How to pinch a petunia for lush flowering. Why pinch petunia seedlings

23.05.2019

Petunia has long occupied a leading position as one of the most decorative garden crops. And the fact that ampelous petunias grow well in pots and with proper care bloom the next year, made the petunia even more welcome to our gardens, balconies and apartments.

However, you can easily notice that in some flowerbeds, petunias produce several flowers each, and look rather poor, and on neighboring flowers they simply pour like a waterfall along long green shoots. What's the secret abundant flowering petunias?

Everything is very simple - it's a matter of correct pinching. If you remove part of the shoots, and know how to do it, your beauty will bloom gorgeously all season.

Pinching a petunia is an optional procedure. The plant will continue to grow and bloom. Another thing is quality. If you want to have a luxuriously flowering and pleasing bush, and not just a long stem with leaves that falls under the weight of buds, then you need to pinch. If you do not remove the side shoots, the plant will inevitably go up, and with such growth, it will not be up to the formation of flowers. Therefore, the path to a chic flowering petunia lies through pinching. Each cut stem will provoke the appearance of more and more buds. And shoots with flowers will become even stronger and thicker.

When to pinch

The first rule is timing. The first time a petunia needs to be pinned is at the seedling stage, before you are going to plant it in the garden. As soon as 4-5 leaves have formed on your flower, feel free to pinch off the top of it. Thus, you will help your plant grow a powerful root system, and it will transfer planting in open ground without any problems.

The second time the petunia is pinched after you have planted the flower in open ground. Give it about a week (maximum ten days) to get used to and grow back after transplanting, and a second pinching can be done. By this time, several stems are already forming on the petunia, and each of them should be pinched.

The second rule is to choose the right place for pinching. As soon as your little seedling begins to stretch, you need to count five leaves from the bottom, and cut off the top shoot. It is this procedure that will ensure that the plant does not grow up, but to the sides, and more and more flowers form on the side shoots.

Do not over-tighten with pinching the petunia, otherwise the bush will not be able to properly form and become beautiful.

How to pinch a petunia

The bush that you are going to pinch must be plump and healthy, with a strong trunk. Cut off the top of the petunia with very sharp little nail scissors or a small, thin knife. Otherwise, the flower may die.

At the same time, at least three leaves must remain on the stem.

When you've plucked off the tops of the plants, don't throw them away. They are good for breeding. You just need to remove the leaves from them and put them in water. After a few days, the cuttings will sprout, and they can be rooted next to the mother plant, giving your flower bed even more pomp.

You can root the tops of petunias immediately in the ground, but they will take longer to take root. And cuttings with roots will grow almost immediately.

Does pinching affect flowering time?

Pinching is always a kind of shock for the plant. And the flower must survive this shock. Therefore, those bushes that you pinch will bloom later by about two weeks. But they will have much more large flowers, much more buds will develop, and the petunia will bloom not only more abundantly, but also longer. If you want to have lush, chic flowering petunias, be sure to pinch your bushes.

First of all, you need to cut off the middle, main shoot. And after that, cut off the side shoots, depending on the speed of their growth.

Be sure to keep in mind that faded petunia flowers should be removed. Moreover, it is necessary not only to tear off the flower itself, but also to pinch off the leg on which it is attached to the stem. Then you will have many flowers on the bush.

How often do you need to pinch

You need to pinch the bushes only when they are actively growing. Therefore, if your petunia does not feel very well, has not adapted, and looks weak, do not rush to touch it. Let the plant come to its senses, get stronger and begin to shoot. Then you can pinch it.

Pinching even healthy plants does not need to be done more than once a month. It is important not to overdo it, otherwise the flowers will hurt.

If your bush, after abundant flowering, began to age, it's okay. Trim the petunia as short as possible, it will do her good. After that, loosen the ground, fertilize, and in ten days you will be able to admire the gorgeous flowering of your beauty.

Features of pinching for petunias in pots

As you know, petunias can be grown in open ground as well as in pots. And if in the open field pinching is still more of a recommendation to ensure that your petunia is gorgeous in color, then for plants grown in pots, pinching is necessary. For potted petunias, the stems must be shortened without fail, otherwise the flowers will not appear on the shoots at all.

For petunias in pots, you need to pinch the seedling for the first time even during seedlings. For the pot, you need to immediately achieve beautiful view bush. After the seedling has been placed in a pot, it must also be pinned down. After the petunia has overwintered in a pot (this flower does not hibernate in the open ground), it should also be pinched. And then the cutting of the stems should already be done as necessary, depending on their growth.

Petunia conquers hearts with beauty, brightness, long decorative period, unpretentiousness. In care, the plant is undemanding, however, one of the necessary procedures is pinching.

This simple operation allows you to grow a compact, lush bush, strewn with bright multiple flowers. We will learn how to properly pinch a petunia, and what conditions are necessary for the procedure.

The pinching procedure is also called tweezing and is a breaking off / pinching off / cutting off the apical part of the shoots. Translated from German, the word "tweezing" means "remove the end", and this translation perfectly reflects the essence of the procedure.

The purpose of the operation is the awakening of the lateral buds on the shoots, which are dormant before pinching.

After the procedure and healing of the cut site, the remaining stem thickens, sometimes becomes woody, becomes stronger, stocky. AT better side the shade of foliage changes - it becomes brighter, more saturated. The axillary buds swell, become more voluminous - as a result of this, the flowers that then bloom from them delight with their large size and splendor.

Pinching in general is then required to get stronger shoots, a more lush bush, and more beautiful, vibrant flowers and foliage. This procedure is aimed at increasing the external attractiveness, decorativeness of petunias.

Benefit

Find out why you need to pinch a petunia.

crown formation

This is the main focus of the procedure. Pinching makes it possible from a small sprout to get a compact and magnificent flowering plant pleasing to the eye for a long period. A well-groomed and properly shaped crown always looks much more neat.

Termination of growth of apical shoots

Due to the fact that pinching eliminates the top of upward-growing shoots, lateral branches begin to grow more actively. As a result, the petunia does not stretch, but becomes a round small bush, which looks more attractive.

In addition, the more side branches there are, the more flowers will appear, not to mention the increase in bushiness.

Lumbering of the lower part of the shoots

Although petunia is essentially a herbaceous plant, the lower part of its shoots after pinching becomes very strong, almost lignified. Thanks to this, the plant will be stronger, stronger and more resilient, able to withstand weather disasters.

When pinching, what conditions are needed

Pinch the petunia when the seedlings begin to actively grow. And this clear sign the fact that it is better not to delay the procedure - otherwise the seedlings will stretch out, and the bush will turn out to be ugly. By the time of the first pinching, 40-50 days should have passed since the seeds were planted.

Only healthy plants are pinched: it is advisable to immediately remove weak and inferior seedlings so as not to waste time and effort on them. In what condition should the plants be: at the time of the procedure they should be grown up, stronger, have several leaves (no more than 5-6).

You will need garden shears or a small pruner, as well as a container in which you will put the cut off apical parts of the shoots. Next, you will learn how to pinch a petunia step by step.

Process description

In short, pinching a petunia is removing the top of the shoot above the fifth or sixth top sheet. The procedure is carried out with a pruner, and some flower growers simply use their own fingers, breaking off the shoot in the right place.

Due to the fact that the main shoot is broken, a new active growth point is formed in this place, from which lateral shoots will branch in different directions. Please note that immediately after the procedure, petunia seedlings slow down their development, but quickly recover and begin to grow even more actively.

If the seedlings are intended for planting in open ground, the procedure is also carried out after the rooting of seedlings in a new place. However, after transplanting, several days must pass for the plant to adapt.

When grown in greenhouse conditions pinching is usually carried out after the pick has been made, since there is no point before.

Walkthrough:

find the very bottom of the sprout;
count 5-6 leaves from the bottom, maybe 4;
we pinch the part of the shoot located above the counted leaf with a pruner (fingers, scissors);
sprinkle the cut with wood ash.

A month after the first procedure, a second pinching is usually performed.

Attention: no more than one-fifth of the plant shoot can be removed in one procedure. Some flower growers are late and then immediately cut off a third of the shoot, or even half: such a gross intervention does not benefit the plant, it can even destroy it.

How to pinch for abundant blooms

In order for petunias to please with lush and long flowering, ideally you need to pinch them twice: at the stage of appearance of 5-6 leaves and the second time after transplanting into open ground.

Particularly responsible flower growers also carry out the third procedure, when the petunia is already actively growing after transplantation. And this triple pinching allows you to achieve the most successful and impressive results in the form of a lush-flowering, bright petunia bush.

How to pinch different types of petunias

Gardeners grow several popular types of petunias:

cascading;
ampelous;
cluster;
terry.

Consider the features of pinching all these varieties.

cascading

This plant needs to be pinched two to three times during the growing season. The procedure will allow the plant to actively bush and become more magnificent. When trimming a cascading petunia, you need to imagine how it will then look, since shaping this type of flower is especially difficult. It is important to achieve a uniform shape, symmetrical on both sides.

Ampelnaya

This plant is already initially, at the genetic level, designed to form a lush, well-flowering bush. Therefore, many varieties (especially new ones) of ampelous petunias do not need pinching at all. However, the first pinching of seedlings is still desirable - it will guarantee that the bush will turn out to be well branched.

Bush

The plant is pinched in the traditional way to achieve the correct and magnificent shape of the bush.

Terry

Since everything terry varieties- hybrid and breeding, they rarely need pinching. Initially, they form lush bushes with abundant leaves and flowers, so the procedure can be neglected. An exception is made if the seedlings are strongly extended in one direction.

Let's talk in detail about important nuances procedures and petunia care after it.

To minimally injure delicate seedlings, carry out the procedure carefully and only with clean tools.

If the shoot is weak, do not pinch it strongly, especially do not cut off the leaves. Such an instance must be treated with care, since otherwise it may not survive the procedure or become ill.

It is best to carry out the procedure in the evening, when the sun sets below the horizon: at this time, the rays become not as scorching and aggressive as during the day.

When pinching a petunia not at home, but in the open field, choose a dry and warm day for the procedure - the cuts will heal faster.

To make the buds larger and brighter, do not forget to fertilize the petunias with suitable minerals when leaving. The plant responds very gratefully to top dressing. After the next pinching, feed the petunia - it will recover faster, grow more actively.

Competent care should also include watering, spraying, removing faded buds. Such care will positively affect the health and appearance of the plant, make it lush, decorative, pleasing to the eye.

In order for the side shoots to grow faster and become more branched, it is useful to lower the air temperature at night.

Flowering petunias can also be pinched. However, at the same time, no more than 2-3 shoots from the plant are removed in one procedure. Additional spraying with succinic acid will make it easier for the plant to survive the operation.

There are cuttings left - what to do with them

After the pinching procedure, strong, high-quality and healthy shoot tips usually remain - a full-fledged planting material. Thus, with the help of the remaining tops, you can make your petunia population even richer.

To germinate such a cutting, you need to remove from it lower leaves. Otherwise, they will rot in the water as the roots grow. After removing the foliage, the stalk is placed in a container of water. Then you need to wait a while until the roots appear. And after their appearance, the stalk is planted in the ground in the usual way (see photo).

Do not forget to pinch the cutting when it actively grows and begins to stretch.

What varieties of petunias pinch

Not all varieties of petunias need a mandatory pinching procedure, but only:

old varieties, long bred;
amateur varieties;
flowers from their own seeds.

All these types of petunia are not very decorative without pinching, so they must be pinched exactly. If such varieties are allowed to grow as they should, they will get elongated, non-compact bushes with rare flowers and stunted foliage. And abundant flowering will not wait.

However, there is good news - and these are new, hybrid breeding varieties. Scientific developments are aimed at breeding such varieties of petunias that would need minimal care and at the same time bloom magnificently.

Therefore, most varieties bred in last years, or do not require pinching at all, or minimal. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the conditions under which the cultivation takes place - in low light and in tight quarters, the plants will still begin to stretch upwards.

If a similar misfortune happened with a hybrid petunia, the elongation can be eliminated with chemicals such as Athlete. However, for most flower growers, the shaping mechanical procedure in the form of pinching is better than the use of "chemistry" once again.

So, we learned how to properly pinch a petunia so that it blooms long and luxuriantly. The procedure is absolutely necessary - if you are going to grow a petunia, keep this fact in mind. Without pinching, the bush will turn out to be inconspicuous, shapeless, and there will be few flowers.

Watch the pinching procedure in the video.

Not only the beauty of flowers and the duration of flowering attracts petunia flower growers. It easily adapts to different conditions of care, requires simple agricultural technology. It is enough to observe the watering regime and periodically feed it to get a lush flowering bush in your area. You can grow it from your own cuttings or from purchased seedlings. But it is much easier to purchase plant seeds.

Petunia ampelnaya: description of the plant

Petunia is readily used for growing in the garden, in flower beds, decorating balconies, verandas. It has the most diverse color of flowers, which can bloom no larger than a coin or reach a diameter of 9–10 cm. All this diversity is divided into two main groups: upright and ampelous petunias. The length of the shoots of upright plants reaches 70 cm, but after stretching up, they gradually fall to the ground. Such varieties are often taken for planting in flower beds.

The latter are characterized by long hanging shoots, which are used as a living decoration. In some varieties, the length of the loops reaches one and a half meters. Petunia is grown in pots, baskets, boxes. Sometimes it is used as a ground cover in the garden, on alpine slides, used in flower cascades.

Some experts distinguish another group of petunias - semi-ampel. It grows in a lush bush with shoots no more than 40 cm and is used mainly as a houseplant.

Did you know?Petunia belongs to the genus of shrubs and herbaceous perennials of the nightshade family. Its natural habitat is the tropics of Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil. Actually, the name of the plant has Brazilian roots: "petun" in translation means "tobacco". In total, there are at least 25 species of this plant, not counting various hybrids.

The plant has a variety of flowers in color. They can be monophonic, with two or three tones. At the same time, cores, veins, borders around the edges, and even just specks can be painted in a different color. Bell-shaped flowers can be double or semi-double, corrugated, carved, fringed or smooth.

Hybrid varieties have developed in two directions: multi-flowered and large-flowered. Each such ampelous petunia has specific rules for planting and care. So, many-flowered are considered unpretentious. It is enough to water them on time, periodically adding fertilizer to the water, and provide sufficient lighting. They give small, up to 5 cm in diameter, but numerous flowers. Faded inflorescences fall off on their own.

Large-flowered can reach 10 cm in diameter, but does not give such abundant flowering. However, they need more careful care. They require a certain amount of light, heat, a specific soil composition, as well as regular pruning of faded buds.

How to plant an ampelous petunia

As a rule, the cultivation of ampelous petunias begins with sowing seeds. In order for the plant to bloom as early as possible, they are sown in February, as the plant develops very slowly. You can sow it in March, but you must take into account the characteristics of the variety and the conditions in which the flower will grow. It is noticed that large-flowered petunias give the first flowers on the 85-90th day after sowing, and small-flowered - on the 70-75th day. In any case, at the beginning of the growing season of the plant, he needs to provide additional illumination.

You can also plant a flowering plant by buying it in a specialized store. In this case, you will enjoy flowering until late autumn.

Important!Quality seedlings are grown only with round-the-clock lighting. During the day, the most intense light is given, and at night it is dimmed. Observe temperature regime and don't let the soil dry out to a crust. In time, transplant the plant into a larger container if you notice that its roots are already protruding to the surface. If you want the seedlings to stretch more, add more soil. Expensive varieties of petunias are grown on peat tablets.

Choosing a place for a plant

When choosing a place for a petunia, keep in mind that she loves light very much. The south side is suitable for her, where there is a maximum of sun during the day. The site itself should be open and not shaded. It is possible to plant a plant in open ground, only being sure that it will not be caught by frost on the ground. As a rule, this is the second half of May. The landing itself is carried out in the evening or on a cloudy day.

If you want to plant a petunia in an apartment, also choose southern window sills. In low light, put fluorescent lamps to lengthen the daylight hours for the plant up to 14-20 hours.

Soil Requirements

In the question of how to plant a petunia, it is important to determine the correct composition of the soil. In order for a flower to bloom luxuriantly, the mind needs loose and nutritious soil with a sufficient level of moisture capacity. Therefore, loamy, sandy, sandy soil is suitable for her.

Before planting, it is advisable to dig it up with leaf humus or rotted manure. But fresh organic matter must be discarded, as it provokes fungal diseases.

Basic rules for planting ampelous petunia seedlings

There are several basic rules for planting ampelous petunias for seedlings. If you stick to them, you are sure to grow a healthy and luxuriantly flowering plant.

First of all, select high-quality seeds from Western manufacturers for sowing. So you are guaranteed to get good seed germination. Choose the right and high-quality soil in a specialized store. Before sowing, it is advisable to calcine it in the oven or disinfect it with special means.

Observe sowing dates. It is necessary to engage in seed germination no earlier than February, but no later than April. Strictly adhere to the recommendations for sowing and planting seedlings of a particular variety. So, seedlings need to dive on time. It is planted in open ground along with an earthen clod so as not to damage the root system. Ampelous petunia has its own planting pattern: there should be a distance of at least 30 cm between the bushes. It is important to water the seedlings well after planting, and mulch the planted area the next day.

Water the plant regularly, focusing on the amount of water consumed by the flowers. Strict temperature conditions are important only when growing seedlings. Seeds should germinate at a temperature of 18–20 °C, and dive at a temperature of 16–18 °C. But the most important is the mode of refreshment. Until the seedlings grow and get stronger, it should be illuminated for at least 14 hours a day. The entire growing season petunia requires top dressing. For this, liquid or granular fertilizers are used.

petunia care rules

Now let's take a closer look at the basic rules for caring for a plant.

Watering and feeding the plant

The most important thing in watering petunias - sufficient amount of water. Its amount must be increased as the plant grows. The larger the vegetative mass, the more moisture it needs. It is important not to allow the earth to dry out, otherwise the shoots of the plant become stiff, the leaves crumble, and the flowers become smaller. On hot days, watering should take place at least twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. Petunias that are grown in pots are generally recommended to be periodically immersed in water along with the pot.

But excess moisture also has a detrimental effect on the plant. Therefore, it is important not to miss the moment when the moisture has already evaporated, but the soil has not yet dried up. Try to pick up the soil from under the plant and rub it in your fingers. If the soil does not leave marks on the hands and completely crumbles, it has dried out enough and requires watering.

Did you know?If you do not have the opportunity to water the plant often, add hydrogel to the soil. It retains moisture, preventing it from evaporating, and gradually gives it to the plant. So you can reduce the frequency of watering by two to three times.

The plant requires feeding about once a week. For this, potash and phosphate fertilizers are used. But some varieties of petunia, for example, from the Potunia group, are recommended to be fed with every watering. Starting with intensive top dressing during disembarkation, it should be gradually reduced, stopping at a concentration of about 2-3 g per liter of water. Otherwise, abundant flowering you can not wait.

For other varieties, the concentration of liquid top dressing should be no more than 5 g per bucket of water. At the same time, it is highly not recommended to pour top dressing into dry soil or together with watering - you can burn the root hairs through which moisture is absorbed. So the plant can die. As a rule, the packaging recommends using one cap per liter, but in the case of petunias, you should take half. Moreover, they recommend such a scheme of watering and fertilizing: water the soil in the morning, and fertilize in the evening.

soil care

Water the petunia gently at the very root so that water does not get on the flowers. The next day, the soil around the flowers is weeded, loosened and weeds are removed. Make sure that the soil does not stray into a hard crust.

How to prune an ampelous petunia, form a bush

Even when the petunia is well cared for, by mid-summer, the shoots from the root to the middle of the length shed their leaves, and flowering remains only at the ends of the branches. To preserve the aesthetics of the plant, it is necessary to take measures to form the bush in time. To do this, it is necessary, without much pity, to cut off about two-thirds of the shoot, despite the fact that an almost bare branch remains.

Important!A petunia bush can be saved for the next season if it is stored in a cool and bright place at a temperature of 7-10 ° C. It can be a balcony, a loggia, but not a basement. Before sending for wintering, the plant must also be cut by two-thirds. It is rarely watered, and in March it is cut again. After that, they are planted in a fresh substrate and a wider pot. Although flower growers recommend not to engage in such complex manipulations, but to buy fresh seeds in the spring.

Ampelous petunia is cut off, pinching in this case will not help much. If you remove only the end of the shoot, new shoots on the bare part will still not appear. To avoid the unaesthetic nature of such a procedure, it can be carried out in several steps, cutting off two or three branches at intervals of a week.

Petunia ampelnaya: pinching

In order for the flower to be lush and beautifully flowering, it must be pinched. This will keep the branches from possible breakdowns during growth, will ensure the emergence of new shoots and the density of the bush.

How to pinch an ampelous petunia? As with any other plant, the tip of the shoot must be removed, especially if it is too long. Together with him, you need to pinch off all the faded buds, especially if seed boxes have appeared on them. Otherwise, the plant will use all its strength to form them, and you will no longer see flowers.

How a flower reproduces

The most common method of flower propagation is seeds. But it can also be propagated from cuttings. This is a rather complicated process, but justified with some varieties. ampelous petunias which are very expensive.

Reproduction by seeds

If you decide to grow a flower from seeds, then buy fresh ones in the store. It is not recommended to collect them yourself from petunias growing on the site. Most of the varieties that are presented in stores today are hybrid. This means that not all the characteristics of the mother bush are transferred to the next generation, and as a result you will get a degenerate variety. In addition, if you have several varieties growing on your site, they are very likely to pollinate. And some varieties are not able to set seeds at all, such as terry ones.

Purchased seeds are sown in well-moistened loose nutrient soil, poured into special boxes. The seeds are not sprinkled with soil, but covered with a transparent film or glass so that they are sufficiently illuminated.

Did you know?Petunia seeds are very small: up to 10 thousand grains per gram of seed. For the convenience of sowing, they are mixed with sand in proportions of 1: 5 or they buy planting material formed in a dragee.

Good seed germination is achieved at a temperature of 22-24 ° C and air humidity of 95-98%. Sprouts break through in about a week or two. With the first leaf, the shelter is removed. Every day they need to be sprayed and gradually reduce the temperature. By the time the seedlings in the box get stronger, the ambient temperature should be 18-20 ° C during the day and 14-16 ° C at night.

About a month after sowing, when there are at least two leaves on the sprouts, they dive, deepening the sprout into the ground to the first leaf. Seedling growth can be very slow, since at this time all the forces of the plant go to the formation of the root system. When two or three more leaves are formed on it, it is necessary to carry out a pick.

Do not forget to water the seedlings on time and enough, but at the same time avoid moisture stagnation. Young shoots are prone to black leg disease.

Important!"Black leg" - fungal disease. It can appear only on young shoots in the first weeks of their life. If the seedlings that have just hatched rot, fall and dry out, they are probably infected with this fungus. For prevention, it is recommended to water the seedlings with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, it must be well hardened. Properly prepared plants feel good even when the temperature drops to 10 ° C.

cuttings

When propagating petunias, cuttings are also used. It is held in February - May, but if you create good conditions for planting material, then it can be carried out all year round. These conditions include supplementary lighting and a temperature regime of 15–22 °C. Cuttings are planted in peat tablets, half-liter cups or seedling boxes with a suitable soil mixture.

Cuttings from healthy mother plants are cut at an angle so that on planting material there were 4-6 leaves, and the stalk itself reached no more than 10 cm in length. Only the top two leaves are left on it and it is immediately planted in the ground for a quarter of the leg length. When planting in a box, make sure that the distance between the cuttings is at least 1.5 cm. Seedlings should be covered with glass or transparent film, provide a temperature of at least 21 ° C and plenty of light.

The roots of the cuttings appear on the 5-10th day. Further, they must be looked after in the same way as with seedlings obtained from seeds. With a sufficiently strong root system, they dive into separate containers. The advantage of such seedlings is that it gives flowering within 20-35 days after planting.

Petunia – relatively undemanding plant. If you provide it with intense and abundant light and monitor soil moisture, you can ensure its long flowering. For the splendor of the bush, it is enough to pinch and trim in time. It can be propagated by both cuttings and seeds. Last option the most profitable, especially if you buy seeds in specialized stores. Among the huge number of varieties and hybrids, you are sure to find one that fits perfectly into your garden.

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Petunias are amazingly colorful flowers that will make any flower bed bright and unusual. Today they decorate the gardens and personal plots many hostesses. With a rich color spectrum, these plants allow growers to create rich compositions. Although petunias are quite common and decorate flower beds throughout the summer, they are rather fragile plants that require special care.

How to pinch a petunia: video

Despite the fact that the petunia comes from South America, this flower takes root quite well in our weather conditions, and it can be grown not only on open ground, but also in pots and containers. This is a perennial plant, but it does not survive in harsh winters and sprouts poorly if the seeds are planted immediately in open ground.

Therefore, if you want to decorate your flower beds with petunias, sow seedlings first. Sprouts should be planted in the second half of May or early June, when the night frosts have passed and the earth has warmed up sufficiently. In order to get lush bushes of flowers, the petunia must be pinched. You need to do this, observing the basic rules.

Pinching should be done in a timely manner. Do this after transplanting into open warm ground. Make sure the plant is healthy and well established in the new location. In order for it to get stronger after transplantation, it should be watered and sprayed about 3 times a day. Fertilize under the root once a week and spray with top dressing.

You can pinch the petunia with your hands, without using any devices.

Before pinching the plant, make sure that the flower stem begins to grow rapidly and stretches up 3 or 5 leaves.
Count 3-5 leaves and carefully pinch off the top shoot. This will slightly slow down flowering, but soon new shoots will appear at the place of separation and the stem will begin to grow in breadth. Soon, instead of the 1st, 3 or 5 large buds will appear on the bush (maybe more). The branched structure will help the plant become much more resistant to mechanical damage.
Don't throw away old shoots. They can be placed in water, and soon they will sprout roots, thus you will get new sprouts. Plant them in small containers with earth, after removing all the leaves except for the top 2.
Usually the 2nd pinching is done about a month after the 1st. Before pinching a petunia for the 2nd time, you need to make sure that the bush has grown sufficiently. To make it even thicker, shorten some of the side stems.

Petunia care doesn't end with pinching. So that the bushes do not lose their decorative effect, you need to constantly monitor the flowers, removing dried petals and inflorescences along with seed pods. They should be removed so that the plant does not waste nutrients on setting seeds. All this will contribute to the rapid growth of new, larger buds. In addition, the dry parts of the plant greatly spoil appearance the whole bush.

Do I need to pinch a petunia?

Why should you pinch a petunia? This is done so that the stem does not become too elongated and does not distort the appearance of the plant. Also, due to the too long stem, the flower usually falls or bends under its own weight. After removing excess shoots, new shoots appear at the cut site, on which buds grow, thereby the bush becomes thicker and brighter.

The process of removing excess shoots is quite painstaking, but it pays off. After 2 weeks you will see the first result.

It should be noted that not all varieties of petunias need to be pinched. Mandatory study requires only simple varieties. It is not necessary to do this with plants from professional seeds, because breeders make sure that such flowers get the best look as quickly as possible.

Some flower growers recommend removing extra shoots from professional varieties of petunias, as breeding plants give new shoots faster and allow you to quickly achieve the desired result. This is also done to save space in the seedlings so that the stems do not stretch upwards.

If you see that the bush grows evenly without any intervention, then the plant can not be pinched.

The big advantage of petunia among other flowers is that the shoots can be kept in winter until next year if you place them in the fall in a bright room with a temperature not higher than 10 degrees. If the plant is stored at room temperature, leaf tones may appear spider mite and it will die.

Giving a luxurious look to your flower bed is not so difficult - plant petunias. Of course, growing these flowers requires certain skills, such as pinching technology. But the result will exceed all your expectations - colorful hats of flowers will decorate your garden until autumn.