Key perennials that benefit from pinching include:

• Chrysanthemums
• Delphinium
• Monarda
• Salvia
• Sedum

Pinching perennials helps produce a bushier, denser plant by encouraging branching. This results in more flower heads compared to an unpinched plant. Timing pinches properly allows the plant time to develop new shoots before flowering.

Pinching Tools

The main tools used for pinching plants are your fingers and garden shears. The Pinchpruner Your fingers are the ideal pinching tool since you can feel the stems and control the pressure. With practice, pinching with your fingers allows for precision. Make sure to use your thumbnail and forefinger. Simply pinch the tip of the stem off right above a set of leaves.

Garden shears or scissors are also commonly used. How to Pinch a Plant for Better Growth Choose a small, sharp pair of shears. Cut the stem above a node at a 45 degree angle for a clean break. Shears are quicker for large plants. However, take care not to pinch too much off. Shears don’t allow you to feel the stems like your fingers.

How to Pinch

Pinching a plant is a straightforward process that involves removing the top portion of a stem just above a node using your fingertips or a tool. Here are the key steps for pinching a plant properly:

First, locate the top 2-3 sets of leaves on the stem you want to pinch. You’ll want to pinch just above one of these nodes. A node is the point on a stem where leaves emerge. According to Burpee, pinching above a node encourages the plant to branch out from that point.

Next, use your thumb and forefinger (or a tool like pruners) to pinch through the soft stem. Make sure to cut at an angle rather than straight across. An angled cut increases the surface area for new growth.

Finally, remove the pinched off top portion of the stem. Be sure to discard any flowers or flower buds as well so the plant’s energy goes toward branching instead of fruiting. And that’s it! With a simple pinch, you can direct your plant’s growth and create a fuller, bushier plant.

Pinching Frequency

The frequency of pinching depends on the plant and your desired results. Some general guidelines:

• Annuals and tender perennials – Pinch once or twice in the early part of the growing season to encourage branching and full growth. Pinching too late can inhibit flowering. ¹
• Herbs like basil – Pinch continually throughout the growing season to promote bushy growth and maximize harvest. ²
• Perennials and shrubs – Pinch once in spring to encourage branching. Repeat pinching only as needed. ³

The key is to find the right balance between encouraging growth and allowing the plant to flower and fruit. Continual pinching can stress the plant, so monitor regularly and adjust as needed.

Results of Pinching

Pinching has several key results that make it a useful technique for many gardeners:

Fuller, Bushier Growth: Pinching encourages plants to grow more side shoots and branches, resulting in a fuller, bushier shape. By pinching out the main growing tip, the plant puts more energy into the side shoots, stimulating denser growth. This is useful for ornamental plants where a rounded shape is desired. According to Burpee, pinching encourages “shorter internodes and increased side branching for a bushier, fuller plant.”

Delayed Flowering: Removing the primary buds on a plant delays when it will start flowering. This gives the plant more time to reach a certain size or maturity before blooming. Delaying flowers can extend the flowering period. According to Fiskars, “If you pinch back new growth, the plant will be shorter but the flowering period will be lengthened.”

Common Pinching Mistakes

When pinching plants, it’s important to avoid some common mistakes that can actually harm plant growth and health:

Pinching too early – Pinching some plants like annuals and vegetables too early can stunt their growth. It’s best to wait until they reach a certain size or maturity before pinching. Pinching perennials that are still young can also reduce their first year’s bloom.

Pinching too late – Waiting too long to pinch plants can result in leggy, weak growth that is more prone to disease. Pinching late may also reduce the total number of blooms. Follow recommended timelines for pinching each type of plant.

Pinching the wrong plants – Not all plants benefit from pinching. Avoid pinching self-branching annuals and plants grown for their fruit or foliage. Only pinch plants that respond well to it like Chrysanthemums, Asters, and Salvia.

Overall, learn when and how to properly pinch each variety of plant. Pinch too early or too late and you may hinder growth and flowering rather than enhance it.

Conclusion

In summary, the key steps to properly pinching a plant are: pinching just above a set of leaves, using clean and sterile pinching tools, pinching young growth early in the season, pinching correctly according to the plant’s needs, and avoiding overpinching which can stress the plant. Proper pinching technique is important for encouraging branching, fuller growth, and more blooms on annuals, perennials, and vegetables. Pinching helps direct a plant’s energy into multiple stems and flowering sites instead of just one central stem. When done correctly at the right time, pinching can lead to a bushier, more compact, and healthier plant.