Don't pinch a 4" tall plant. Wait until it's taller. It will probably branch off on it's own as mine do.

Oops. I pinched what would have been the third set of true leaves prior to my first post. Earlier today, on a couple plants, I cut back the branching that was at the seed leaves node. I guess I should have waited a few more hours in order to see your post. Instead of a mistake, IÂm going to call it a learning experience. So far, IÂve made the "learning experiences" of over watering, too high of humidity, pinching back too early and now this. I do have two that I have not pinched at all. Oddly enough, the ones I pinched today look the best, at this point, IMO. Maybe IÂll get some half way decent house plants from this group. At least IÂll be better prepared for next spring. Thank you very much for the response.

I think I misunderstood you. Seedlings at 4" should be allowed more growth before pinching. Older plants can be pinched when too leggy and/or floppy. Yes, pinch or cut with a sharp razor above a node. It's hard to give advice without actually seeing the plants.

Ah-hah, a picture! Now why didnÂt I think of that? Ok, maybe this will help. This one on the left has had no pinching and the one on the right has had Âextreme pinching, as mentioned above.

Here is a link that might be useful:

OK, I don't pinch mine this small. I wait until they're a little bigger. Most have already branched off on their own by then. If not, I pinch out the very top growth to force side shoots. Most of my pinching is done when the plant is too tall and/or losing bottom leaves, or the branches have become so long they're flopping. Sometimes I just start new plants from cuttings and let the old original plant go.

Thank you. That clears things up for me a bit.