How to properly pinch a petunia so that it is lush

Petunia is popular with many gardeners due to its beauty and ease of growing. This flower is ideal for decorating a country house, a summer cottage, and even an apartment balcony. Before you start growing a plant, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of pinching petunia.

What is pinching

Some novice gardeners have never heard of pinching and do not know why it is done.

Pinching is the cutting of the upper part of the stems or buds located at the ends of the branches. When carrying out the procedure, it is recommended to use special tools. Garden shears or pruning shears are suitable for this. Picking branches or buds by hand is contraindicated, as this can damage the plants.

Benefits of pinching petunias

It is recommended to understand in advance the purpose of the procedure and its benefits.

Formation of a lush crown

Most often, flowers are pinched to form a crown. With the help of pruning, it is possible to grow a lush bush even from the smallest sprouts.

Stopping the growth of apical shoots

There are cases when, without pinching, petunia begins to grow strongly and many side shoots appear on it. To prevent this, pinch the main stem several times a season and cut off the side shoots.

Lignification and strengthening of the lower part of the shoots

It is no secret that petunia belongs to a group of herbaceous plants that have a weakened stem. Pinching helps strengthen the lower part of the stem and makes it woody. Such a plant better tolerates weather disasters and resists pest attacks.

How to pinch petunia correctly

Before pruning flowers, you need to figure out how to do it correctly.

Necessary conditions for pinching petunia

Pinching should be done at the moment of activation of plant growth.If you delay pruning, the bushes will grow too tall and ugly. Experienced flower growers recommend carrying out the procedure one and a half months after planting the seeds.

Step-by-step pinching process

Step-by-step instructions will help you pinch the flower correctly.

After germination

The work consists of several successive stages:

• search for the lowest sprout;
• counting five leaves from the bottom;
• trimming the part of the stem located above the fifth leaf;
• dusting the cut with ash.

For abundant flowering

To make the flower bloom better, the procedure is carried out three times:

• the first - after the appearance of five leaves;
• the second - after transplanting the sprouts into the flowerbed;
• the third - during a period of active growth.

Features of pinching potted petunia

Pinching a plant that is grown in a pot is quite simple. The top is pinched once when the flower grows to 10 centimeters in height.

Are all varieties of petunias subject to pinching?

Some gardeners claim that all varieties of flowers can be pinched, but this is not true. Most hybrid varieties bred by professional breeders can be grown without cutting the stems.

Features of the formation of different types of petunia

It is necessary to become more familiar with pruning the most common types of bushes.

Ampelnaya

A popular variety of petunias, used by many gardeners to decorate flower beds. This flower is genetically designed to form a lush and brightly blooming plant. Therefore, hanging flowers do not need pinching. However, if the seedlings grow poorly, you can cut off the top stem so that the bush is more branched.

Cascade

Prune at least twice during the entire growing season.Timely pinching makes the seedlings more magnificent and beautiful. During the formation of cascading bushes, side shoots are removed so that the plant is symmetrical.

Bush and terry

Terry and bush varieties are pinched using the traditional method, which will make the bushes more luxuriant.

FAQ

There are several questions that interest many novice gardeners.

Is it possible to pinch petunia when it blooms?

It is not contraindicated to prune flowering plants. The only peculiarity of pinching petunias during the flowering period is that you need to cut off 2-3 shoots at a time.

Does pinching affect flowering time?

Many people are interested in how pruning stems affects flowering. Plants that are pinched bloom 10-15 days later.

How often should pinching be done?

Experienced gardeners recommend pinching once - during the active growth phase.

What to do with cut shoots?

Cut shoots can be rooted and used as planting material. To do this, you will have to remove the lower leaves of the cut stem, after which it is placed in a container with water. Over time, roots will sprout from the cutting and it can be used for planting in the ground.

Caring for petunia after pinching

After pruning, the flowers weaken and need feeding. Therefore, 2-3 days after pinching, mineral and organic fertilizers are added to the soil. They also use growth stimulants that saturate the soil with nutrients.

In the future, fertilizers must be applied to the soil every two weeks. It is better to use fertilizers that contain a lot of nitrogen. Also, when caring for petunias, you need to regularly moisten and loosen the soil.

Conclusion

When growing petunias, many gardeners have to pinch them. To do everything correctly, you will have to familiarize yourself with the recommendations for pruning common varieties.