petunia's

[Monica]

When they say you should pinch the flowers to make the plant bushier do you actually pinch it or do you cut off the flower?  And will a petunia cutting root?

[Mikey]

When you "pinch back" a plant you actually pinch off the new tip of the new growth and this forces the plant to start new, new growth.  Think of it as pruning but not as severe.

[Monica]

Thanks mikey.  I'll go out and cut the flowers off.

[lindaky]

I pinch the dead flower heads on mine until the plants are established. This is supposed to keep the plants from using all their energy on producing seed and allow the plant to grow. I don't know if this is true or just an old wives tale. I pinch the new growing tips if the plants are becoming long and don't have much foilage near the top to try and promote growth nearer the top of the plant. I actually pinch them.

[GAjen]

We pinch the dead ones off....dead heading.

[SheilaJ]

Pinching off the finished flowers so the plant doesn't waste energy making seed is definitely NOT an old wives tale. If I get lazy with my pansies, they stop blooming and start looking really shabby.

[LeeAnne151]

Pinching off any flowers when planting annuals is smart.

Good to buy them in bloom to make sure they are labeled correctly but best to pinch them back to let them get established a bit before blooming all season.

Deadheading is also smart. Keeps the plant blooming instead of wasting time setting seed.

Both reward you with more flowers in the long run. Neither are Old Wive's Tales!

[Monica]

I do deadhead them I was just wondering about the "pinching" of them.  Thanks guys!