To pinch a petunia correctly, you should use only clean tools. This avoids injury to the sprouts. It is allowed to repeat the manipulation after a month. This is possible provided the appearance of strong side branches. Pinching is done for the tops of the plant. In order for large buds to form on new stepchildren, suitable fertilizers are needed. It is necessary to water the culture well and remove dried flowers in a timely manner.

What is pinching for?

Pinching the top of a plant shoot with your nails is called tweezing. This procedure leads to the fact that the part of the stem that remains becomes stiff. Becomes fat. The leaves are saturated with color. The sinuses of the kidneys are enlarged.

This is done to obtain new stable shoots and give the plant a beautiful appearance. Pinch should be done during the growing season.

It is advisable to adhere to the rules for pinching petunias. This will make it bushy. Abundant buds will keep on the flower for a long time.

Basic Rules

First of all, it is imperative to monitor the growth of seedlings from the moment they are planted. Pinching flower seedlings is not needed, it is produced on young shoots after the appearance of 6 or 7 leaves. When the shoots become a little stronger, the top is cut off. Two paired sheets are left in front of it - this will be the new point. It will branch out and grow new stems.

The specified period is considered the best for pinching. You can't miss it. Otherwise, the petunia will begin to stretch upwards, and the shoots from the sides will not be branched. The round shape of the bush will be lost.

When planting in open soil, the flower must first be rooted and only then pinched. In addition, before this, you need to give the seedlings a little stronger and adapt.

It is required to avoid crowding, plant the sprouts less often, leaving space between them. Otherwise, the bushes will be small.

If planting is done in a greenhouse, the top is separated after picking. It is required to water and add fertilizers to the soil. Several times a week. Spray twice a day with water. Pinch is repeated in a month. These processes will improve flowering. Then the shoots from the sides are shortened to improve the shape.

ampelous petunia

To pinch a petunia correctly at home, you should stock up on tools for this manipulation. Scissors or secateurs are needed, a container into which the removed cuttings will be sent. Finally, you will need a stronger seedling with five large leaves on top.

Pinching an ampelous petunia is done twice. The first time you need to do this after landing in open ground. The plant is given some time so that it can get stronger. After the planted shoots begin to grow and stretch in length, a second pinching is performed. Count from 3 to 5 full sheets. Everything that is located on top is cut off. This does not prevent the further growth of the flower. It only slows down a little and gives side shoots. Flowers appear in the form of large buds.

What to do with the remaining cuttings?

The remaining cuttings cannot be thrown away. You can use the cutting method and get new flowers.

This flower fascinates, conquers with simplicity and grace, flowers of different shades, fragile branches are plentifully strewn and delight with their appearance from May to autumn cold. Those who once grew a petunia and fell in love with it will be interested to know why petunia pinching is important, the features of this manipulation in different species and when to do it when growing a plant from seeds at home.

It is necessary to distinguish pinching from pruning. They are carried out at different times using different technologies. If seedlings are bought, the first pinching has already been done. The importance of subsequent pinching and pruning will depend on the variety. The modern varieties of some bush and cascade petunias bred by breeders do not particularly need pinching, since the ability to branch is inherent in them through many years of selection. But most varieties still require pinching.

In the process of growth, a subsequent pinching is performed if it is necessary to give the plant a certain shape or grow a uniformly developed bush. When performing repeated pinching, only branches that are very elongated compared to others are cut.

This cascading petunia needs some cardinal pruning

Re-pinching is sometimes called pruning. With poor formation, the plants do not pinch, namely pruning. Branches are cut, leaving two or three internodes from the ground. New branches begin to grow from them, after three weeks the plant takes the form of a beautiful lush bush dotted with many flowers.

What is the pinching process

Pinching seedlings is carried out to form a petunia due to an increase in the number of lateral processes. Neglecting this operation, you can get an elongated plant of a miserable appearance. Pinching the bushes for the first time is done when the top of the seedlings grows up to eight centimeters long.

Properly formed petunia bush

When planting plants in the ground or containers in a permanent place, it is necessary to fertilize and water in time. When the side branches grow ten centimeters, it is advisable to re-pinch the petunia. It is just as important as the first one for the following reasons:

1. an increase in the number of lateral shoots gives an increase in the number of flowers;
2. by pinching, you can correct errors in the initial formation of the bush: make the bush more fluffy.

The first pinch when growing petunias from seeds

When grown from seeds, interesting varieties can be obtained that are rarely sold as seedlings. It will take extra effort, to show maximum attention and care to get healthy plants.

After germination, the plant, under normal development, is ready to bloom in about twelve weeks. The initial formation of a petunia bush (pinching) must be done when the first six leaves appear, after picking seedlings. This is a very important step in growing a plant from seed.

Petunia seedlings stretch upward with one shoot. It must be pinned over the fourth or fifth leaf, with a clean blade or sterile scissors, carefully cutting off the growing point. The cut can be sprinkled with activated carbon powder or wood ash.

The growth of the plant will go to the lateral sinuses near the leaves. After a short period of time, several side branches will grow. This is how the proper formation of seedlings begins. If a petunia has many branches, it will form many flower buds. With good care and sufficient lighting, such a plant blooms profusely for a long time.

Further formation is carried out monthly, planting the petunia in a permanent place, pinching or cutting off the branches. Some flower growers who pinch the petunia correctly manage to grow it like a perennial at home and achieve flowering all year round. This also requires a special temperature regime and artificial illumination of plants in winter.

Features of different types

There are many hybrid varieties. They are grown to decorate balconies, to decorate alpine slides and flower beds, or as a houseplant. Varieties of petunias differ in the direction of growth of the stem, the shape of the flower, have their own characteristics of growing and pinching. Knowing the varietal characteristics, you can plan how a loggia or a flower bed will look like.

According to the shape of the stem, petunias are:

• bush,
• ampelous,
• cascading.

Bush petunia is used to decorate flower beds. The growth of branches is directed upwards, forming a compact bush dotted with flowers. It can grow without repeated pinching if the seedlings are formed correctly.

In a cascading petunia, branches grow, hanging from a flower pot. Cascading varieties are great for decorating balconies, loggias, alpine slides. You can get a “flower carpet” from one plant, decorating the wall of the house under the window or the flower bed in front of the house with many flowers. The correct pinching of a cascading petunia consists in the initial formation of a bush at the seedling stage. Of course, the appearance of the plant depends on its variety. For example, Typhoon Wave is a fundamentally new, unparalleled series of hybrids. A powerful spectacular plant with shoots 1-1.5 m long. The total area of ​​\u200b\u200ba flowering plant is more than 2 square meters. meters! Flowers about 5 cm cover the plant with a continuous cover.

Ampelous petunias grow, hanging from the pots with long branches. They differ from cascading stems in more fragile stems and the direction of growth of branches down. This is the most demanding type of petunias for pinching, but even if this manipulation is performed correctly and in a timely manner, the plant will never please a very lush bush.

In the form of flowers, petunia happens:

• simple;
• terry;
• small-flowered;
• large-flowered.

Terry petunia, when propagated by seeds, does not preserve the doubleness of the flower. Therefore, it is propagated only by cuttings, with the help of seedlings. Cuttings are harvested during repeated pruning and rooted in a light nutrient substrate without covering with a film.

We wish you success in growing beautiful, lush petunias!

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Volumetric multi-colored bushes of terry, ampelous, two-color and plain petunias have won the hearts of experienced gardeners and beginners. From mid-spring to the first frost, flowers, amazing in their variety and decorativeness, decorate not only summer cottages, but also balconies of multi-storey buildings, verandas of cottages, city flower beds, cafes and restaurants. Flowers are unpretentious, do not require professional maintenance and special conditions, but gratefully respond to the care of flower growers.

Necessary conditions for pinching petunias

Proper cultivation and formation is an important condition for obtaining a beautiful and healthy bush. In addition to timely sowing and diving, it is necessary to properly pinch the petunia. This means that at a certain stage of growth, she needs to remove the top shoots. Such a procedure will ensure the branching of the stems and the formation of many buds on bushy crowns.

To carry out this manipulation, you will need the following:

• convenient scissors or secateurs;
• strengthened seedlings with 4 - 5 large leaves at the top;
• container for collecting removed cuttings.

How should you pinch a petunia?

Before pinching a petunia, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for this procedure:

1. Observing the growth of seedlings, it is necessary to choose a period when it got a little stronger and began to grow up soon. It can have up to 5 - 6 leaves, but no more. If you miss this moment, the seedlings will stretch. Actually pinching petunias does not take much time. It is necessary to cut the stem over 5-6 leaves with your fingers or a pruner.
   This forms a new point of growth, from which several shoots will begin to grow in different directions at the same time. During this period, seedlings can slow down development, but at the same time get a little stronger. When the side shoots go, the bush will take on a more rounded appearance.
2. If you plan to plant seedlings in open ground, then pinching is best done after rooting. The sprout will take a few days to adapt. During this period, you need to try to create favorable conditions for the plants to take root:
   • it is necessary to plant seedlings loosely, observing the conditions of agricultural technology;
   • monitor the frequency of watering and spraying;
   • apply a specialized strengthening fertilizer under the root.

If development occurs in a greenhouse, you can pinch the petunia after diving.

1. If the cut shoots are not very small, they can be used as cuttings. In order for the cutting to take root, it is placed in a container of water. First you need to remove the extra leaves, leaving a few at the top. When the roots appear, they are transplanted into the soil. So you can get additional young seedlings.

• during pinching, try to injure the sprout as little as possible, use clean tools;
• a month after the event and the appearance of strong side branches, pinching the tops of petunias can be repeated;
• for laying large buds on new stepchildren, use suitable fertilizers, they will make the flowers brighter and larger.

In order for the formed decorative bush to please with its beautiful view for as long as possible, it will need constant care. From the moment of sowing, not a single transplant, pinching, spraying of sprouts will be required. Do not forget to water and feed well, remove dried flowers and shoots. In place of the cut off old flowers, new branches with buds will appear. Well-groomed colorful petunias will undoubtedly please you with abundant and long flowering in gratitude.

How to pinch a petunia (video)

You should familiarize yourself with the basic rules and methods of professional pinching so as not to damage the plant. Here are some recipes:

First rule. The right time for the procedure. The first pinching occurs after planting sprouts in open ground. Wait a while for the plant to gain a foothold and adapt to new conditions so as not to injure it. Petunia takes root well if you observe a few subtleties. Plant seedlings not too densely, so that there is room for root growth. Do not forget about abundant watering (2-3 times a day plus spraying). Feed the roots and stems with leaves four times a month with a spray bottle and soil fertilizers;

Second rule. We observe the state of the stem. The time for circumcision has come if the flower began to actively grow up and strengthen. If so, the petunia can be safely handled. We count four leaves from the beginning of the aerial part and pinch off the upper shoot, which pulls the specimen up. Do not be afraid that flowering will slow down, this is a necessary measure for the formation of side shoots. Within a month, you will be able to observe the lush growth and flowering of new buds. The second time we pinch an already blooming petunia, this can and even needs to be done. Such manipulations will help prolong the period of flowering and growth;

Third rule. Removed shoots will still be useful to you, with their help you can grow new seedlings. Everything is very simple - put our stalk in water with fertilizers, and it will take root. Now we can transplant a new nightshade into the ground, before that, having previously removed all the leaves except for the top ones, this is one hundred percent productivity.

Fourth rule. It is not necessary to pinch hybrid petunias, they will be bushy anyway.

Little pinching tricks for beginners

Pinching is a delicate and time-consuming process. Do not confuse it with pinching, coloring and circumcision. Try to pinch off the shoots, this does not require any additional tools, only observation and caution. Remove damaged or diseased parts of the nightshade in time, get rid of dry, wilted sectors. Be more tolerant of weak, scraggly shoots, and don't cut their leaves too much. Knowing how to pinch a petunia correctly, do not overdo it with pinching, do the procedure no more than once a month. It is easier to work with large-flowered varieties, but small-flowered specimens are less whimsical to weather conditions, so the choice is yours.

If you do not have ampelous petunias, but they are stretched out, then apparently they do not have enough light and their stems stretch up too much. In this case, prune them (cut stems that are too long by half) and provide them with brighter light (if this is not possible, put them under a fluorescent lamp a day).

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. Again, due to the too long stem, the flower in most cases falls or bends under its own weight. After removing the extra shoots, new shoots begin to appear at the cut site, on which buds grow, thus the bush becomes richer and brighter.

Remember: Petunia seedlings should not be allowed to grow, otherwise the moment of pinching will be missed.

first clothespin do,when it starts to rise rapidly. You should count 5 leaves from the bottom of the stem and pinch off the top shoot - the growth point(To when the shoots are 7 to 10 cm long.). After this procedure, flowering will slow down somewhat, but the side shoots will begin to grow actively.The earlier it is done, the more side shoots are formed.As a result, there will be many large buds on the bush.

second clothespin produced with a shoot length of more than 10-15 cm, removing the very end of the shoot so that the flower buds are already laid.

Further you can carry out a clothespin only strongly grown shoots, for uniform growth of the bush.

As a result of the clothespin, the petunia begins to actively release side shoots. The bush from this looks more lush, strong and healthy. More new branches guarantee more buds and flowers. At the same time, the quality of flowering also increases: it becomes long and plentiful.

Adviсe:- Do not use the operation for seedlings in boxes and young immature sprouts, do not mix different varieties and rid the soil of weeds and pests in time. Remember, petunias, like other decorative species, need constant attention and care;

After pinching, the removed shoots (in 3-4 sheets) can be put in a jar of water and, after the appearance of small roots, use them to grow new petunia bushes;

Throughout the season, it is necessary to remove wilted flowers in time, this will contribute to the formation of new buds on the plants.

Petunia care doesn't end with pinching

So that the bushes do not lose their decorative effect, you must always monitor the flowers, removing the inflorescences and dried petals along with the seed pods. They should be removed so that the plant does not waste caloric substances on setting seeds. This will all help the rapid growth of new, very large buds. Plus, the dry parts of the plant greatly distort the beautiful appearance of the entire bush.

When transplanting plants into pots, the volume of pots should be chosen depending on the variety of petunia. For example, for a cascading petunia, it is better to choose large pots, with a calculation of 10 liters per 1 bush. Smaller pots are suitable for regular petunias. For example, 3-4 petunia bushes can be planted in a 5 liter container. If the pot is too small for the plant, it will bloom much poorer.

Petunia ampelous: pinching

In order to achieve maximum flowering, pinching the ampelous petunia should be done twice. The first time it is recommended to do this after the seedlings are planted in open ground, but not immediately. Give the plant time to mature. Now watch: as soon as the planted shoots begin to actively grow and stretch, the moment has come (approximately the month of May). Count 3-5 full-fledged leaves from the bottom of the stem (this is the growth point of the plant), and everything on top needs to be pinched off or cut off. Do not be alarmed if the growth of the flower slows down a little, but it will start to sprout side shoots. The result of this will be abundant flowering and large buds.

Do not throw away the cut stems, they can be put in water and they will take root. Before planting, leave only a couple of leaves, and cut off everything else, as in the first case.

Do not forget to do the second pinching of the ampelous petunia after a month.
How nice it will be to admire such a flowering plant as ampelous petunia. Pinching will form lush bushes strewn with bright, beautiful flowers.

Sources: kakprosto.ru; mjusli.ru

BEAUTY TO YOUR GARDEN!!!

Your LUBASHA BODYA

Petunia is a perennial mountain flower from Montenegro, with its sweet beauty it fell in love with our compatriots who traveled abroad during the Soviet era, and was brought to our open spaces. However, it turned out that no one remembered the information about the conditions under which it is necessary to grow, and even more so, how to pinch a petunia.
The trial and error method showed that the flower requires a lot of water, warmth and is not able to endure the harsh Russian winters. But, as you know, the Russians do not give up, they began to grow petunia in the warm season in dachas, flower beds, in flowerpots or home pots, and the plant eventually transformed into an annual version.

To date, breeders have more than 800 species of petunia, but flower growers have fallen in love with only a few of the most interesting specimens.

Popular and most beautiful views:

• dwarf;
• large-flowered;
• floribunda;
• multicolor;
• ampelous.

The main rule of the grower says: the more pretentious and beautiful in appearance the plant, the more difficult it is to care for and reproduce. It is the ladies with the names "Floribunda" and "Ampelnaya" who are distinguished by special whims - they are extremely thermophilic and, like truly noble ladies, cannot stand drafts.

However, there is a common point - no matter how complex or simple the types of petunias are, they must be pinched.

What is it for?

Pinching (or tweezing) - breaking / pinching off the top of a plant shoot with your nails. After that, the remaining part of the stem becomes stiff and begins to thicken, the leaves become more saturated in color, and the buds in the axils increase in size. In horticulture, this process is done to get new strong shoots and a more beautiful appearance. However, this method works if the tweezing was done before the growing season ended.
It is not difficult to get a strong and eye-pleasing living decoration from a small sprout, the main thing is to know how to pinch a petunia correctly and strictly follow the rules.

Pinching process step by step

In order for a petunia to give good bushiness and please with an abundance of buds for a long time, it is necessary to take into account its individual characteristics, which were revealed by experienced gardeners.

Pinching rules:

1. Track the growth of seedlings from the very beginning. For beginner amateur gardeners, the question always arises, is it necessary to pinch petunia seedlings or is this already done on an adult bush? It is with young shoots that tweezing is carried out, overgrown ones will not work.
2. One of the most common questions about the care and reproduction of petunias is "When should I pinch a petunia after germination?". As soon as the first shoots begin to gain strength and grow 6-7 leaves, you need to carefully cut off the top after the bottom two pairs of leaves, which will create a new point for branching and growing new stems. Advice! This is the best period for pinching, if you skip it, the plant will stretch, side shoots will not branch, and the bush will lose its rounded shape.
3. If the flower will be planted in open soil, pinching of petunia seedlings is carried out only at the time of rooting after transplantation, plus it will take several days to adapt. Advice! When planting petunias and initial pinching, accuracy should be avoided - leave enough space between the sprouts. Otherwise, the bushes will be small.
4. With greenhouse content, it is possible to separate the tops only after picking.
5. The soil should be regularly fertilized 1-2 times a week and regularly moistened, and the shoots themselves should be additionally sprayed with water several times a day.
6. A month later, the tweezing procedure must be carried out again, this is done for better flowering. At this time, you can shorten the side shoots to improve shape.

What to do with the remaining cuttings

After tweezing, rather large tops remain, they should not be thrown away, this is an excellent material for breeding new flowers by cuttings.

1. remove the lower tier of leaves so that the water and the stalk do not rot;
2. put in a container with water;
3. wait for rooting;
4. plant in the ground.

A few tips from the pros

Having decided to do floriculture on our own, we are free to study a lot of literature, search for information on the Internet, but, as practice shows, it is best to take the advice of professionals.

1. Use sterile equipment.
2. When pruning, try to minimize damage to the sprout.
3. Weak shoots should be treated with maximum attention and patience - you can not cut off their leaves too much.
4. You can spray only early in the morning or after sunset, the rest of the time, drops of water under the direct rays of the sun will work like lenses and burn the leaves.
5. You can pinch a petunia for abundant flowering in 2-3 doses, but this is not always necessary. It all depends on the state of the shape of the bush and the number of buds. At the same time, it is important to take into account that pinching delays flowering by 2-4 weeks, since the plant spends energy on actively growing new shoots.
6. It is better to buy specialized fertilizers; they are sold in a large assortment in gardening stores.
7. All wilted flowers and damaged areas of stems and leaves must be removed. If this is not done, the plant will have to spend a lot of energy on ensuring the maturation of the seed pods, which will reduce the intensity of flowering.
8. Varieties with large flowers are more resistant to weather changes.
9. Do not mix different types.
10. The soil should be rid of pests and weeds in time.

Petunias are beauties with a difficult character, but if you find a competent approach to them and surround them with care, they will gratefully delight you and your guests in the gardens from late spring to early autumn.