To Pinch or Not to Pinch.....

That is the question.

And I ask it every year.

I know the answer on some of the more standard plants like petunias and herbs, but with most seedlings I'm always full of angst not knowing if I should pinch them back or not. How do you know? Is there any kind of rule or guideline letting us know which seedlings will benefit from a couple of good pinches and which ones will resent it?

Great question! I will be watching this thread.
I have a note for my Coleus, pinch after the 1 set of 3 leaves and again after the next 2 sets.
I just take a leap of faith or go by instinct. Work with plants long enough and you get to know their growing habits.
But would like to get better advise.

It all gonan depend on the type of plant. Soem of your plants that have the more fiberous stems can definately use a pinch or two.

The best thing is when ya get each plant up about 4-6" and they have sevral sets of true leaves then ask about each plant.

That the safe way and the best way. Takes a little time to ask her and wait for answer, but worth it in the long run.

Star suggested I ask here, so ask I will. Maybe if enough other people are interested in this we could start a kind of master list to use for reference. The seeds I have started right now are as follows:

Rudbeckia, annual - NO
Pentas - NO
Vebena (annual) - PINCH
Petunias - PINCH
Crossandra - NO
Coleus - PINCH
Impatiens - PINCH (After they get some height)
Browellia - PINCH

Hibiscus Red Shield - NO
Cuphea - NO
Alternanthera
Cerinthe - NO
Asarina - PINCH
Alonsoa
Torenia - PINCH
Bedding Dahlia - PINCH
Phlox (annual) - PINCH

If anyone has input on any of the above seedlings, or has any pinching questions of their own, please feel free to post them here. Hopefully someone with experience will come along and help us out (and I will definitely make notes on my spread sheet for next year!)










This message was edited Mar 11, 2009 3:21 AM

Cerinthe No
Cuphea No

Hibiscus depends on what type

Impatiens. Yes, but once they get a little bit of height on them

rudebeckia depens wether annual or perennial and type

Pentas No

crossandra No

That all I know for sure of the above list

Hey! Thanks! Glad to see you here and posting.

The hibiscus is "red shield" and the rudbeckias are annual.

This message was edited Jan 14, 2009 6:25 PM

Then no dont pinch

I don' pinch wave petunias as they don't get leggy.

Thanks Dahlianut. I thinkit youthat grows bunches of petunias. I know I pinch the other ones, btu got some wave ones, so wil just let them do their thing : )

Since I'm starting lots of new things I have never grown before - this is a great thread - thanks!! will be watching and learning.

I usually only grow waves. This year I am also doing a yellow/blush single petunia that was an interesting cross-pollination so I want to see what colour it is this year.

I'm wondering though if pinching the waves wouldn't help them bush out more?

Probably LalaJ but mine fill the containers and cascade beautifully and I want to keep the length so I'm not messing with a good thing ^_^

Dahlia.. how many plants and what size contaienr are ya using if I may ask?

I seed a pack (10 seeds) directly into 24" containers. I usually have 3 containers of them every summer.

I start my wave petunias in March for transplanting outside in Mid May. I don't pinch the waves either. A 12" pot will look gorgeous with 3 Waves, EasyWaves & ShockWaves. 14" pot would hold 5 plants. The EasyWaves are a bit more upright than the Waves. ShockWaves have smaller flowers and a bit smaller drape. Tidal Waves is best with only one plant in at least a 12 inch container, 14" may be better. They (TW) do well in the flower beds and if you plant the TitalWaves close together, they will make a nice hedge. If you put them in the bed about a foot from other plant material, they will sprawl nicely and peek out nicely around other plants. Be sure to use a good slow release fertilizer with container plantings. For seedlings, I feed weekly with a diluted fish fertilizer (note a bit smelly, but makes a huge difference)

I hate deadheading, so the Wave type of petunias are best suited for me. This year, I am also trying the Opera Supreme, which is also a trailing Petunia, but with more flowers than the Waves. Stokes Seeds has great info on seeding and plant care and a wonderful selection of seeds.

This message was edited Jan 16, 2009 2:19 PM

What great information on the Wave pets.
Last year I did Avalanche Petunia, I did not pinch them. They just branched out on their own. I started them March 11th in 6 pack cells and potted them up to 3 in. pots.

I put 3 in this hanging pot and planted them in Miracle Grow Moisture Control (that all I use for my summer containers). I was very happy with them. Maybe I just have to try the Waves too.

I had tried the Grape Avalanche last year & they are on my wish list for this year too. I need to send in my seed order soon.

Here's some Waves

Here some of my Tidal Waves that I planted @ my Mom's

Here shockwave on the fence

Here's Baby Duck which I've seen grouped with Shockwaves, but in some seed catalogs they are listed just as a Trailing Petunia with Shockwaves on there own.

Joanna, In your opinion which petunia A or W preformed the best?
Lovely pictures and garden! And lovely girls in the Tidal Waves pic.

Great info everyone, thanks for sharing. The pictures are gorgeous!

Ladygardeners1,

The Waves had way more flowers, but I did like the odd color of the grape Avalanche. I read that the Supreme Opera series has even more flowers than the Wave. I like to try a bunch of different kinds. All from seed of course.

Here's one of my favorite 2007 picture. More Blue Waves.

Jo South (joannabanana) is the Queen of Petunias IMHO.

great Petunias pics. Appreciate ya sharign them especialy sicne this year for Mothers day havign the acedemically challenged kids and them learn to grow petunias this year for Mothers Day presents.

I had one baby duck plant last year that was given to me. It sure had pretty flowers. I had pinched mine and whielit did good, probably would have done better had I not.

Lala, my experience is as follows:

Asarina (scandens): no need to pinch if you want the seedling to climb high. However, if you want to grow the plant in a pot as focal point and let it climb on a trellis, pinching back will produce more branches. Asarina scandens seeds have a high germination rate, so do not sow more than you really need, plus maybe a 10%.

Alonsoa (meridionalis): I have never pinched them but then I have only grown them in pots so far. Planted in full sun in the garden they behave as perennial in my equivalent to a USA zone 9b. I see them growing in the wild with a very bushy habit. Just be careful not to give them too much water.

Ursula

Ursula you are a gem. Thank you so much!

*typo

This message was edited Jan 17, 2009 9:47 PM

I ordered Baby Duck and Shock Wave Pink Vein petunia seeds. Can't wait to start growing these. I plan on Not Pinching these.

*blush*

I have my next round of to pinch or not to pinch dilemmas. Any help is most appreciated!

Browallia
Heliotrope
Cineraria
Vigna caracalla (corkscrew vine)
Phlox - annual
Abutilon
Mimulus tigrinus (monkey flower)
Torenia
Angelonia
Lobelia
Lobelia - trailing variety
Salvias - both splendins and coccinea
bedding dahlias
zinnias
marigolds

Lala... The only ones I pinch on your above list is the marigold. And it not really a pinch of leaves, I pinch the blooms out when they tiny so they will branch otu and bloom more., but other may do things different.

Thanks Star. If I don't hear anything to the contrary I'll consider those non-pinchers.

I don't pinch border dahlias but I start mine in the greenhouse where they get alot of light. If yours seem to be a getting leggy pinch away.

Thanks dahlianut. I really want full, bushy plants to set out this year so anything that will benefit from a little pinch is going to get one. Will pinching make dahlias branch?

Definitely.

Then pinched they shall be! That will also help if they are too tall to fit under the lights before I can get them out to the greenhouse. Thanks so much for your input.