HOW TO PINCH PELARGONIUM: HOW TO PROPERLY PRUNE AND FORM A PLANT WHEN IT CAN BE DONE WITH FLOWERS GROWN FROM SEEDS AT HOME?

Geranium (pelargonium) - the most popular flower, which is on almost every windowsill. When growing this plant, pruning is often used for lush flowering. It is needed not only for a large number of flower stalks on a single geranium shrub, but also for a decorative plant species.

If you do not cut long shoots in time, then over time the foliage from them will fall off and the flower will become ugly. Many housewives for this reason throw out the plant. But you do not need to do this, just remove the old layers in time, then pelargonium will delight with its flowering and beauty for many years.

What is pruning?

Crop - a technique that allows you to adjust the size and growth of the plant, besides it allows to improve the quality and quantity of flower stalks. With the help of this agricultural method, it is possible to delay the bare pelargonium, increase the number of lateral layers and improve the decorativeness of the plant. In addition, the life and flowering of geraniums is increased by several years.

Why is it done?

The geranium has many species, ranging from dwarf plants to tall bushes. The most popular is royal pelargonium room. Each type of plant requires a certain care, but you need to pruning on all forms and varieties of the flower. It is necessary to carry out the procedure regularly - it will provide:

the release of a large number of peduncles and branching;
compactness and decorativeness of the bush;
stability, duration and pomp of flowering;
obtaining cuttings for further breeding.

Important! The geranium has dormant buds in each interstitial site, and pruning gives rise to new layers, on which a new flower bud will be laid.

What is pinching?

Pinching - mechanical removal of the top point of shoot growth, for awakening the side sleeping points. This allows not only to make the bush more magnificent, but also to upholsten the lush flowering afterwards. A small plant is pinched with fingers or nail scissors.

We offer to watch a video about what nip of pelargonium is and why it should be done:

Fundamental rules

Pinching or trimming is necessary only with a sterile instrument, preferably wiping it with alcohol before use.
The tool must be very sharp so as not to injure the plant.
Before work, you need to wash and sanitize your hands so as not to carry a third-party infection.
If pinching is carried out with your hands, you can not pull the escape, you can injure the roots.
As soon as the process is over, the flower is placed in the sunlight, only so young shoots will appear very quickly and be strong and healthy.
All shoots that are directed inside the bush should immediately be cut off, otherwise the bush will become too thick and the geranium air exchange will be disturbed.
If the distance between the leaves is large (the escape has stretched from a lack of light), then it is worth cutting right above the leaves.
If the shoots that appear are infected with the disease, they are cut off along with the trunk. About what diseases and pests can threaten pelargonium, read here.
Once the pruning is finished, all wounds should be treated with an antiseptic composition.
If you are pruning royal begonias, then you should not do it at one time, as the plant is very weak.

When to pinch a plant grown from seed at home?

Pelargonium seeds were planted and the first shoots appeared on the pot, on which 4-6 leaflets were formed, then the first pinching could be done. How to pinch:

Take small scissors.
Process with alcohol.
Carefully trim the growth point with 1 or more leaflets.

After pinching is done, pelargonium will start to give side slips. and build up leaf mass.

Geranium need to pinch on each outlet, which has 4 true sheets.

Step-by-step instruction

How to pinch correctly? The action algorithm is as follows:

Carefully examine the upper shoots and find the largest bud, which is responsible for the growth of shoots. It is this kidney that should be removed, otherwise the pelargonium will begin to stretch upward, while the sleeping buds will not wake up.
Once a kidney is found, it needs to be removed. This can be done with a sharp blade or fingers. It is better to use a garden pruner on a woody shoot. Carrying out this procedure, the main thing is not to damage the main shoot and young leaves.
As soon as the pinching is finished, the cuts should be treated with wood ash, brilliant green or ground cinnamon.

How to shape?

Remove the top growth point. If after this wake up the top sleeping points, then the shoots are immediately removed. At the same time, the growth of pelargonium will stop, the main trunk will begin to gain strength and the shoots you need will appear very soon.

Until the bush has formed, all the inflorescences are removed, so that geranium gives strength for the development of green mass. At this time, it can be fed with nitrogen fertilizers. Pelargonium blooms only young layering, therefore, as soon as the flower spike has blossomed, it is removed.

Care after the procedure

After pruning the plant requires special attention. The first thing you need to install it on the lighted sill, but try to priten from direct sunlight.
Pelargonium is left on the windowsill for a month, then the flower is moved and placed next to the window. At this time, the active growing season begins.
The temperature of the plant - room.
It is worth remembering that geranium is a very light-loving plant, therefore, by placing a flower on the north window you will not get a lush crown - from lack of sunlight, the plant will drag upwards.
In addition, pelargonium does not tolerate stuffiness, so you need to constantly conduct airing - drafts and lower temperatures, it is not afraid.
As soon as the weather is warm, geranium is put on the balcony.
Water the plant should be moderate, pouring water from the pan. In the case of this plant, let there be a lack of moisture than it will stagnate in the pot.
Repotting plants produced every three years, while it can not be combined with pinching or pruning. Pelargonium responds well to top dressing, it can be nitrogen fertilizers in early spring after pruning. Then phosphorus-potash, for the formation of a fluffy and strong crown.
If the pinching or pruning is done correctly, then very soon your beauty will delight in lush flowering, which will continue for a long time with proper care. About what to do if pelargonium does not want to bloom, you can find out here.

Geranium is a very beautiful and fragrant flower that grew on the windowsills of our grandmothers. It was believed that this plant brings harmony and prosperity into the house. At the moment, there are so many hybrids that differ in terms of flowering and the shape of the inflorescences.

You can meet the begonia of an unusual shade. Beginners rarely buy this plant, because they believe that they need specific care. But this is not the case, the only constant requirement is systematic pruning and pinching, regardless of the variety and type of geranium.

In more detail about the care of room pelargonium, we told here, and from this article you can learn how to grow a plant in open ground.