TheNaturePlanet

As November approaches, the temperature gradually gets cooler, and the flowers at home also begin to enter a new growth stage. To make your beloved flowers thrive even more in this season, with faster and more abundant blooming, today we will introduce five plants that need "pinching off the tips" - chrysanthemums, scarlet sage, petunias, geraniums, and bougainvillea. Through appropriate pruning, they will show more vigorous vitality.
The principle of "pinching off the tips" pruning is actually quite simple. The apical branches of plants release auxin into the main stem. If there is already a large amount of auxin in the main stem, the auxin produced by new branches will find it difficult to take the dominant position, and their growth will be inhibited. By pruning to remove the apical dominance, lateral buds can be promoted to germinate, increasing the number of flowers.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are one of the representative flowers in autumn, with rich colors and diverse forms. In November, chrysanthemums are in the peak growth season. Pinching off the tips of them at this time can effectively promote the growth of lateral buds, making the plants fuller and blooming more.
Pinching-off Method: Select the branches that grow too vigorously at the top and cut off about one-third of their length with scissors. Make sure the cut is smooth to avoid damaging the plants.
Maintenance Suggestions: After pruning, place the chrysanthemums in an environment with sufficient sunlight and good ventilation. Appropriately control the watering, keeping the soil slightly moist. Meanwhile, apply a dilute phosphorus-potassium fertilizer once every ten days or so to promote flower bud differentiation.
Scarlet Sage
Scarlet sage, with its bright red flowers and long inflorescences, becomes a highlight in the autumn flower beds. Around November, pinching off the tips of scarlet sage can make it bloom more flowers and extend the flowering period.
Pinching-off Method: Cut off the overly dense leaves and branches at the top, and retain several strong lateral buds. When pruning, make sure the cut is at the leaf axil, which is beneficial to the growth of new buds.
Maintenance Suggestions: The pruned scarlet sage needs sufficient sunlight and a suitable temperature. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Meanwhile, regularly spray a solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate to improve the plant's disease resistance and the quality of flowering.
Petunias
Petunias are common ornamental flowers from summer to autumn, with lush flowers and bright colors. Around November, pinching off the tips of petunias can prompt it to germinate more lateral branches, making the plants more compact and blooming more.
Pinching-off Method: During the growth process of petunias, promptly cut off the overly long branches at the top to keep the plants in a low and compact form. When pruning, make sure to retain a certain number of leaves to maintain the plant's photosynthesis.
Maintenance Suggestions: The pruned petunias need sufficient sunlight and appropriate moisture. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet. Apply a compound fertilizer once every fifteen days or so to meet the growth requirements of the plants.
Geraniums
Geraniums have unique flower shapes and rich colors. Around National Day, pinching off the tips of geraniums can prompt it to germinate more new branches, making the plants more lush and blooming more.
Pinching-off Method: Select the branches that grow too vigorously at the top and cut off about one-half of their length with scissors. When pruning, make sure the cut is smooth to avoid damaging other parts of the plants.
Maintenance Suggestions: The pruned geraniums need to be placed in an environment with good ventilation and sufficient sunlight. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Apply a composted organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer once every twenty days or so to promote the growth and flowering of the plants.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea, with its unique flower shape and gorgeous colors, becomes a leader among the autumn flowers. After November, pinching off the tips of bougainvillea can prompt it to germinate more new buds, making the plants more lush and blooming more.
Pinching-off Method: Cut off the overly dense branches at the top and retain several strong lateral buds. When pruning, pay attention to the smoothness of the cut and the density of the branches.
Maintenance Suggestions: The pruned bougainvillea needs sufficient sunlight and a suitable temperature. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet. Apply a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer or compound fertilizer once every fifteen days or so to promote the growth and flowering of the plants. Meanwhile, regularly spray a fungicide to prevent the occurrence of pests and diseases.
In November, pinching off the tips of these five kinds of flowers can not only prompt them to germinate more new branches and new buds, but also make the plants more lush and bloom more. Through reasonable pruning and maintenance, they will shine brightly in this autumn.