Pinching

Pinching

  • Pinching is one of most important operations in chrysanthemum culture.
  • The operation of removal of terminal growing portion of stem pinching reduces plant height and promotes axillary branches.
  • Time and severity of pinching depend on the type of chrysanthemum and the desired objectives.
  • After planting, the growth is mostly upward with very little branching.
  • To arrest such tall growth, a simple procedure called ‘pinching’ is used. It is also called ‘stopping’.
  • Only soft vegetative shoot tips 1.5 to 3 cm long are removed.
  • Pinching is most essential for small flowered chrysanthemum.
  • First pinching is done when the plants reach a height of 15-20 cm with 3-4 pairs of leaves.
  • A second pinching may be necessary if the plants make straggly and lean growth.
  • Pinching increases the number of flowering stems in each plant; it can indirectly control flowering date and bloom quality; and the number of stems to a plant can easily be controlled.
  • pinching
  • Two types of pinching are performed:
      (a) Soft pinching: By this pinching the top soft tips of the shoot along with 2-3 open leaves are removed;
      (b) Hard pinching: It means removing a longer portion upto hard shoot.
  • Single pinching is done, if two flowers are desired, whereas double pinching is done for four flowers.
  • In spray chrysanthemum numerous small to medium sized flowers are produced, therefore, two pinchings are required to encourage lateral growth.
  • As a general rule rooted cuttings are pinched two weeks after planting or approximately 100 days before full bloom.
Last modified: Friday, 8 June 2012, 12:56 AM