Gardening - Q&A: Pinching Back Zinnias

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Q&A: Pinching Back Zinnias

Question: Should I pinch back my zinnias when I transplant them outside? By "pinching back" I mean pinching off the top leaves of the transplant.

Answer: Pinching should begin early. You can start the process when the zinnia seedlings have developed their second or third set of true leaves. Remember, at each node (where the leaf stem or petiole meets the main stem), there is a bud. When you pinch off the growing point, you are removing hormones which suppress the growth of those lateral buds. Once the lateral buds start to grow and they produce a second set of leaves you can pinch those to encourage even more side growth! So pinch away! (You are wise to check, though--because some plants don't respond well to pinching.)

Content provided by the National Gardening Association