Cutting back annuals

17 years ago

Hello all I was wondering if there are any annuals that do not do well when you cut them back? I am growing indoors and my plants are getting tall and look like they need a trim. If I cut them back I'm guessing this will thicken them up a bit, they will grow wider thus giving more flowers? I have Zinnia, Marigold, 4 O'clock, Calendula, Petunia and Snapdragons.

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
look very very close... where a leaf intersects the stem ... starting with the bottom most ...

if there is a tiny bud in there.. you can lop it off above ... and new shoots should appear at those buds ...

if you have more than one of a given plant.. cut one tonight... and look at it again in a few days... if buds are coming.. prune the rest .. in other words... experiment ...

i cant really think that there is any reason any of them can not be cut back .. since that is what i do to them in august.. when the look like heck ...

it is also done by nureserymen.. to make a bushier plant for sale in spring ...

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU MUST DO .... make note that you started your seeds ... maybe a month early ... lol.. been there.. done that ...

success really can have its disadvantages ... lol ...

good luck

ken
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
17 years ago
At least a month early. It will be very difficult to end up with quality plants by the time you can plant them out. Al
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
yeah al .. buts thats the fun of it all .. live and learn...

some plants will root from the cuttings ... experiment with that also ...

ken
zen_man
17 years ago
farmingvillefarmer,

I know from hands-on experience that zinnias benefit from having their central bud "pinched" in order to encourage branching, and that you can repeat that central bud pinching on the lateral branches that follow, in order to encourage really bushy plants.

However, as you can see in this picture, I am deliberately not pinching my zinnias, in order to get quick turnaround in my zinnia breeding.

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The older more mature bloom on the right actually has seeds that are mature enough to plant now (using the "green seed technique"), and I plan to do that this week, in order to have seedlings from this plant, and other similar "breeder" zinnias that I have been cross pollinating for the last several weeks. I will continue to pollinate and cross-pollinate the bloom on the left. I like this particular zinnia because it has large flowers on a fairly compact plant. That is a big 10-inch square pot. Admittedly, the plant would look much better if I had pinched the two blooms in the tiny bud stage, but I like the idea that I will be starting my second generation of zinnias this year to produce hybrid seedlings to set out when the weather allows.

ZM