Propagation: To Pinch or Not to Pinch....., 1 by

wrote:
Hi All:
A rule of thumb for pinching is to know the plant's habit of growth. Newly sown plants that tend to grow upright with stiff stems should be pinched when 3" tall, or when 2 sets of new leaves have formed. A new stem will sprout at each leaf axel. If pinched too early or too small, it defeats the purpose of pinching. Yet, waiting too long to pinch will produce a leggy plant at the bottom with a bushy top that is top heave and won't stand up in windy climates. Also delays flowering.

All annual and hardy garden mums should be pinched as described above. Then repeated when the shoots that grow from the axel of the leaves have developed 2 sets of new leaves.

Common geraniums need pinching as stated above when grown from seeds.

Once plants are in their second or so season, most will not need pinching since they develop new stems with age. I have 4 different colors of hardy mums that are 4 years old. I never have to pinch them since they now bush out on their own.

Pictured is one of my hardy mums varieties that I never have to pinch. It is 4 years old.